Being a truck driver gives you the opportunity to enjoy the freedom of the open road. This can be a great career option for many individuals. However, trucking also comes with responsibility. Since you will be operating a large vehicle on public roads, you will be trusted to make safety a priority. Because of this, motor carriers will want to be sure they are hiring the best drivers. One method for checking the driving history of potential new hires is with a Drive-a-Check (DAC) report. Most medium or large trucking companies will use this for hiring purposes. As a result, it’s important to understand what DAC reports are before you enter the trucking industry so you can be prepared.
DAC Report Overview
The background check service HireRight complies the DAC report. It provides an overall view of a truck driver’s professional history. HireRight operates under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). As a result, they have certain obligations to truckers whose information is included in the reports.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the trucking industry. They do not require motor carriers to use DAC reports specifically. However, companies are required to obtain certain information about new drivers before employment and to keep this on file. Because of this, many of the categories on these reports will be reviewed by potential employers in some form, whether they use DAC reports or another method.
What Do DAC Reports Include?
A DAC report gives detailed information about a truck driver’s employment history for the past ten years. The specific items included vary depending on the trucking company that requests the report.
Some information that DAC reports may contain:
- Your commercial driver’s license (CDL) number and what endorsements and/or restrictions you have, if any
- Accident history
- Name and address of previous trucking companies you’ve driven for
- How long you worked for each carrier
- What type of truck you drove and what type of freight you hauled
- A record of your on-the-job performance
- Your reason for leaving previous trucking companies and your eligibility for rehire
- Drug and alcohol testing results, which are also included in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse system, although the DAC report may include additional non-DOT drug testing information
What Truckers Can Do About Their DAC Reports
Since the information in your DAC report can affect whether a motor carrier hires you or not, you want to make sure it reflects well on you as a driver. The best way to keep a clean report is to have a good driving record and focus on safety and professionalism.
In some cases, a DAC report may contain incorrect or false information and if this ever happens to you, it’s important to correct it as a soon as possible. Like consumer credit reports, you are entitled to request a free copy of your DAC report once a year. You should look over the information and if anything is inaccurate, missing, or incomplete, you should dispute it on HireRight’s website. To make this process easier, keep any records you have throughout your trucking career so they are ready in case you need to dispute your report.
Helping You Understand the Trucking Industry
At Phoenix Truck Driving School, we can help you prepare to start your trucking career with the knowledge you need to succeed.