In the difficult business environment of today, a company must remain strongly committed to its risk management practices. In the overall program of risk management, employee screening is an essential element. With thorough screening of a prospective employee, a company can make sure that they hire reliable and honest employees.


A company that employs drivers should take reasonable measures to ensure that they hire the right people for the job. Among these steps are the use of DOT Drug Testing and MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) checks to determine if an applicant has a good history.


Why an MVR Check is Important?

Employee driving records can greatly help employers identify and mitigate risk liability in the workplace. Driving Records can help employers avoid risk of third party lawsuits, medical bills, and other costs associated with automobile accidents by an employee whose primary role or even incidental role includes driving on the job.


An MVR check includes include license details such as state issued, status, expiration, suspensions, revocations, violations and sanctions. MVR Reports are easy to read and include standardized acd violation codes.


MVR Driving History mostly repeats itself. So, if a company runs an MVR check it would be able to predict the chances of any negative activity happening in the future. Moreover, insurance companies focus on several factors in determining auto insurance rates and their premiums are sometimes based on driving history records. If a company employs drivers with a negative driving history, it can be charged with higher premiums by the insurance company. Knowing about MVR driving records helps companies safeguard themselves from higher premiums.


Driving Records should be checked at least annually; however, it is recommended to check them more frequently to proactively determine if there have been any changes to the driving record and to further reduce company liability. MVRcheck.com provides a real-time MVR ordering system whereby mvrs can be ordered manually or in batches. In addition, real-time driver monitoring is also available.


Why Drug Screening is Important?

Generally, all CDL drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles subject to the CDL requirements on public roads in the U.S. are performing safety-sensitive functions are subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. This includes all full-time, part-time, intermittent, backup and international drivers. DOT truck drivers must undergo a drug screening test prior to their employment. This is to be done once per year, after any accident, and if there is a suspicion that a driver is taking drugs. Also, CDL drivers must be randomly tested throughout the year.


DOT drug tests require laboratory testing for the following five classes of drugs:

  • Marijuana
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates – opium and codeine derivatives
  • Amphetamines and methamphetamines
  • Phencyclidine – PCP.


DOT alcohol tests identify alcohol concentration of 0.02 and greater.


Effective January 1, 2018, CDL drivers will be tested for four semi-synthetic opioids (i.e., hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone). Some common names for these semi-synthetic opioids include OxyContin®, Percodan®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, Lortab®, Norco®, Dilaudid®, Exalgo®. In addition, they will no longer be tested for MDEA.


When drivers take drugs, their motor skills suffer and their reaction times are severely hampered. This can be dangerous and lead to accidents. Proper Drug screening ensures that a company has healthy drivers on the road.


If you wish to run an MVR check or Drug Screening on your employees to make better informed hiring decisions, go to MVRcheck.com