California Carriers That Give Second Chances

California trucking snapshot

• Over 204,000 CDL-A jobs were active statewide in 2023—by far the nation’s largest driver workforce. bls.gov‍
• California’s own Fair Chance Act (AB 1008) bars most employers from asking about convictions until after they’ve offered you the seat. calcivilrights.ca.gov

10 second-chance or no-experience-friendly fleets with California terminals

1. Gardner Trucking 📍 Ontario & Fontana

SoCal dry-van & port drayage with a track record of being a second chance employer. See their open jobs here.

2. Swift Transportation 📍 Lancaster & Otay Mesa

Company-paid training, accepts many felony records > 10 yrs. See their open jobs here.

3. Knight Transportation 📍 Tulare & Mira Loma

Will consider applicants with an old DUI/felony; solid west-coast reutation. See their open jobs here.

4. Werner Enterprises 📍 Stockton & Jurupa Valley

Track record of being a second chance employer. See their open jobs here.

5. Schneider 📍 Fontana & West Sacramento

Dedicated accounts such as Target & Lowe’s + intermodal in LA Basin routes. Track record of being a second chance employer. See their open jobs here.

6. R+L Carriers 📍 Pomona & Commerce

LTL line-haul routes & team runs. Has a track record of being a second chance employer. See their open jobs here.

7. Sysco 📍 Riverside & Fremont

Local & regional food-service routes, paid ride-along training. See their open jobs here.

8. US Foods 📍 La Mirada & Livermore

Local & regional food-service routes, paid ride-along training. See their open jobs here.

9. CRST Riverside 📍 Riverside

Team OTR routes avaiable. Has a track record of being a second chance employer. See their open jobs here.

10. Knight-Swift Intermodal (Harbor) 📍 Wilmington

Port of LA/LB drayage—great foot-in-door for newbies.. See their open jobs here.

Scorching CDL-A job titles in CA

• Port/Drayage Driver – big money for TWIC-card holders.
  
  
• Dedicated Retail Driver – Target, Home Depot, Costco keep routes hopping.
  
  
• Reefer OTR – CA produce seasons = steady miles year-round.
  
  
• Tanker/Hazmat (fuel, bulk wine) – premiums for endorsements.
  
  

Action steps

1. Shoot for 12–15 apps your first weekend out of school—volume is king.
   
   
2. Text your Emerge Career coach to unlock our California partner sheet (over 8 employers who already said “yes” to second-chance talent).
   
   

Stack endorsements—a HazMat or TWIC can bump you into higher-pay lanes quickly.

‍

Emerge Career grads have landed orientation dates just  after licensing by following the exact playbook above. Let’s make you the next success story.