If your business is subject to DOT regulations, then you’re already requesting online MVRs for all your new drivers before putting them on the road to represent your business. You’re also conducting annual MVR reviews for every active driver to maintain compliance with the DOT. While pre-employment MVR checks and once-yearly rechecks are essential, adding ongoing MVR monitoring completes your efforts to create and maintain a safe driving environment. Continuous monitoring provides you with current information that you can act on if necessary.
The Basics
Federal law mandates the following:
- Drivers who operate vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more must undergo a pre-employment MVR check and annual rechecks.
- The required MVR checks must include license info such as class, status, expiration dates, endorsements, and restrictions. In addition, it must include details about violations, suspensions, accidents, vehicular crimes, and even parking tickets that remain unpaid.
- All the MVR data must be maintained in a Driver Qualification File.
- Drivers are required to self-report any changes to their files.
Beyond the Basics
Drivers spend a lot of time on the road, personally and professionally, so it’s highly likely that incidents will occur between annual checks. The self-reporting system relies on the honor system, a fallible system at best. Drivers may forget to report relevant information or may withhold information to protect their jobs. The result is that employers may only learn about critical infractions during the annual review, months after the incidents occurred. Being the last to know puts you at risk for accidents, noncompliance, negligence suits, higher insurance premiums, and just plain old bad driving.
MVR Monitoring is the Answer
Continuous monitoring fills in the gaps and keeps you informed. New information on a driver’s record pings your background check vendor, prompting an updated report and evaluation that you can review. You’ll know within days if any of your drivers have a DUI, moving violation, or have an expired license. These real-time notifications help you maintain the safety of your fleet.
Stay in the Know
Continuous monitoring helps you run your business safely and efficiently at all times, not just during annual audits. MVR monitoring keeps you up to date and in the know with the latest information about all your drivers. Keep the best drivers on the road representing your business and keep the risky ones away by adding continuous monitoring to your MVR review process. Talk to your background check provider about continuous MVR monitoring for all your drivers.
