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What carriers check before they hire you

MVR, PSP, the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, employment history and drug tests, explained.

Knowing what carriers look at helps you answer honestly and avoid surprises.

Motor vehicle record (MVR)

Your state driving record: tickets, accidents, suspensions and license status. Most carriers look at the last three years, and some look back further for serious violations such as DUI.

Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP)

A report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with your roadside inspections and DOT-reportable crashes. Inspection warnings can count against you with some carriers.

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Carriers must query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before hiring. It shows drug and alcohol program violations, such as a failed or refused test. A violation must be resolved through the return-to-duty process (including a Substance Abuse Professional) before you can drive again.

Employment history

Federal rules require carriers to check your safety history with previous DOT-regulated employers from the past three years, and the application asks for your commercial driving history for the past ten years. List every job honestly, including short ones and gaps.

Drug screen and DOT physical

Every new hire takes a DOT drug test, and some carriers add a hair test. You also need a current DOT medical card.

Background check

Many carriers run a criminal background check. Rules differ by carrier and by offense, so ask before you apply.

If something in your history worries you, tell your recruiter up front. It is much easier to find a carrier that fits than to be turned down after orientation.