DAC (Drive-A-Check) Report

What New Truck Drivers Need To Know About DAC Reports?

• DAC (Drive-A-Check) reports are like credit reports, but for truckers. A DAC report can be thought of as an employment history report.
• All CDL drivers will have a DAC. They are managed by HireRight, a private background screening company.
• A truck driver's DAC report will contain their employment history. This is as reported by their former employers, and their Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
• Trucking companies use DAC reports during the hiring and background check process.
• It is vital that drivers regularly verify that the information contained in their DAC is correct.
• Drivers are protected under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to ensure that the information on their DAC report is accurate, complete, and justified.

(More on HireRight DAC Reporting Information.)

What Is in A DAC Report?

A truck driver's DAC report will contain detailed information on their job history as a CDL driver for the last 10 years. This will include all information as required by the DOT. A driver's DAC will consist of criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions, and accident history. While the program is voluntary from a company standpoint, most medium-to-large carriers still participate.

Employment History

A list of former employers is a standard part of a DAC. Any transport-related work will be included as reported by employers. Most trucking companies will submit information on their drivers to comply with federal guidelines. This includes records regarding the driver's work history and role within the company.

Other items included in this section are:

• License number, restrictions, and endorsements.
• Name and address of contributing company (employer), and date submitted
• Employment record (on-the-job performance)
• Driver Identification (Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth)
• Period of driver service (month and year)
• Types of freight and trailers hauled
• Reason for leaving
• Eligibility for rehire

The circumstances under which a driver has left previous jobs will understandably impact whether a company is willing to hire them. Drivers need to monitor their DAC, even if they have done nothing wrong. There have been well-documented cases of companies reporting unjust, inaccurate, or erroneous information. However, negative reports will remain on a driver's DAC record if proven accurate.

Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP)

Your pre-employment screening program contains the most recent 5 years of DOT recordable crashes and 3 years of roadside inspection data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). This data is updated approximately once a month.

Find out how to request an MCMIS report for a company or individual here.

Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)

Employers will request a driving abstract, or Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), for each state in which a driver has held a license. This record will also report any accidents a driver has been in, in “no-fault” states.

Criminal Background Check

By law, employers must do a criminal background check for all hires. In addition, employers want to know more about the criminal history of the drivers they are hiring. For most truck drivers, this will be a general background check conducted at the county level. The only time a trucker is sure to undergo a TSA background check is for a Hazmat endorsement. Trucking Truth has a guide for those with a criminal background interested in breaking into trucking.

Drug and Alcohol Test Results

Drivers will be required to submit to a drug test no matter which trucking company they apply to. These tests may not be included in a DAC, but it's a possibility. It is always safest to assume your drug and alcohol history is represented on the report.

How Do DAC Reports Affect Truck Drivers?

DAC reports considerably affect any trucker's ability to find work. Prospective employers will use it to verify that applicants have been truthful with their applications. They will also use DACs to check that contenders have not left out facts about their job or driving history.

For the above reason alone, don't leave anything out when applying for trucking jobs. Also, don't lie. It will be obvious. And, if a lie is blatant, a DAC will easily disprove it.

At the same time, don't worry too much about the less-than-glowing items on a DAC report. Negative items alone will not cause a company to pass on a hire.

Truckers with a mixed DAC will find some companies will want to know more about "questionable" entries. Other employers won't bother asking and will just move on instead. Therefore, it's good to be proactive in keeping communication open with a company.

Where Do DAC Reports Come From?

All DAC reports are created by a private firm called HireRight. These reports are the industry's primary source of employee screening resources and background checks. HireRight is an employment background screening company and, as such, is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

DACs are a form of a consumer report. They must be produced with specific procedures to make sure they are accurate. HireRight must also provide truckers with a copy of their file upon request and update incorrect or outdated information per request.

HireRight lists items that may be included in any driver's DAC report on their trucking industry background screening page. Possible items include DOT physical results, CDLIS reports, reference checks, and U.S. employment eligibility.

You can request a free copy of your DAC report from HireRight. This request can be submitted online, by phone, fax, or mail.

Find a free copy of your DAC report.

How to Correct Incorrect Information on Your DAC Report?

Accidents may be reported to DAC by an employer even if they don't reach the DOT definition of a reportable accident. Even if a trucker disagrees with their company's assessment of the situation, the company can do as they please. Watch this video from Truckers Justice Center, which breaks down the tricky situation truckers can find themselves in.

However, truckers are still able to file a dispute with HireRight directly. Suppose a trucker feels they have entries on their DAC report that are wrong or unjustified. In that case, they have the right to appeal to HireRight and the Federal Trade Commission to have those items removed.

