While it’s true that there is certainly a wide range of different opportunities open to you as a truck driver, you’ll still have to work at your career – the same as anything else. A job isn’t just going to fall into your lap, so to speak. You need to be proactive about earning that next position, and you’ll want to lean into any source of help you can find along the way.

One such resource that will be used during this period is a DAC report. It’s a bit like a credit report for CDL drivers, and it’s something that any potential employers will absolutely look at when deciding whether to hire you. Because of that, you need to know exactly what they’re looking for and other key insights that will be relied on moving forward.

What is a DAC Report?

In a broad sense, a DAC report is a type of specialized background check that dives into more detail about the driving and employment history of truck drivers. Potential employers will use it as a way to find out more about who you are, how you perform as an employee, and if there are any type of issues in your past that may impact your job performance in the future.

Again – it’s not unlike a credit report, which a potential lender will pull before deciding whether to give you a credit card in the future. If your history is filled with abandoned accounts and delinquent payments, a new lender probably isn’t going to give you a brand-new card with a high credit limit. If your credit history is immaculate with absolutely no issues, they might. The point is that they have easy access to the data so they can decide for themselves.

Who Keeps DAC Reports?

All DAC reports are managed, maintained, and provided by a private company called HireRight. They’re an organization that specializes in exactly this type of industry-specific employee background screening.

It can be strange for one company to have so much of a foothold in an entire industry, but it does. A significant majority of medium and large trucking companies in particular will pull a DAC report as a part of their hiring process, which means you really need to concern yourself with what is on it and how accurate it is.

What are the Benefits of DAC Reports?

From the perspective of a carrier, the major benefit of a DAC report has to do with the improved hiring decisions that come with it.

Trucking companies no longer have to rely on just the word of a potential hire when making a decision. They have a document they can turn to with detailed, verified, and accurate information about someone’s entire work performance. They won’t have to guess whether someone is the safe driver they claim to be. The carrier can make the most informed decisions possible regarding who they hire and what kinds of tasks they’re assigned to.

Along the same lines, this also helps to mitigate a significant amount of risk on behalf of the employers themselves. If you’re a trucking company, and you hire someone with a known history of accidents, violations, and other examples of poor performance, and that driver gets on the road and eventually has an accident that causes serious injury, you could be held responsible for hiring that person in the first place. It will literally be argued in a court of law that you should have known better than to give that driver a job.

With a DAC report, on the other hand, you can show you’ve done your due diligence. Not only do you have a document that shows you that someone is a reliable driver to begin with, but if they do have a big accident, you’re protected from the aforementioned argument.

What Information is Contained in DAC Reports?

DAC reports contain quite a bit of information, including any relevant driver identification like a driver’s name, address, and license number.

Someone’s employment history is a big part of what a DAC report will contain. This will include the length of time they worked for particular jobs, performance details, and even reasons for leaving.

Given the fact that you’re talking about a truck driver who is trying to find a job in the transportation industry, that person’s accident history and violations will also be included and are very relevant. Any accidents that someone has been involved in during their career will be included, including the date the accident happened, the circumstances under which it took place, and more. You’ll also be able to see whether they got not just a speeding ticket, but also a DUI or other driving-related violations as well.

Along those same lines, any available drug and alcohol testing information will also be contained within the DAC report. Other pieces of data that a carrier will be able to rely on when making a hiring decision include any endorsements or restrictions that the driver has had, as well as any claims of litigation. That last part is particularly important, as you’ll be able to see the details of any lawsuits that someone has been involved in, any claims that have been made against them, any disputes they may have had with other drivers, and more.

How to Fix Inaccuracies in DAC Reports

Not unlike a credit report, it’s important to note that all truck drivers are entitled to get a free copy of their DAC report directly from HireRight. They’ll be able to verify that what employers see when they pull the report is actually correct. If there are any inaccuracies, you can file a dispute with HireRight to have it taken care of.

Key Points to Understand About DAC Reports

While the easiest way to understand a DAC report is to use a credit report as an example, know that these are two different things. A DAC report relates to someone’s professional history within the trucking industry in general. A credit report can relate to someone’s both personal and professional life in a much broader way as it relates to finances.

Also, understand that DAC reports are not infallible – errors can and often do occur. Some entries may not have the correct dates. Others may be devoid of important information that would give an employer context. That’s why drivers need to be proactive about getting their free copy of their DAC report to file any necessary disputes and to otherwise correct any inaccuracies that may be found.

To find out even more information about what is a DAC report and why it’s ultimately so important, or to discuss the future of the industry in general, please reach out to the Advanced Commercial Capital team today.

Commercial truck driving is an incredibly important profession, serving as the backbone of the United States economy. It’s also dangerous, as accidents involving tractor-trailers and other heavy commercial vehicles can be quite severe in a worst-case scenario.

Thankfully, the Department of Transportation, otherwise known as the DOT for short, has taken steps to mitigate this as much as possible. One such step is the 14-hour rule – understanding what it is and what it means for truck drivers is the key to making the most informed decisions possible moving forward.

