DOT background checks protect

DOT Employment Verification Protects Your Business by Ensuring Your Commercial Drivers Are Qualified

Commercial transportation businesses face significant liability risks when hiring drivers who may not meet federal safety standards. DOT Employment Verification serves as a critical safeguard. It helps employers make informed hiring decisions while maintaining full compliance with FMCSA regulations.

To meet DOT requirements, ECS conducts DOT Employment inquiries via mail, fax, telephone, or email. We provide the past employer with a signed release from the applicant. We also document all attempts made to contact previous employers. This ensures we show good faith in obtaining the required information according to DOT regulations.

Our systematic approach protects your business from potential compliance violations. It also reduces the risk of hiring drivers with undisclosed safety issues. We verify each applicant's three-year employment history and driving record. This gives you confidence that your new hires meet the qualifications for commercial driving positions.

Average Turn-Around Time

Previous employers have up to 30 days to respond from the date of inquiry made by ECS

What Is Included in DOT Employment Verification?

Our DOT Employment Verification service gathers detailed information about an applicant's employment history and driving record over the past three years. To comply with DOT regulations, a DOT Employment Verification must contact all of the applicant’s employers from the past three years. These employers are asked all of the required questions outlined by the FMCSA in DOT Rule 49 CFR Part 391.

Additionally, employers must inform applicants that they have the right to review the information their former employers provide, allowing them to dispute any information they believe to be inaccurate.

DOT Employment Verification Process

To meet DOT requirements, ECS will conduct a DOT Employment inquiry via mail, fax, telephone, or email. We will provide the past employer with a signed release from the applicant and document all attempts made to contact previous employers. This ensures that we show good faith in obtaining the required information according to DOT regulations.

In addition to verifying general employment details, such as job titles and dates of employment, the DOT Employment Verification checks the following driving-specific information:

  • Whether the individual has had an alcohol test result of 0.04% or greater, or a positive drug test

  • Whether the driver has been involved in any accidents on the job

  • Whether the individual has ever refused an alcohol or drug test

  • Whether the individual has failed or completed a rehabilitation program as prescribed by a substance abuse professional

The FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

The FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse requires employers to conduct background investigations before hiring CDL drivers. The FMCSA background check helps verify if the driver has violated any drug and alcohol regulations within the past three years.

As of January 6, 2023, the Clearinghouse stores three years of violation data. This means that prospective employers must conduct a pre-employment query of the Clearinghouse to comply with the FMCSA inquiry requirements.

The Clearinghouse only contains data for drivers employed by FMCSA-regulated employers. If an applicant worked for a DOT-regulated employer outside of FMCSA (such as the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, etc.) during the past three years, the employer must request drug and alcohol violation information directly from those employers.

Employers must also conduct a yearly query in the Clearinghouse for each CDL driver they employ. This annual query is required on a rolling 12-month basis. Employers need general consent from CDL drivers to conduct limited queries in the Clearinghouse to view their information.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is DOT Employment Verification?

A: DOT Employment Verification is the process of confirming a commercial driver's employment history, driving record, drug and alcohol testing history, and accident history to ensure compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.

Q: What does the FMCSA Compliance Checklist cover?
Q: What are common compliance violations in the trucking industry?
Q: How to ensure the company is compliant with FMCSA regulations for commercial driving positions?