Background Check Requirements For Truck Driving Jobs

The trucking industry is one the industries heavily regulated by the government at the federal level. Employers are required to follow strict industry standards when hiring drivers. Drivers also need to maintain good records while employed to remain in good standing and to keep their commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Why Background Checks Are Required

A pre-employment background check helps companies identify job candidates who may be a good fit for an opening. A typical background check will show whether the driver has a valid CDL and is up to date with endorsements and training.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces background check regulations that employers are required to comply with. By law, trucking companies must complete a three-year check of the driver’s history in each state where they have held a license, a three-year check with the Department of Transportation (DOT) of the driver’s safety record, and employment verification.

Background checks for truckers also include information about failed drug and alcohol screenings and refusals to test. With a thorough background check, employers can eliminate applicants with poor driving histories and find those with a clean record.

A background check typically shows the following:

Motor vehicle record
Safety performance history
Verification of any drug or alcohol-related violations
DOT physical exam

The Importance of Background Checks

In many cases, a driving record is more important than a person’s criminal background. Though it depends on the crime, many carriers are willing to consider drivers with felonies on a case by case basis. Employers will make an individual risk assessment of the candidate instead of making a blanket assumption. In the truck driving industry, many employers are willing to give truckers a second chance if they see a willingness to pursue an honest life.

Below are the hiring guidelines for Melton Trucking, just one of many carriers with similar standards.

No DUI/DWI/BAC’s in past 5 years
No more than 2 moving violations in last year
No more than 3 moving violations in the last three years
No more than 2 preventable accidents in the last 3 years
Felonies are case by case, but 5 years is a good guideline