The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all trucking companies and employers to maintain accurate CDL driver qualification files for every driver, regardless of the size of your fleet. Performing previous employer checks for new drivers are a part of the DOT requirements, and it’s important to make sure your business is correctly following all such regulations. However, in the case of prior employment checks, you are gaining more than just compliance! You are gaining peace of mind as a CDL driver employer!
What is involved with CDL Driver Previous Employer Checks?
Trucking company owners and employers must verify all employment for each new driver for a minimum of the past three years. This also applies to jobs that were non-driving in nature. Information collected should include verification that your new potential hire did in fact work at the previous location and the dates that he/she was employed with each business. It’s also necessary to find out the positions that were held and the rehire status.
In addition to employment verification for all new CDL drivers, you are required to check their DOT drug and alcohol testing history for at least the past 3 years. To do so, you must receive written consent from the potential hire, specifying the employer that you will be requesting the information from and the time period involved. It’s valuable for you as an employer to be aware of any testing that was refused or accidents that involved drugs or alcohol.
No matter the size of your company, prior employment checks are absolutely necessary. The regulations require you to put a ‘good faith effort’ into these verifications, which means that if you cannot get ahold of a business or your letters are returned, you are still in compliance. You are required to make two attempts per prior employer, and keeping returned certified mail is a great way to prove you did your due diligence in meeting this DOT regulation.
How do Prior Employment Verifications Protect a Trucking Company?
Many industries require or prefer to do background checks before hiring a new employee. This is a smart way to protect your business. All too often, businesses hire a candidate that looks great on paper only to learn later that they are incapable of performing the job duties, or worse! You can save yourself a lot of time and money by simply checking the references and verifying that the applying CDL driver is being honest on their application.
Similar to the DOT required pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, failure to comply with prior employment verification for new truck drivers can induce non-compliance penalties that you don’t want! These background checks can also protect your trucking company from cargo theft and negligent drivers. This means that, simply by doing what is regulated by the DOT, you are actually providing a safer work environment for all while protecting the best interests of your whole fleet.
Office Tenders Offers Driver Qualification File Services to Save You Time!
DOT regulations can be difficult to keep up with, and making sure you are in compliance can be timely. Office Tenders is here to help save you time and hassle! We generate the necessary paperwork, collect the driver information, notify you about DOT regulation changes, and even remind you when additional tasks need to be completed. Office Tenders Driver Qualification File Services include:
- Driver application forms
- Previous employer checks
- Driving record checks
- Certification of driving record and supervisor reviews
- Annual state driving record checks
- Road test formats
- Supervisor review forms
- Medical examiners card reminders
- Medical examiners report form
- Driver qualification file auditing and updating
Spend more time on the road making money and less time dealing with paperwork! Contact Office Tenders today to get started with our DOT paperwork services for your trucking company!