Truckers can challenge any information in their background report they feel is incomplete or inaccurate by contacting HireRight to file a dispute. This is free and can be done here: File DAC Report Dispute.

You can view the Federal Trade Commission's full Disputing Errors on Credit Reports page.

How Far Back Does a DAC report go?

How long items stay on a DAC is governed by FMCSA and Credit Reporting regulations. Some items, such as accidents, detailed employment info such as driving duties, and rehiring eligibily will be removed seven years after they were reported.

After ten years, most details except the basic biographical information will be omitted from a DAC. However, a failed DOT drug or alcohol screening will still show up.

Will a Failed Drug Test Show Up on a DAC Report?

All failed DOT drug and alcohol screenings will be included in a DAC report and do not “expire”—or come off of the report. Failure to submit to a screening can also be noted by a company. Drivers should also know it is grounds for suspension or dismissal.

How Can a Driver Check Their Accident History?

Drivers looking to get their CDL should first get a copy of their driving record. This is sometimes referred to as a driving abstract, MVR , or “Motor Vehicle Report,” these are most often obtained at the driver's local DMV.

Drivers will need to show proof of identity and pay a small fee in order to receive their report. In most states, drivers must request a MVR themselves. Once the report is obtained, a driver will have a complete idea of their official driving history.

Online options exist for getting an MVR , though they often are not as accurate as the state's own records. If you're short on time, an insurance agent may be able to look up your driving record for you. However, any copies will not be considered official.

Possible DAC Alternatives

DAC reports from HireRight are the overwhelming industry standard that over 2,500 carriers use to maintain records on over 6 million drivers. However, truckers may run into alternative employment screening services that can also provide MVRs. Alternatives include DriverIQ and StarPoint Screening.

Straight From the Trucker's Mouth: Advice Found in the Trucking Truth Forums

User Old School from Nacogdoches, TX, on what trucking companies really use DAC reports for:

The DAC can have just about anything on it that the company you worked with chooses to put on it. You could scrape a tire on a curb, and they can call it an accident on your DAC. I'm not saying that is a common practice, but it is simply a way for the trucking companies to share information on a driver's performance. Not everyone uses the DAC report. But most companies will refer to it when hiring a new driver as one of the indicators that helps them get a [measure] on the type of driver they are looking into.

User Rick S. from Fort Lauderdale, FL, on how different items may stay on your DAC:

How long does information stay on my DAC report? A DAC report will typically keep information on it for 10 years. However, after 7 years, things like accidents, work records, and eligibility will be removed, leaving only the employment dates and type of experience you had. FMCSA regs require 10 years of job history on applications. And this is typically DRIVING JOBS, though most companies just go for 10 years on their applications. I believe failed or refused DOT Drug/Alcohol Tests stay on permanently. There are other things on a DAC, like the CRIMINAL PORTION, that stay on FOREVER. Most BG checks use the NCIC Criminal Database. If you were FINGERPRINTED, you would pop - regardless of whether the case was dismissed or found not guilty at trial. So, under [a] theoretical example - if you were dismissed from a company in 2009, it may not be gone until 2019. And in the application process, any company you worked for less than 10 years ago, will have to be listed on your application - and may well be contacted (whether or not they appear on your DAC report - as many companies do not report to DAC).

User Amiel V. from Salem, OR, on beating a bad DAC report:

I ran for a company for seven months about two years ago before they pulled me into their office and terminated my employment for "safety concerns." They decided to report this to the DAC, and it kept me out of a truck for good. About a month ago, I contacted HireRight and appealed my DAC record. I just got word that HireRight found no records with my old company of me being an unsafe driver. They overturned the cause for termination, and it is now listed as company misconduct.

User Susan D. from Central (I-65 corridor), KY, on the strictness of company policies concerning alcohol:

Most companies are very clear on their policies regarding the consumption of alcohol, and often they're [stricter] than the federal regulations. I'm not sure about the length of time before you return to your truck, but I do know that you cannot drive until at least 8 hours later. And I don't believe any alcohol is allowed at all in a CMV... My company's policy is at least 12 hours, and no [is] alcohol allowed at all unless you are at home, (on home time) or at our annual awards/gala. At the annual gala, they do serve alcohol (2 drinks) on Saturday evening, and all attendees must have their trucks parked at our Cedar Rapids terminal. And we are not driving since the company pays for everyone's hotel that night and has a shuttle to return us to our trucks late Sunday morning/noonish.

Sources to Incorporate:

HireRight Support Page

FTC's Guide to Disputing Errors in Credit Reports

A Summary of Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Statue

MCMIS Catalog and Documentation

Cornell Law School Overview of Consumer Reports