Understanding the PSP Background Check and Its Benefits for Safe Hiring

The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) is an important tool designed to enhance safety in the transportation industry. Implemented under Title 49 of the U.S. Code, Section 31150 ("Safety performance history screening") as added by Section 4117a of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: Building a Transportation Future (SAFETEA-LU), the PSP provides a comprehensive way for potential employers to screen commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The Implementation of PSP

The PSP was introduced as part of the Working for this Problem: What's A PSP Background Check? The SAFETEA-LU Public Law 109-59, signed into law on August 10, 2005, mandates that the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) make certain crash and inspection data available electronically to potential employers for conducting pre-employment screening. These data are drawn from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS).

Benefits of PSP

The PSP offers motor carriers and other industry service providers (ISPs) rapid and electronic access to a driver's crash and inspection history. By providing this information, PSP helps employers make informed hiring decisions, ensuring that only safe drivers are selected. According to an FMCSA study, motor carriers using PSP reports have seen improvements in their crash rates and driver out-of-service rates, reducing these by an average of 8% and 17%, respectively, compared to those who do not use PSP.

Accurate and Comprehensive Data

PSP records provide a commercial driver's five-year crash history and three-year roadside inspection history from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management System (MCMIS). This information, when shared with the appropriate parties, ensures that potential employers have access to the most accurate and comprehensive data available. Most of the data contained in the PSP report is not found in any other single source, making PSP an invaluable tool for background screening.

Automated PSP Orders for Enhanced Efficiency

To streamline the hiring process, CDLIS Complete, a service offered by HireRight, automates the PSP order process for its customers. By using the state license information returned from the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) search, CDLIS Complete can automatically initiate PSP and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) searches based on the account configuration. This means that a single order from the customer triggers orders for each service and state in which the driver held a license. The optional account configurations include:

CDLIS to PSP – five years of crash data and three years of roadside inspections CDLIS to MVR – driving records from all states/territories CDLIS to MVR/PSP – both MVR and PSP

Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is conducted to inform individuals about the necessity of collecting and sharing such data. The PIA ensures that the information collected through the PSP is used ethically and transparently, safeguarding the privacy of the individuals involved.

The PSP background check is a critical component in preemptive safety measures, making it an indispensable tool for organizations that prioritize their employees' and the public's safety. By leveraging the PSP, employers can ensure they are making safe hiring decisions and contributing to a safer transportation industry.