What is the DOT 14-Hour Rule?

As the name implies, the DOT 14-hour rule is a new rule that says that a truck driver can only work a maximum of 14 consecutive hours within a single 24-hour period. This is to limit the amount of time that one person can spend on duty during a work day, thus reducing fatigue and helping to curb accidents across the country.

What Other Time-Based Rules Does the DOT Enforce?

Note that the 14-hour rule is hardly the only (or even the first) time-based rule that the Department of Transportation enforces. Others include the following.

11-Hour Rule

The 11-Hour Rule states that drivers are allowed to drive a maximum of 11 hours during 14 hours. This limits the amount of time they can spend actively driving, hopefully giving them more than enough time to rest and recover before they get back on the road.

70-Hour Rule

The 70-Hour Rule limits the total number of hours a driver can work in a 7-day or 8-day period. Once they hit 70 hours of time spent performing the duties of their job, they need to rest for at least 34 hours in a row before they can begin what is considered to be a new work week.

How Do DOT Time Rules Work Together?

The Department of Transportation’s time-based rules all work together to help create more of a work/life balance for truck drivers everywhere. Collectively, they give truckers rest periods that make sense – hopefully minimizing the amount of fatigue they experience while still allowing them to achieve maximum productivity on behalf of their employer.

The 14-hour rule includes both driving and other duties like loading and unloading, for example. The 11-hour rule relates specifically to driving time, giving the trucker three additional hours for non-driving activity.

How are Driver Hours of Service (HOS) Tracked?

In the modern era, driver hours of service are tracked automatically through electronic logging devices provided by their employer. These devices automatically record not only the amount of time someone spends driving, but also the length of time that the truck’s engine is on, and other essential information. It is actually mandated that commercial drivers use electronic devices that are compliant with all current rules and regulations.

These devices sync with the vehicle’s engine to track the driver’s time behind the wheel and help make sure that they do not exceed daily and weekly driving limits. These devices also allow for easier enforcement of current commercial trucking rules by law enforcement agencies, as they can access a driver’s log data during roadside inspections.

The Importance of the 14-Hour Rule

Again – the number one reason why the 14-hour rule is important and why it’s in place at all has to do with helping to cut down on driver fatigue as much as possible.

It’s been said that fatigue is the number one cause of truck driving-related accidents in the United States. Think about how dangerous it can be to get behind the wheel of a standard passenger vehicle if you haven’t slept for many hours or if you’ve been on the road for long periods of time. They have rest stops alongside most major turnpikes for a reason.

Now, multiply the dangers of that situation exponentially when you consider how large commercial vehicles are and you begin to get a sense of just how devastating fatigue is.

From a logistical perspective, the rule also encourages better planning and scheduling for transportation companies, helping drivers and managers stay within legal driving limits while still meeting delivery deadlines.

Who Needs to Follow the New 14-Hour Rule?

The 14-hour rule established by the Department of Transportation applies to any commercial truck driver who is taking part in interstate commerce. This includes those who are transporting loads across state lines, as well as those who are working in long-haul transportation.

Consequences of Violating the 14-Hour Rule

In addition to potentially severe fines and penalties, any drivers found to violate the 14-hour rule will go through increased scrutiny (and likely audits) in the future. They’ll probably start to see repeated inspections from regulators that they weren’t previously subject to in the past.

From a broader perspective, one of the biggest consequences of violating the 14-hour rule has to do with the legal liability that all parties expose themselves to. In the event of an accident, especially one involving driver fatigue, violating the 14-hour rule can lead to legal actions and claims for negligence. This could be costly for the driver or the trucking company.

Driver Challenges & Concerns

Obviously, the number one challenge concerning the 14-hour rule is the time pressure that drivers are normally under. Drivers are hired to meet delivery deadlines and they must do so without working too long or violating the 14-hour limit in any way. This could have an impact on their earnings, which could make it more difficult to enjoy the type of career they had always seen for themselves.

Strategies to Manage Drive Time Within the 14-Hour Limit

Luckily, there is a wide range of strategies that can be used to manage drive time within the 14-hour limit moving forward.

Maybe the number one best practice that all parties should follow involves effective, proactive route planning. Careful planning can help drivers optimize their driving hours, avoid traffic delays, and reduce the chances of running out of available driving time before reaching their destination. It’s not a foolproof way to avoid issues, but it will go a long way towards mitigating risk from unexpected delays versus heading out onto the road without a plan.

But beyond that, drivers need to know their limits and make smart decisions whenever possible. Drivers must be mindful of the time they spend not only on the road but loading and unloading as well. Practice time management skills to make the most of the time you do have available for the best results.

If you’re interested in finding out even more information about the new 14-hour rule for truck drivers, or if you have any additional questions about rules and regulations that you’d like to go over in a bit more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact Advanced Commercial Capital today.