For an owner-operator or motor carrier, a truck that is not moving is not generating revenue. Following a crash, income may stop while expenses such as truck payments, insurance, payroll, and operating costs continue. When a commercial vehicle is taken out of service after a not-at-fault accident, the resulting loss may form the basis of a downtime or loss-of-use claim.
Although not every crash can be prevented, informed driver screening and continued attention to safety records can help motor carriers manage risk before a driver gets behind the wheel. One resource available to the trucking industry is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Pre-Employment Screening Program, commonly known as PSP.
What is PSP?
A PSP record generally contains five years of crash information, three years of roadside inspection information, and violations documented during roadside inspections.
A PSP record is different from a state motor vehicle record (MVR). While an MVR generally focuses on license status, convictions, and state-reported driving history, PSP provides federal crash and roadside inspection information. Using both can give motor carriers a more complete view of an applicant’s history.
Safer Hiring Can Help Protect a Trucking Business
Safe drivers do more than protect a carrier’s reputation. Strong driver screening can contribute to fewer preventable crashes, greater equipment uptime, lower repair costs, reduced claims exposure, better control of insurance costs, and stronger customer confidence. It also supports safer roads for drivers and the public.
PSP does not assign a safety score or determine whether a driver is qualified. Instead, it provides objective information that carriers can consider as part of a broader screening process.
New PSP Features Provide More Information and Protection
Several recent PSP enhancements give drivers and motor carriers greater visibility into safety records while strengthening the protection of sensitive personal information.
First-Name Variance Transparency
A driver’s name may appear differently on a crash or inspection record because of a nickname, abbreviated name, alternate spelling, or roadside data-entry variation.
PSP now displays the driver’s first name as it was recorded at roadside and provides greater transparency into the information used to perform the record search. This enhancement helps employers and drivers understand why a name may appear differently and reduces confusion when reviewing a report.
45-Day Driver Candidate Monitoring
A driver’s safety record may change while an employer is completing background checks, interviews, or other hiring requirements. Driver Candidate Monitoring helps address this timing gap.
An eligible PSP record can be monitored for 45 days from its original request date and time. If PSP detects a change during the monitoring period, the motor carrier is notified and can reorder the record to review the updated information.
This feature can help an employer stay informed throughout an extended hiring process. It does not automatically send a new report or make an employment decision. The employer must reorder the record and evaluate the updated information in accordance with the appropriate driver authorization requirements.
Free PSP Monitoring for Drivers
Drivers can take an active role in reviewing their own safety information through the free PSP Monitoring service.
Once enrolled, a driver receives a notification when crash or roadside inspection information is added, updated, or removed from the driver’s PSP record. Notifications are available by email, and drivers may also opt in to receive SMS text alerts.
This service can help drivers:
- Remain informed about changes to their records
- Review information before applying for a new position
- Identify information they believe may be inaccurate
- Prepare to discuss their safety history with a prospective employer
- Submit a Request for Data Review through FMCSA’s DataQs system when appropriate
PSP itself cannot change crash or inspection data. Challenges to potentially inaccurate information must be submitted through the DataQs process for review.
Enhanced Protection for Sensitive Driver Data
PSP’s optional PII Masking feature helps protect sensitive driver information. When the feature is enabled, the driver’s date of birth is partially masked, and only the last four characters of the commercial driver’s license number are displayed.
This reduces the amount of personal information visible when PSP records are downloaded, stored, or shared within an organization. It gives motor carriers an additional way to support privacy and data-security practices without removing the safety information needed to review the report.
Prevention and Recovery Are Both Important
PSP is a preventive risk-management resource. It can help motor carriers make informed hiring and training decisions, but it cannot eliminate every crash or protect a business from the actions of other motorists.
When a not-at-fault crash takes a revenue-producing truck out of service, the owner-operator or fleet may experience lost income in addition to vehicle damage and other expenses. Promptly documenting the accident, repair timeline, lost loads, historical earnings, and continuing business expenses may be important when pursuing a downtime or loss-of-use claim.
Eckert & Associates, P.A. assists owner-operators and fleets with commercial vehicle property damage, downtime, and loss-of-use claims resulting from not-at-fault accidents. More information about the firm’s services is available at DowntimeClaims.com.
Motor carriers and drivers can learn more about PSP, request a record, or enroll in PSP Monitoring through the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program.
This article is provided for general informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. The availability and value of a downtime or loss-of-use claim depend on the facts of the accident and applicable law.
is a transportation professional recognized by the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) as a Certified Transportation Professional (CTP), working with Tyler Technologies and contributing to national outreach and education efforts for safety and pre-employment screening programs.
