Does Marten Transport Hire Felons?
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Marten states it considers all applicants and performs an individualized assessment of any conviction — weighing rehabilitation, recency, and job-relevance — in line with fair-chance laws.
Marten Transport says it considers all applicants and evaluates criminal records on a case-by-case basis. Headquartered in Mondovi, Wisconsin, Marten is one of the country's leading temperature-controlled carriers, with more than 80 years of operating history, roughly 3,500 trucks, and about 15 terminals running refrigerated, dry van, regional, dedicated, and team freight. Its careers materials state that qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with fair-chance laws such as the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. Marten performs an individualized assessment of whether a conviction has a direct, adverse relationship to the specific job, and weighs mitigating factors including evidence and extent of rehabilitation, how recent the offense was, and the applicant's age at the time. As a DOT-regulated carrier, Marten runs a criminal background check, motor vehicle record review, FMCSA Clearinghouse query, and DOT drug testing. Non-driving maintenance and terminal roles may face fewer barriers.
Hiring by Position
| Position | Felon Friendly? | Background Check | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A OTR / Regional Driver | Case-by-case (individualized assessment) | Yes — DOT criminal check, MVR, Clearinghouse query | Core driving role. Marten weighs rehabilitation, recency, and job-relevance. |
| Dedicated / Team Driver | Case-by-case | Yes — full DOT background check | Refrigerated and dry van accounts. Same individualized review of records. |
| Diesel Technician / Maintenance | More accessible | Yes — standard criminal check | Shop roles at terminals. Fewer DOT driving restrictions. |
| Terminal / Office Support | Case-by-case | Yes — standard criminal check | Dispatch, admin, logistics. Individualized review of the record. |
| Owner Operator | Case-by-case | Yes — DOT driver qualification standards apply | Independent contractor. Must meet the same DOT qualification rules. |
Marten Transport Hiring Practices
Marten Transport is a Mondovi, Wisconsin-based refrigerated and dry van carrier with more than 80 years of history, roughly 3,500 trucks, and about 15 terminals nationwide. Its official position is that it considers all applicants, and its careers materials commit to reviewing applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with fair-chance laws like the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. Rather than a blanket policy, Marten runs an individualized assessment: does the conviction have a direct, adverse relationship to the specific job, and what mitigating factors exist — evidence and extent of rehabilitation, how recent the offense was, and the applicant's age at the time. As a DOT-regulated employer, Marten still requires a criminal background check, a motor vehicle record review, an FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse query, and DOT drug testing.
Tips for Getting Hired at Marten
Apply at marten.com/careers or drive4marten.com, or call recruiting at 800-395-3331. Because Marten commits in writing to an individualized assessment, this is a carrier where documentation pays off: bring proof of rehabilitation, completed programs, steady work history, and a clean recent motor vehicle record. If your conviction is older or unrelated to driving, make that case directly to a recruiter. Where a recent felony blocks driving roles, ask about diesel technician, maintenance, and terminal support jobs, which face fewer DOT restrictions. Highlight safe driving experience and stable employment — Marten repeatedly says a strong candidate has both. Above all, be honest: the DOT background check and FMCSA Clearinghouse will surface undisclosed history, and non-disclosure is a faster disqualifier than the conviction itself.
Application Tips for People with Records
- 1.Apply at marten.com/careers or drive4marten.com, or call recruiting at 800-395-3331.
- 2.Marten commits to an individualized assessment — bring documentation of rehabilitation, programs, and steady work history.
- 3.Emphasize safe driving experience and stable employment; Marten repeatedly names both as marks of a strong candidate.
- 4.Older or job-unrelated convictions are less likely to be a barrier — make that case to a recruiter directly.
- 5.If a recent felony blocks driving roles, ask about diesel technician, maintenance, and terminal support jobs.
- 6.Disclose your record honestly — the DOT background check and FMCSA Clearinghouse will surface undisclosed history.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Marten Transport hire felons?
- Marten states it considers all applicants and reviews criminal records case-by-case with an individualized assessment, weighing rehabilitation, recency, and how the conviction relates to the specific job.
- Does Marten Transport do background checks?
- Yes. As a DOT-regulated carrier, Marten runs a criminal background check, a motor vehicle record review, and an FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse query on drivers.
- Does Marten Transport drug test?
- Yes. Federal DOT rules require pre-employment drug testing plus random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion testing for all CDL drivers.
- Does Marten follow fair-chance hiring laws?
- Yes. Marten's careers materials state it considers applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with fair-chance laws such as the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.
- What kind of driving does Marten Transport do?
- Marten runs refrigerated and dry van freight on OTR, regional, dedicated, and team routes from about 15 terminals, with a fleet of roughly 3,500 trucks.
Take Action — Direct Links
- Marten Transport Careers
Driving and non-driving openings; apply online or call recruiting.
- National HIRE Network
Free resources for people with criminal records seeking employment.
- FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
Federal database CDL carriers query before hiring — know your record.