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.