J.B. Hunt Hiring Overview For 2023

Does J.B Hunt have special programs for hiring felons?

While there are special work training programs for hired drivers, there are no special programs for former felons. Considering they aren’t on the Ban the Box list or the Fair Chance Business Pledge, this isn’t a surprise. However, there are programs available in the community to support former felons. In fact, your local career center might have a few suggestions for you.

Is J.B. Hunt on the Ban the Box list?

Civil rights groups in the US are pushing for the Ban the Box campaign. The purpose of this campaign is to remove the box from employment applications asking about an applicant’s criminal record. The idea is to get more people to the interview phase who would be stopped because of past convictions. J.B. Hunt Transport isn’t on this list, though some states it operates in are. The application has questions about your driving record, which will include felonies and misdemeanors.

Unfortunately, they are also not on the Fair Chance Business Pledge. This initiative ensures equal treatment in the workplace for those with a criminal record. Despite this, their own hiring policies show they understand not every driver will have a perfectly clean record, so don’t worry if you have a mark on your driver’s license.

What are the odds of someone with a felony will get hired?

Looking at the above, what do you think the odds are? If you’ve looked at your record and matched it to their requirements and think you’re a fit, your odds are high! Essentially, your record will have an impact on getting a job here if you have driving offenses, but it doesn’t immediately stop you.

One way to improve your odds right away is to make sure you don’t have any DUIs or DWIs in the last five years. If you have a recent conviction, you should wait before applying.

Getting a driver’s abstract done on your own is a great way to see what your chances are today versus a few years from now.

What are some entry-level jobs?

The most obvious entry-level job you can get at Hunt Transportation is as a driver. You can check out their recent job postings for drivers here and non-drivers here. You can also email their human resources department with specific questions if their interactive chat can’t help you.

Entry-level jobs at J.B. Hunt Transport that don’t involve driving include: operations associate, administrative assistant and road call center agent — to name a few. What these jobs have in common are a need to understand and use computers and phones. You need to have basic office skills, which includes knowing some math.

Entry-level driving jobs are another matter. You need to have a valid driver’s license, preferably a CDL, and they often ask for some experience. For those of you reading this who have driven truck before, these positions will be easier for you to get than your peers who have no experience. However, if your driving record is poor, you may want to consider an alternative.

If you want to move to the driving side, but aren’t eligible at the moment, consider applying for a maintenance position. These roles work on trucks so you become familiar with their parts and understand what types of issues truckers come up against. During this time, you can get your CDL or other training to drive.

All positions at J.B. Hunt Transport require you to speak, read and write English.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

First, you need to make sure you meet the guidelines listed above — particularly the one about no DUIs, DWIs, or positive drug tests in the last five years for driving jobs. Since they’re going to look at your entire driving record, it’s important you know what they care about most.

Next, it’s time to get your resume ready to go. Use our guide on how to do it with a criminal record in mind.

So, let’s look at some key tips to get you moving:

• Talk up your experience. Do you have a driver’s license? Have you done deliveries before, even for a pizza place? Did you do any driving duties while in prison? It all counts. Office roles will care about organization and management experience, on top of your computer skills. If you’ve worked as a librarian while in prison, that counts; if you have any certificates from passing computer courses, make sure to mention those!
• Improve your skills. Let’s say you don’t have the background they’re looking for. No big deal. You can take tons of free courses at job development or career counseling centers. Some of the first you should look into are computer courses and language courses. Take a job delivering pizzas or volunteer at a meal delivery program to get some work experience.
• Referrals. These are worth their weight in gold. If you know someone who works at Hunt and they’re willing to give you a referral, you just got yourself to the top of the list!
• References. When a referral can’t happen, references are the next best thing. Former employers and people in positions of authority who know you well are best. If you don’t know anyone who fits this, think again: Your PO officer or supervisors from prison are excellent choices.
• Get professional resume help. Those career centers we talked about can really help you, here. Not only will they help you think of skills you forgot you had, but they will also make sure your resume is grammatically correct.

If you get an interview, you will need to make sure you speak clearly and avoid using any of that special language you may have become used to while incarcerated. It’s funny how it slips in there; don’t let it! If your interview is also in person, make sure you dress like an office worker you see on TV. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be clean and presentable. Cover tattoos etc. until you know the company’s policy on them.

Yes, J.B. Hunt Transport carries out background checks. It is common practice among employers to confirm the identity or eligibility of employees. 70% of employers carry out checks, so be prepared to go through one.

Background checks can include:

•    Employment history

•    Educational history

•    Criminal record

•    Driving record

•    Medical record

•    Social media profiles

•    Credit history

Here’s what you need to know about background checks:

If you’re applying in one of these states and your record is seven years old, Hunt won’t see it:

• California
• Colorado*
• Kansas*
• Maryland*
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New York*
• Texas*
• Washington

In addition, any cases where you were found not guilty will not be considered in these states:

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

However, there are still some states that will look at your whole record, including not guilty verdicts. These states are:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Company ratings

Glassdoor.com gives them a 3.3 rating out of 5 from 192 reviews. This isn’t a large sample, but it gives you an idea of what workers think about the company. Remember, however, that most of these people aren’t former felons. While we want you to get an idea of what the company is like, sometimes you have to grin and bear it more than someone without a record does.

What felonies J.B. Hunt will not hire

The company didn’t tell us what charges would stop your application in its track, but we do have a feel for the kind of charges that would cause the most issues.

What felony convictions might have a harder time getting hired here?

Convictions related to your driving record will be the biggest barrier for you. For example, individuals with property destruction or DUIs will stand a lesser chance of getting hired as a truck driver. Repeat offenses are frowned upon, as are reckless driving charges. If you’re applying to be a driver, make sure your record is as clean as possible and you haven’t had any convictions in the last five years.

Former felons with a theft conviction will face a harder time of being hired as a cashier because it requires handling cash. Computer security-related convictions will impact your chances of getting office work. Think on your record before choosing a position to apply for.

Does J.B. Hunt hire sex offenders?

The company hasn’t come out to let us know, either online or in person. We just don’t know!

Does J.B. Hunt drug test?

Yes, J.B. Hunt Transport does drug test. One of their requirements for getting a job is having no drug or alcohol violations in the past five years. Additionally, you can’t have tested positive on a drug test in the past five years. You’ll notice that by submitting your application, you are agreeing to a drug test. More importantly, this directly impacts how to get hired at Hunt Transportation since impaired driving is unacceptable.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!

Getting a job as a former felon can be a tough task. If you have been able to secure one, here’s your chance to help others. Did the information in this article help you get a job at J.B. Hunt with a felony? Tell us the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s help our community!