How do companies verify new drivers 3 years of employment history

Use income tax returns. This proves your work history.

 

They don't all request income tax returns unless you're have problems verifying work history.

 

They will usually contact a previous employer to verify employment. Depends on the company and experience requirements for how seriously they pursue it. If the hiring requirements are one year experience and they have 2 years verified, they’re not going to harass a 3 month long former employer to get verification if they don’t reply to the request

 

I think this employment history thing is one of the most misunderstood parts of part 391. When a motor carrier hires a person they MUST ask for up to a full 10 years of employment history during the hiring process. This is further broken down to the last 3 years (that must be verified) and up to 7 years beyond this for driving history. If you were flipping burgers at Joe's burger joint and cathouse for 2 years before you went to school this is what you put down on that application. Then the carrier will attempt to contact Joe's and verify. You also could be in the south of France chasing women for the last 3 years also. There is NO rule that says you have to have been gainfully employed. You just have to account for the time and the carrier must verify it if they can. This verification process is why a lot of carriers put applicants through the wringer because all this information goes into the driver qualification files and these are generally the first thing that gets hit by the FMCSA on an audit and by an Attorney in the process of a lawsuit during the discovery phase.

Carriers generally will send a fax asking for this verification and if I understand the rules correctly can also use HireRight/Dac to satisfy these requirements as they deal with driving history. Otherwise, somebody will reach out to an old employer and ask them. @brian991219 is much more involved in this process than I am these days and he might have more to add.

 

Many of the reputable companies use HireRight to verify employment among other reputable companies. Otherwise, they'd have to call companies that aren't registered with the service.

 

To the OP, many will not accept tax returns, it doesn't tell much if anything.

That's funny.

Most reputable companies I know never want to use the service.

 

My current company did. They were able to see Western Express, 7up/Snapple, and Builders Transportation without having to call, but the 1099 companies I had to give them a number. That was over 3 years ago though.