Consider this scenario: Your company does yearly motor vehicle records (MVR) checks to screen company drivers for traffic violations, accidents, and license suspensions. When you perform an annual MVR check for Bob on January 1, his record comes back clean. But on January 2, Bob gets caught driving under the influence, and his license is suspended. Unless Bob self-reports the violation to your human resources team, you won’t learn about his license suspension for another 364 days, potentially putting your company at risk.
On the other hand, you’ll learn about the infraction much earlier if you’ve implemented continuous motor vehicle monitoring for your organization. This screening allows you to identify potential risks and take corrective action to protect your company’s reputation — and its bottom line. InCheck is a leading provider of continuous MVR monitoring, offering compliance expertise and support to improve safety for your drivers, customers, and everyone on the road.
What is Motor Vehicle Record Screening and Monitoring in Background Screening?
Motor vehicle record screening is the process of checkinga person’s driving history, including accidents and violations. Companies that hire drivers often integrate MVR checks into the traditional pre-employment background screening process. An MVR check provides information about a candidate’s driving record, allowing a company to make an informed hiring decision.
Some companies get MVR reports for new hires and never check them again, but many others do continuous motor vehicle record monitoring for employees who operate company vehicles. Post-hire MVR checks can provide you with regular updates about your employees’ driving habits. This type of monitoring can give you peace of mind, knowing your employees drive safely and represent the company positively when they’re on the road.
Continuous MVR monitoring provides ongoing screening and real-time data, alerting a company when an employee’s driving record changes. The extent of MVR reports can vary by state, but they typically contain some or all of the following information:
- The issue and expiration date of a driver’s license
- The type of license, such as commercial or personal
- The current license status, such as valid or expired
- Descriptions of traffic violations or citations
- Accident reports, including information about damages or injuries
- Driving-related criminal convictions, such as DUI
- Outstanding traffic fines or tickets
Why Employers Should Implement Continuous Motor Vehicle Monitoring
Recent research identifies a clear link between previous driving violations and potential future crashes. According to a report by the American Transportation Research Institute, a previous crash on a truck driver’s record increases their likelihood of getting into another crash by a staggering 113%. The report identified several other behaviors that can increase the probability of future crashes, including:
- A reckless driving violation
- A failure to use or improper signal conviction
- A failure to yield right-of-way violation
- An improper or erratic lane change conviction
Continuous MVR monitoring can immediately alert you to an employee’s unsafe driving habits, so you can take action to prevent future incidents. For example, you can provide a high-risk driver with additional training on safe driving practices. In other cases, you may remove an unsafe driver from the road, ensuring only qualified drivers operate vehicles for your company.
Other reasons to implement continuous MVR monitoring include compliance and cost-efficiency. If a driver gets caught operating a company vehicle without a valid license, for example, the violation can lead to costly penalties or ongoing legal issues for your organization. Plus, this type of incident can damage your company’s reputation, resulting in lost sales or revenue. With MVR monitoring, you can proactively protect your company’s brand and maintain compliance with industry regulations and standards.
Key Features of Motor Vehicle Monitoring Systems
MVR reports usually come from state departments of motor vehicles and provide a baseline for continuous monitoring. If an employee’s driving record changes, employers would be notified of what caused the change, such as an accident. Depending on a company’s preferences, MVR monitoring may be provided on a monthly, bi-monthly, or bi-annual basis.
Other key features of MVR monitoring systems usually include:
- Real-time alerts: You can get immediate alerts about changes in employees’ motor vehicle records, including new violations.
- Data integration: Typically, you have the option to combine MVR checks with other data collected in a standard background check.
- Customizable monitoring: Many systems allow you to customize monitoring requirements to flag certain patterns or violations, such as suspended licenses.
- Automated reporting: Most MVR monitoring systems create automated reports, allowing you to review your drivers’ performance and incidents.
- Data security: These systems have protocols to ensure compliance with privacy laws regarding sensitive data.
Benefits of Motor Vehicle Monitoring
Many organizations can benefit from continuous MVR monitoring, particularly trucking and transportation companies regulated by the federal government. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration holds commercial drivers accountable through the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. With continuous motor vehicle monitoring, you can actively work to improve or maintain your company’s CSA scores.
While MVR checks are essential for transportation companies, other industries can benefit from motor vehicle monitoring as well. For example, pharmacies, colleges, and healthcare organizations that employ drivers can use MVR monitoring to enhance safety and manage risks. Some benefits of continuous MVR monitoring for employers include:
- Improved safety: By proactively identifying unsafe driving behaviors, you can address them to create a culture of safety within the organization.
- Operational efficiency: With a streamlined process for driver monitoring, you can reduce the administrative burden on your HR team.
- Risk management: Continuous MVR monitoring allows you to identify potential issues before they become larger problems, lowering the risk of expensive insurance claims or legal issues.
- Employee accountability: When drivers know you’re monitoring their motor vehicle records, they’re more likely to hold themselves accountable and commit to safe behaviors behind the wheel.
How InCheck Can Help with MVR Monitoring
With so many benefits, MVR checks have become a central part of post-hire monitoring for many organizations. If your company has drivers on the road, consider partnering with InCheck to access employees’ MVR reports on a frequent basis. We’re committed to meeting your company’s monitoring needs through custom solutions and personalized support, among other benefits.
Expertise and Experience
InCheck has a proven record in background screening and motor vehicle monitoring. We can provide industry knowledge to guide your organization on best practices for MVR checks, ensuring you remain compliant with relevant regulations.
Customized Solutions
We know each company has different needs depending on various factors, such as size, industry, and budget. At InCheck, we don’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution for MVR monitoring. Instead, we offer tailored services to fit your company’s unique needs.
Comprehensive Support
When you partner with InCheck for MVR reports, you’ll have guaranteed access to our highly trained team. We can provide you with personalized, comprehensive support to implement MVR monitoring and integrate it fully with your existing practices.
Contact InCheck to Discuss Motor Vehicle Monitoring
At InCheck, we offer personalized monitoring solutions and dedicated support to address your company’s needs. Contact us today for more information about how we can partner with your organization for MVR monitoring.