Are You Hiring the Safest Drivers?

An efficient trucking operation relies on quality drivers. Good hiring decisions are critical to ensure you have the best possible drivers behind the wheels of your trucks. But how can you be confident you are selecting the best potential drivers? One tool that is still not being taken advantage of is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP). It supplies you with drivers’ safety performance histories so you can make better-informed hiring and qualifying decisions. 

The PSP records come directly from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System and include three years of roadside inspection data and five years of DOT-recordable accident data. You can also use data from the program to determine what areas of training and education drivers might need should you choose to hire or contract them. Additionally, the data can help you verify employment history of carriers the drivers may not have disclosed on their applications.

If records show a lack of compliance, it could indicate that drivers performed poorly on pre- and post-trip inspections or that the company they drove for had a limited focus on driver safety. Regardless, the results are a history of the driver’s performance that may continue if employed by you. It’s up to you to decide if the PSP results meet your eligibility criteria, and how you must train and monitor your drivers.

Enroll in the program by visiting www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov. It costs $10 for each requested driver history, after receiving written consent from the driver. Keep in mind, you will not be able to look up reports on current employees. You can only use the program for pre-employment screenings.

Incorporate the PSP into your existing screening process and be confident you are taking an extra step to qualify the safest drivers.

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