The Washington Post reported earlier this week that that the pre-employment background check that was performed on Aaron Alexis, the Washington Navy Yard shooter, was carried out by USIS, a huge company that does background checks for both the private sector and the government. Part of that company is better known in our industry as HireRight Solutions Inc, the ones who publish drivers’ DAC reports.
USIS became the single largest company doing background checks when it merged with HireRight in 2008. USIS is currently under investigation over charges that it purposefully mislead the government about the thoroughness of its background checks.
Originally USIS denied having performed the background check on Alexis, but last Thursday USIS spokesman Ray Howell claimed that the company received new information and now confirmed that they had indeed performed the background check.
The background report on Alexis that was given to the Navy by the Office of Personnel Management (but performed by USIS/HireRight) failed to note what should have been a clear red flag in his past. It was an incident during which Alexis had used a firearm to shoot out the tires of a car during a dispute over parking. The incident instead was simply noted as “malicious mischief” in the report.
The company does about 45% of all background screening for the United States Office of Personnel Management and handles every single DAC report for every single truck driver.
Next Story: Trucker Missing For Three Weeks Found Dead At Truck Stop
Source: washington post, mediate, ccj
Matthew says
Trucking companies would stop using them if they knew how inaccurate hire right or dac really is. and this story shows just how inefficant the records really are. everytime i fill out an application. I use real records from trusted state and federal agencies. so i am sure to have the information on the application right the first time.
d.a.c. record use to stand for Drivers accident and crash record. point the only thing that is suppost to be on that record is crash and accident information only. instead, it gets used to damage drivers careers. they allow ctrucking companies to put what ever on ther record. and usis/hire right. doesn’t investigate the information being put on the record. nor do they require trucking companies to submit anykind of legal record to prove the information being put on drivers records. and they certainly don’t remove information that is inaccurate or ask for proof. instead. they ignore it to make there business look better. to gain more customers at the expense of private citezens. so I urge trucking companies to seek out better more trusted methods to obtain actual records when employing drivers. last thing anyone would want to pass on a driver over an inaccurate record supplied by usis/hire right.
Jeff says
DAC never stood for “Driver’s Accident and Crash report” but for “Drive-A-Check” which is was the DAC division is USIS was called back before it was bought, sold, rebought etc.
And while I’m no fan of USIS I did manage to get them to correct my report, after letting them know I knew they were being lax, had proof, and threatening a lawsuit. My correctred report was back 3 days after reciept of my demand letter.
Lori says
Yes DAC does investigate driver disputes of their record, and yes they do require proof. I have had numerous drivers dispute what I have reported to DAC about their history with my company and have had to provide proof to back up what I reported. Seems only the crappy drivers ever dispute their records, maybe that’s why they complain about DAC in the first place. It keeps them off the road and makes the roads a little safer for everyone. Bottom line if you do a good job you get a good report if you are constantly job hopping and trying to get something out of a company you don’t deserve then you get a bad report.
rich Charles says
This is just further proof how easy it is for unqualified people to get a job in this industry.It scares me now even more,to think about the driver in the truck passing me,if he really is a safe driver or not.Looking at some of the actions of some drivers out here,I’d say the Feds really need to stepup and take a good look at these reporting companies!
Lori says
As a recruiter for a trucking company and the wife of a truck driver I pay attention to all vehicles on the road. While there are truck drivers who slip through the cracks and shouldn’t be on the road. Many of whom are owner operators because a company won’t hire them, there are just as many in 4 wheel vehicles who shouldn’t be on the road. I see everyday cars who will not give way to trucks to merge onto the interstate or cut them off when it’s obvious they are not leaving the truck room enough to stop in an emergency. Women driving down the road putting on their makeup, the younger set texting or paying more attention to their phones than the road. Truck drivers are required by Federal Law to have hands free devices for use with their phones, why isn’t the same law in effect for the 4 wheelers? Most of them can’t walk and chew bubble gum at the same time let alone talk on the phone while they are driving. If more people would realize and keep in mind that most of these trucks weigh 80,000 lbs when fully loaded and it takes a lot longer to stop them their wouldn’t be so many accidents. But in a case where as I said the 4 wheeler cuts off the truck and the truck can’t stop it is automatically the truckers fault because the 4 wheeler gets hit from behind. I think the rules on the road should be the same for all vehicles big and small. Truckers are only allowed to drive so many hours a day while 4 wheelers can drive all night. They are just as apt to fall asleep behind the wheel as a truck driver!!!!
gregbo says
“Many of whom are owner operators because a company won’t hire them”. Most O/Os are leased onto carriers and meet the same hiring criteria as company drivers. Those with authority who have poor records will have a tough time finding profitable freight or insurance. Screw up and you’ll find yourself with with an expensive machine rusting in the driveway and no income to pay for it.
