What Does Prime Check Before Approving You For Orientation?

Yes but for s brand new cdl holder and their first driving job, they generally only go back 3 yesrs.. Now for a second job, 10 years it is. Of course it depends on the company too but only requires 3 year work history for first driving job.

Rachav wrote:

For anyone else interested in this topic, it looks like they at least check your MVR and employment history before approving you. I found multiple posts about it on another site so I guess I can trust it; I doubt they were isolated screenings.

You can trust this as a common practice for all of the major and medium sized trucking companies. Not much gets past them. Thorough checks for criminal background, driving record and employment history, is SOP.

As far as what you "heard". You are going to hear a lot of things that people say or claim that others have said, doesn't mean it's true. Usually it's untrue and/or some abridged version of the whole truth. We try to dispel all rumors and hearsay with facts, figures, and personal experience.

As far as what you "heard". You are going to hear a lot of things that people say or claim that others have said, doesn't mean it's true.

Seriously, I've never come across more misinformation on any topic than I have about trucking. It is in fact what inspired me to start this website in the first place. Most of the garbage you read out there is either completely false or inaccurate enough that it's not helpful in any way.

Anytime you come across "some guy who tells you something" bring it here and run it by us. We'll tell you if it's accurate and helpful information or not.

The guy at the Greyhound Station had apparently been hauled in for some sort of incident but was never charged with anything. He said it was about 10 years previous to him coming in for orientation. To me it sounded like the standard issue brought down to the station for questioning type situation. Is this the God's honest truth or not I can't really say. What stuck in my mind was that he continued to walk around the bus station ranting about it in a loud tone of voice so the whole crowd knew about it.

Would he be able to keep his cool once he started driving? My feeling was probably not. That's a judgement call on my part which was not the right thing to do. I think he did have the right to feel angry though at the way he had been treated.

My point is that instead of wasting everyone's time why wasn't the fine tooth comb background check done in the beginning when they felt the guy was a good candidate for the position?

Myself coming from the computer field when you apply for a new job you get put under the microscope and your shorts are checked for skid marks right away before they will even consider the next step. If you don't pass the first hurdle we're done everyone can move on now without being strung along.

I understand trucking and information technology are two separate industries. Treating people fairly isn't any different across both of these.

The company does save money by doing the mini background check first often at the expense of the candidate. I don't think that's right. It's also not right for the candidate to lie about something that they know will show on a background check. If you require no arrests great. If you require no convictions even better. Be upfront about it and don't try to intimidate me into a confession when I get to orientation. We are after all supposed to be and act like professionals aren't we?

It's really sad that America has come to a point where the companies have to do everything they can to weed out potential candidates for the few available positions when in the past they couldn't fill the ranks of the workforce and tried everything they could to get you hired.

Bulwinkle J. Moose wrote:

My point is that instead of wasting everyone's time why wasn't the fine tooth comb background check done in the beginning when they felt the guy was a good candidate for the position?

Because the extent and depth to which they check can take over a week for all of the results to be returned. This can become even more protracted when the applicant has had multiple residences in different states. It's a process...

Bulwinkle J. Moose wrote:

My point is that instead of wasting everyone's time why wasn't the fine tooth comb background check done in the beginning when they felt the guy was a good candidate for the position?

Because the extent and depth to which they check can take over a week for all of the results to be returned. This can become even more protracted when the applicant has had multiple residences in different states. It's a process...

There is also a practice of doing an initial cursory, inexpensive check before an applicant arrives at school or orientation. A comprehensive check can cost over $150.00. If the trucking companies spent that on every applicant before they physically report it would be a colossal waste of money because of the potential for "no-shows".

We've heard some sad stories though - of people that have disclosed what is requested on the app - and then something else (usually ancient) comes up, and they end up getting sent packing - after giving up their job & residence.

Like the difference between "arrests" and "convictions" - where the apps are asking for CONVICTIONS. On many background checks - arrests come up with no "final disposition". This includes FBI's NCIC database - for which a copy of every fingerprint card you've ever done at a police station comes up.

I have a SPEEDING TICKET from 2000 that shows up in a criminal background check - even though it was only 5 over. For some reason, the court records marked it as criminal, not traffic - now it's in the databases - and there's NO WAY OF FIXING IT.

A few companies ask for a "processing fee" up front at orientation (usually $100 from what we hear here) - this sounds about like the cost of deep backgrounds and MVR pulls.

And I can understand how companies don't want to spend the $$ for BG's until the applicant actually shows up.

It's a double-edged sword, where applicants with a "checkered past" are better off DISCLOSING EVERYTHING, rather than getting "tripped up" later and getting sent home.

Rick

I know they use hire right for the initial screening. What company do they use for the background check one at orientation?

MVR , Criminal, Employment, Addresses, Nothing?

I've heard some say they only check employment and some say they also check your MVR?

**This is in reference to incoming students, not experienced drivers.

I know they use hire right for the initial screening. What company do they use for the background check one at orientation?

MVR , Criminal, Employment, Addresses, Nothing?

I've heard some say they only check employment and some say they also check your MVR?

**This is in reference to incoming students, not experienced drivers.

Hire-Right can perform all of the necessary checks, including in-depth international and domestic criminal checks.

All of this is on your DAC report and you can request a free copy from HireRight once a year. You can also request a copy of your MVR , usually for a minimal fee (in VA it is $7 for an online report, $10 for hard copy).

I highly recommend that everyone preparing to begin training or change companies start by getting both reports.

I did and (so far) have had no surprises.