Trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport has agreed to settle a racial discrimination charge filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In a statement EEOC said this follows negotiations between both sides over claims that an African-American job candidate was denied a truck driver position at a J.B. Hunt facility in San Bernardino, Calif., in 2009 based on a criminal conviction record, which the EEOC contends was unrelated to the duties of the job.

The federal agency also reviewed the company's broader policy with respect to the hiring of job applicants with conviction records and says it found J. B. Hunt’s blanket prohibitions are not in accordance with the agency’s regulations.

As part of the five-year agreement, J.B. Hunt agreed to review, revise if necessary, and provide additional training concerning its hiring and selection policies and practices to comply with the EEOC's guidance. The EEOC will monitor compliance with the agreement. 

The alleged victim also entered into a private settlement agreement with J.B. Hunt.

The EEOC’s guidance recommends evaluating: the nature and gravity of the offense or conduct; the time that has passed since the conviction and/or completion of the sentence and the nature of the job sought prior to disqualifying a candidate with such a record.