Employers that fall under the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are legally obligated to conduct a DOT background check on prospective commercial drivers. Before hiring, the DOT background check ensures that prospective workers are competent.
Read on to learn about the FMCSA background check standards you need to be on the lookout for when hiring if you run an FMCSA-regulated firm and need to run DOT background checks. The FMCSA background check standards you must meet before your background check are listed below if you are seeking truck driving employment.
Who should do DOT background checks?
To protect the safety of all drivers on the road, including commercial drivers, businesses abide by the FMCSA’s laws and regulations. Companies may more effectively safeguard the safety of their drivers and reduce risks, such as accidents and litigation, by completing a background check on truck drivers.
Companies governed by the FMCSA may need to do background checks if:
- The driver will be in charge of a car that weighs at least 10,000 pounds.
- The driver will be driving a car with nine to fifteen passengers (for compensation)
- The driver will be in charge of a car transporting more than 15 people (not for compensation)
- The driver will be in charge of a vehicle delivering dangerous goods (as defined by the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act)
What background check standards does the DOT have?
Before beginning, it is important to understand the prerequisites for a CDL background check, whether you are a CDL driver or an employer of CDL drivers. A recruit is required to do the following tasks within 30 days of employment to comply with DOT regulations.
Motor Vehicle Record Check
Obtaining the driver’s Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from each state where they have had a license or permit within the previous three years is the first stage in the DOT background check procedure. The MVR will reveal the applicant’s driving history and confirm their license number. It will also include information on traffic infractions, convictions for crimes or misdemeanors linked to driving, or license suspensions.
DOT Employment Verification
Completing employment verification is the second stage in the DOT background check procedure. In essence, this will confirm the accuracy of the individual’s information regarding their prior job. The employee’s past driving history and the results of any prior drug and alcohol tests must also be disclosed by previous employers.
Drug and Alcohol Pre-Employment Screening
A driver must pass a drug test that complies with DOT regulations. Drivers could sometimes be compelled to submit to an alcohol test, which is not always necessary. Employers must check the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for any prior drug- and alcohol-related offenses and make sure the applicant passes both the drug and alcohol tests.
DOT Physical Exam
A physical is the final stage of the background investigation procedure for truck drivers. The DOT physical evaluates the driver’s blood pressure, eyesight, hearing, and other physical characteristics, as well as their medical background. A motorist may seek an exemption if one or more factors make them unable to pass the physical examination (for example, a medical condition that might lead them to pass out while driving).
What may reject you from a background check by the DOT?
There are a few things to be mindful of in each of the steps of the CDL background check procedure outlined above that may prevent a candidate from passing the background check. The most frequent justification for disqualifying a motorist is their prior driving record. The majority of the time, a person’s driving past might become problematic, whether they have a significant history of moving offenses or have been found guilty of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. It is crucial to remember that not all infractions will automatically reject an application; therefore, if you have some infractions on your driving record, you may just need to wait a set length of time before reapplying.
Now that you know all the procedures and criteria for the DOT background check, you may continue looking for a job as a truck driver. You may also check out our truck driver school if you are just starting as a truck driver and require your CDL.