Why Review an Applicant's Driving Record?
A driving record or motor vehicle report (MVR) can be an insightful initial snapshot of an applicant's character. Frequent suspensions, accidents, failures to appear (in court), traffic infractions, and drug and/or alcohol related violations can spell trouble for an employer. If your applicant will be driving while on company time, or driving a company vehicle, it is critical that you as the employer are able to verify the validity of an applicant's driver's license.
A suspended license or poor driving record can expose a company to liability if the employee is irresponsible or negligent while employed.
Some states classify drug or alcohol driving related offenses as "traffic offenses", and therefore it is critical to run driving records because in some jurisdictions, convictions for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and other related violations may only be shown on the driving record, and not necessarily on an applicant's criminal record.
Generally, an employer will need to utilize the services of a pre-employment screening provider in order to run an MVR, unless their insurance company can provide the service for them. The information required is the applicant's name, DOB and driver's license number. Some states allow instant access, while others can take up to two days for reporting. With the exception of specialized motor vehicle reports for the transportation industry (DOT), only three years of driving history is allowed for review for the purposes of pre-employment screening.
Employers should be aware that some states limit the information available for use in employment background screening. Additionally, accessing this information in other states may involve further consent or contractual requirements. An employer may need to determine the specific requirements for the states being searched.
Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant MVR record searches have different requirements. Generally, they will allow searches to be conducted for a wider time frame and will be subject to review annually. DOT MVRs will also include driver classifications and restrictions.
Resources:
Free Public Records resources: http://www.crimcheck.com/freerecords.htm
SHRM - Resume Fraud Statistics http://www.shrm.org/ema/library_published/nonIC/CMS_006087.asp
US Chamber of Commerce http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/public/index.cfm
FCRA http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/031224fcra.pdf
NAPBS http://www.napbs.com/
CDIA http://www.cdiaonline.org/
FACTA http://www.treasury.gov/offices/domestic-finance/financial-institution/cip/pdf/fact-act.pdf
