DOT is Launching Background Check Website
DOT is launching its Driver Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP). It has set up a website, www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov, where employers can check out safety data on prospective employees. The data will consist of any roadside inspections, or accidents the DOT has a record of, going back probably at least 10 – 15 years. This information in the DOT’s giant database is almost certainly more comprehensive than the information found on State Motor Vehicle Record histories.
This website, at present, will cost $10 per inquiry to access. Companies can buy a $100 annual subscription, although carriers with less than 100 power units can buy an annual subscription for $25. An employer must provide authorization from the prospective employee in order to access his information.
While it is not required to use this database, it can be very useful for motor carriers. Violations found in the database will be things like, hours of service violations, failing to secure a load, operating with a suspended license, or even having alcohol or drugs in the truck. In addition, it will also identify things like following too closely and speeding.
A word of caution: DOT’s database is notorious for not being 100% accurate, so I wouldn’t trust the information in there with absolute certainty. However, as an employer, going this extra step in screening your employees could save you major dollars. I have always believed that 80% of a company’s problems on the road are caused by 20% of their drivers. If you can weed out some of that problem 20%, a good chunk of your problems will disappear.
Finally, if one of your drivers is involved in a big crash, is discovered to have an unsafe driving history, and it turns out you did not utilize this available tool, the plaintiff’s attorney is going to have a field day with you. DOT expects to have it fully functional by late summer.
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Eric Arnold is a Former Enforcement Agent with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and a leading expert on USDOT compliance for small businesses. Do you have a question for Eric Arnold? Email him at eric@arnoldsafety.com.
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