Most are like me. They just can’t tolerate the abuse and absurdly low pay company drivers put up with. They could get a company job in a heartbeat but don’t want one.
Jason Stearns says
I had 1 company put false info on my dac. When I found out and called them, they apologized and fixed the problem, got my new dac a couple days later and they fired the person that put the false information on there. Wasnt hard at all.
And to Mr. Charles…I agree ro a point but I’ve only been driving for 5yrs I can’t tell you how many long timers, trucking vets etc have pulled right out in front of me as I was coming up beside them to pass..cut off cars..sped through intersections and more..its not just the newbies and besides we ALL started out somewhere..somehow right? Or was you born with a wheel and stick in hand? I can’t even tell you the number of trucks that weren’t big company trucks I seen and had the misfortune of having around me from oregon to texas this past 4 days so don’t be that guy that sits at the truckstops preaching as if you’re the god of trucking just because you’ve been out here 20 to 80 yrs..it don’t matter how long you’ve been out here…everyone can make mistakes..be in a hurry…be tired..driving way too long etc..you have to be on the defensive all day every day out here with everyone and everything.
Karen Ricardo says
Now Jason just how do you know that the people pulling out in front of you are “long timers,trucking vets,etc”? Are you a mind reader or maybe a psychic? Apparently you never had conversations with them so I wish you would stop assuming and deal with facts. You have no clue how long the other person has been driving. Geez
Ray Brooks says
Interesting you point out the question ‘How do you know?’ because that is the same question I have for old timers who accuse almost every non-old-timer of not driving right.
Mike says
The last two commenters are missing the point. DAC is as worthless as my trash in the dumpster and an ashtray on a motorcycle. Ive never been scewed by them and yes, I feel that way. DAC, the credit reporting agencies, worthless databases and computer servers full of crap. The only trustworthy method of obtaining accurate information is paper, good old fashioned paper documents stored in filing cabinets at the courthouse. These private companies should not be trusted with any governmental proprietary information. Once someone realized they can make money, and a crapload of it…they will do anything to increase profits..
Steve Bell says
Don’t you have to wonder just how much you have payed them over the
years to pretend to do background checks???
just another example of how private industry and contractors are a
better deal for the taxpayer…Sure you can trust them…
ron says
I went to there web page to get there , once a year free dac report and background check, but all I got back was useless info and was told in the letter that my dac was not included. Any one know how a driver can get his or her report?
don lanier says
Well I guess we know whose really doing there job on background checks, or just taking the $$$$, DAC is an outdated and overbearing agency, we need a better way, DAC cant get the info on a Navy guy who shoots up a Military Installation, yet there holding my future in there records, NOPE
Brian. S says
They didn’t have time to worry about making a proper report of the shooter. They were too busy worrying about making negative reports on truck drivers.
cedric says
People make mistakes on the road but everone deserve a chance but its the igger companies tht hire drivers tht r poorly train and cause some problems on the road……I seen them cut cars trucks,etc…off. they will see a faster truck coming and cut him off to pass another truck which they can’t pass. But some don’t post small accidents to the dac the way I see it a accident is a accident
duane says
So What? big deal. besides DAC isn’t correct half the time anyway.
they have no record of my work history for the last 5 years. What does it prove?
Not much apparently.
Matthew says
here’s what makes me sick! office workers calling drivers. “bad drivers” that phrase there. is enough to keep me from wanting to work for trucking companies. being married to a driver is different then being a driver. Many drivers end up being mentally messed up from cruelty of various people in higher office positions of trucking companies. and every driver that’s been on the road. has at one time worked for companies like that. that have people that work in the office like that. and drivers al to often feel like there is no where to turn when they are having problems. so the only alternatives are either put up with it and have to face permant mental damages or quit. very rarely does anyone in the offices of a trucking company care to help a driver. or to take a second to listen to the driver. so after a while of being ignored and miss treated and very poorly paid. driver normally end up with mental problems that can’t be repaired. and end up with damages to there career that can’t be repaired. and most normally end up homeless on the street corner due to that they have reached a point of no return in there sanity. so to the office workers and what nots that read this. better think about the ego test,and the fatigue and stress test used to give drivers while they are on the road. lock a cat in a cage and start messing with it. it will go mad and turn on you. same thing with a driver.
Matthew says
and the one thing that pisses me off more then anything. is people that act like there crap don’t stink.
Dennis says
Leave it to a recruiter to bash O/O. Why I never signed onto company that wasn’t full O/O.
DAC is treated like gold by those recruiters. This industry is going in bad direction all together.