Does Bridgestone hire felons?

Bridgestone Americas hires some people with felony records on a case-by-case basis, using EEOC individualized assessment that weighs the offense, time elapsed, and job relevance. Passing the drug test is essential.

Does Bridgestone do background checks?

Yes. Bridgestone conducts criminal background checks on new hires, typically with a 7-to-10-year lookback, along with employment and education verification.

Does Bridgestone drug test?

Yes. Bridgestone requires a pre-employment drug screen for production and many other roles. A failed test is generally an automatic disqualifier, and marijuana is still tested.

What jobs does Bridgestone hire for?

Common openings include production/manufacturing operator, tire builder, maintenance technician, and warehouse/material handler at plants, plus service technician roles at Firestone Complete Auto Care stores.

Does Bridgestone Americas Hire Felons?

Last updated: 2026-07-12

Sometimes

Bridgestone Americas conducts background checks but hires some people with records using individualized assessment. A mandatory pre-employment drug test is the bigger barrier for many applicants.

Bridgestone Americas does hire some people with felony records, evaluated case-by-case. The company — maker of Bridgestone and Firestone tires — runs more than 20 tire manufacturing plants across the U.S. plus raw-materials and diversified-products facilities, is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and operates the Firestone Complete Auto Care retail chain. Bridgestone conducts a criminal background check (typically a 7-to-10-year lookback) and follows EEOC individualized-assessment principles, weighing the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the job. Older, non-violent convictions with a clean recent history are more likely to clear. The harder hurdle for many is the mandatory pre-employment drug screen: a failed test is generally an automatic disqualifier regardless of record. Production/manufacturing operator, tire builder, maintenance technician, and warehouse roles offer the most openings, especially on off-shifts at high-volume plants.

Hiring by Position

Position	Felon Friendly?	Background Check	Notes
Production / Manufacturing Operator	Case-by-case	Yes — criminal check, 7-10 yr lookback	Running tire-building and curing equipment. High-volume entry role; off-shifts most available. Drug test required.
Tire Builder	Case-by-case	Yes — standard criminal check	Assembling tire components on the line. Paid training provided. Physical, fast-paced work.
Maintenance / Mechanical Technician	Case-by-case	Yes — standard criminal check	Repairing plant machinery. Skilled trade; certifications or experience help offset a record.
Warehouse / Material Handler	Case-by-case	Yes — standard criminal check	Moving raw materials and finished tires. Forklift certification is a plus.
Firestone Retail Service Technician	Case-by-case	Yes — criminal check	Tire and light auto service at Firestone Complete Auto Care stores. Customer-facing; cash handling on some roles.

Bridgestone Americas Hiring Practices

Bridgestone Americas is one of the largest tire and rubber manufacturers in the world, running more than 20 tire plants across states including Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, plus a nationwide network of Firestone Complete Auto Care retail stores. Manufacturing plants hire in high volume for production, tire-building, maintenance, and warehouse roles, which keeps entry-level openings frequent — especially on second and third shifts. Bridgestone conducts a criminal background check on new hires and applies EEOC-style individualized assessment: rather than a blanket ban, recruiters consider the nature of the conviction, how long ago it occurred, and whether it relates to the job. Non-violent offenses and older records generally fare better. The single biggest hurdle at Bridgestone is not the criminal check but the mandatory pre-employment drug screen, which applies to production positions and typically disqualifies applicants who fail.

Tips for Getting Hired at Bridgestone

Apply through the BeBridgestone careers site and target production or warehouse roles at a plant near you, prioritizing off-shift openings that fill fastest. Prepare for a mandatory pre-employment drug test — marijuana still counts, so time your application accordingly even in states where cannabis is legal. Be honest on the application; if a background check flags a conviction, Bridgestone's process gives you a chance to explain under FCRA adverse-action rules, so have documentation of rehabilitation, training, or steady work history ready. Emphasize reliability, safety awareness, and any manufacturing, mechanical, or forklift experience. Skilled-trade certifications (welding, industrial maintenance, CDL) strengthen your case and can outweigh an older record. If a plant role is hard to land, Firestone retail service positions are another entry point into the company.

Application Tips for People with Records

1.Apply at bebridgestone.com and target production, tire-builder, or warehouse roles at a nearby plant.
2.Prioritize second and third shifts — they have the most openings and fill fastest.
3.Prepare for a mandatory pre-employment drug test; marijuana is still screened.
4.Have rehabilitation documentation and a steady work history ready for the FCRA adverse-action step.
5.Highlight manufacturing, mechanical, forklift, or CDL experience and any trade certifications.
6.Consider Firestone Complete Auto Care retail roles as an alternate entry point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bridgestone hire felons?: Bridgestone Americas hires some people with felony records on a case-by-case basis, using EEOC individualized assessment that weighs the offense, time elapsed, and job relevance. Passing the drug test is essential.
Does Bridgestone do background checks?: Yes. Bridgestone conducts criminal background checks on new hires, typically with a 7-to-10-year lookback, along with employment and education verification.
Does Bridgestone drug test?: Yes. Bridgestone requires a pre-employment drug screen for production and many other roles. A failed test is generally an automatic disqualifier, and marijuana is still tested.
What jobs does Bridgestone hire for?: Common openings include production/manufacturing operator, tire builder, maintenance technician, and warehouse/material handler at plants, plus service technician roles at Firestone Complete Auto Care stores.
Where are Bridgestone plants located?: Bridgestone Americas operates more than 20 tire plants across the U.S., in states including Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, with corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Take Action — Direct Links

Bridgestone / BeBridgestone Careers
Search and apply for U.S. manufacturing, warehouse, and retail positions at Bridgestone Americas.
National HIRE Network
Free resources for people with criminal records seeking employment.

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Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal advice. Company hiring policies change frequently and may vary by location, franchise, or position. Always confirm the current policy with the hiring manager or HR representative. A background check does not automatically disqualify you — you have rights under the EEOC guidelines and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).