DOT Background Check & Driver Screening Services
Know exactly who you’re hiring — and keep watching after they start. We run the PSP reports, license checks, employment history, and drug & alcohol screening that go into a defensible hiring decision.
What Is a DOT Background Check?
A DOT background check is the package of pre-hire checks that tell you whether a commercial driver is safe, qualified, and legal to put on the road — their FMCSA crash and inspection history (PSP), their driving record, their license status, their drug & alcohol history, and their work history with previous DOT employers.
Done well, it’s the difference between a confident hire and an expensive mistake. Done sloppily — or skipped — it’s a 391.23 violation waiting to be found and a liability if something goes wrong. We run the whole process correctly, document it, and file it where it belongs.
What Our Driver Screening Includes
PSP Pre-Employment Screening
FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program reports — up to five years of crash history and three years of roadside inspections — so you see a driver’s federal safety record before you hire.
CDLIS License Verification
We verify commercial licenses through the CDL Information System to confirm credentials are valid, current, and not suspended in any state.
Safety Performance History (391.23)
We investigate previous employers under 49 CFR 391.23 — including the required DOT drug & alcohol history — and document every response.
Employment & DAC History
Verification of prior employment and DAC employment-history reporting, so the work record a driver gives you checks out.
Pre-Employment Drug Test & Clearinghouse
The required pre-employment drug test and Clearinghouse full query, coordinated so a driver is cleared before their first dispatch.
Ongoing Monitoring After Hire
Hiring is only the start. We keep watching MVRs and Clearinghouse status so a problem that develops after hire surfaces right away.
Why Carriers Screen With ClaimShield
Hire the Right Drivers
A complete pre-hire picture — safety history, license status, drug & alcohol record, work history — means fewer bad hires and fewer surprises down the road.
Stay FCRA-Compliant
Background screening is governed by the FCRA, with strict disclosure and consent rules. We run the process correctly so a screening doesn’t become a liability.
Meet 391.23 Without the Phone Tag
Chasing previous employers for safety history is slow and easy to drop. We handle the outreach and documentation so the requirement is actually met.
One File, One Partner
Every check feeds the same driver qualification file and the same monitoring program — not a pile of disconnected vendor reports.
Screening feeds directly into the rest of your compliance program:
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in a DOT background check?
For a commercial driver, a DOT background check typically includes the PSP report (FMCSA crash and inspection history), motor vehicle records, CDL verification through CDLIS, the safety performance history investigation of previous employers under 49 CFR 391.23, a pre-employment drug test and Clearinghouse query, and employment verification. We coordinate all of it and file it in the driver’s qualification file.
What is PSP and is it required?
PSP is FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program. A PSP report shows up to five years of crash data and three years of roadside inspection history for a driver. It isn’t federally mandated for hiring, but it’s one of the strongest pre-hire safety signals available and requires the driver’s written consent — we run it as a standard part of screening.
Do you verify commercial driver’s licenses?
Yes. We verify CDLs through the CDL Information System (CDLIS) to confirm the license is valid and current and to surface any suspensions or issues across states — not just the driver’s home state.
Is the previous-employer investigation actually required?
Yes. Under 49 CFR 391.23, motor carriers must investigate a new driver’s safety performance history with DOT-regulated employers from the past three years, including drug and alcohol testing history. We send the requests, follow up, and document the responses so the requirement is met and provable.
How does FCRA compliance work with background checks?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs how background checks are requested and used — it requires clear disclosure, the applicant’s authorization, and specific steps if information in a report leads to an adverse hiring decision. We run screening in line with those requirements so the process protects you instead of exposing you.
Do you screen drivers after they’re hired, or only before?
Both. Pre-employment screening clears a driver to start; ongoing MVR monitoring and Clearinghouse status checks keep watching after hire, so a violation or suspension that happens later doesn’t go unnoticed until the annual cycle.
How much do DOT background checks cost?
Screening is part of one monthly fee per driver covering your whole compliance program — no per-report surprises, and you get volume pricing on the underlying checks you’d never get going direct. Exact pricing depends on your fleet, so the next step is a short conversation.
Hire with the full picture.
Tell us about your hiring process. We’ll show you how complete driver screening fits into one fee per driver.