Updated on February 11, 2016
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Many trucking companies are more in need of well-qualified, skilled, and safe drivers than ever especially as driving regulations strengthen across the U.S. With the current truck driver shortage, it is easy to overlook a driver’s background in the hope of getting someone behind the wheel so your company can meet its deadline. Yet, not just anyone should drive a truck with your company’s logo on it or wear your badge. This is why pre-employment screenings are simply essential in the trucking industry.
Consider the Risks of Hiring Drivers
Even in the safest of circumstances, there is a risk every time a commercial driver gets behind the wheel of your company truck. Accidents can happen. The roadway can be slick. The load can shift, leading to dangerous turns. While these individuals are a key liability risk, they are the piece that keeps the comprehensive supply chain logistics puzzle operating properly throughout the course of the year. They are also responsible for your very valuable equipment as well as being the face of your company to your customer.
New trucking regulations could mean fewer hours behind the wheel, more stringent schedules to keep, and better tracking. If your driver makes a mistake in any of these areas, it costs you thousands, if not millions, of dollars. However, if you have an experienced and seasoned driver behind the wheel, even the roughest circumstances are easily navigable.
You can reduce this risk significantly by hiring the right commercial drivers. In addition to the traditional screening through the state Department of Motor Vehicles, you need a commercial driver safety background check.
The Value of Background Checking Commercial Drivers Prior to Hiring
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a survey in which they analyzed the value of pre-employment screening within the trucking industry. The results were significant –
Companies using the pre-screening program that was a component of the survey found a 17 percent decrease in out-of-service-rates for their drivers.
Additionally, there was an 8 percent drop in their crash rate compared to drivers who were not pre-screened prior to hiring.
The program’s analysis indicates it prevented 3,592 driver out-of-service incidents and 863 crashes.
These numbers provide clear indication of the value of pre-employment screening. In short, if you know the history of the driver, you are more likely to hire a driver that is safer. What’s more, the process does not necessarily take a long time and does not limit a commercial trucking company’s ability to offer a job to an interested party quickly.
What Can Pre-Employment Screenings Offer?
Customized information from a background safety screening for truck drivers can provide an extensive amount of information to answer the key question: “Should this driver be accepted into the company as a low-risk hire?” Among the information provided in such a report includes:
Crash detail reports, information about the truckers involvement in reported crashes
Crash summary, listing all crashes involved without determination of responsibility
Inspection details (as long as three years of history) all broken down into an easy-to-read summary; this includes driver, vehicle, and hazmat summary information.
What’s more, this information is available nearly right away. Once you have an application in hand with the appropriate approval for conducting the background screening as allowed under state laws, it is possible to connect to an online tool, punch in basic information, and gain access to the driver’s record immediately. It is also possible to print the document to use later.
In short, using a pre-screening report like this ensures your commercial trucking company is hiring the safest drivers possible.
But, that’s not the only thing to consider.
Single-State Background Checks Put Commercial Trucking Companies at Ongoing Risk
One of the most common risks trucking companies make when securing such background screenings is focusing on a single state tool. Most of the background screenings used for truck drivers are state-based. However, these fail miserably in providing the information you need before hiring a commercial truck driver.
These state-based reports only provide information about incidents occurring within that state. They lack information about incidents occurring across state lines. However, most of today’s truck drivers are logging hundreds of miles per week across dozens of states. Trucking companies are not getting the information they need unless they have access to a federal commercial driver safety background check.
The Solution For Federal Commercial Background Checks Is Easy
VerifyProtect.com offers the exact report you need with the specific information you need to make the best hiring decision for your company. This is not a state based program. Rather, it provides a federal level of coverage.
Gather information about all accidents, incidents, and crashes throughout the United States.
Learn about safety inspections and results in detail from all incidents occurring throughout the country.
Gain immediate information to license status.
Access all moving violation information.
Get immediate access to all of this information.
Ultimately, you cannot protect your business financially if you do not have the best drivers working behind your company’s wheels. Your customers and clients are depending on your ability to hire only the safest drivers every time. Without the right information prior to hire, from a federal level that’s comprehensive, you may be incurring unnecessary risk.
VerifyProtect.com makes it easy for you to gather all levels of information, immediately, to alleviate these risks and to give your business the best possible driver. Contact us by calling 610-355-2331 or fill out our contact form now to discuss your risks and needs. Be impressed with just how easy it is to learn the federal level of safety your potential driver is bringing to your company.
