List of companies that don't use DAC

Even with a governed truck, if you are in a 55 mph speed zone you can still get busted for speeding.

 

That show me that the real issues are that "some" of the drivers are unsafe, not so much the Company.
NOTE I SAID "SOME" NOT ALL....

 

If the driver's log show speeding.... then most likely the driver was!
Central uses Qualcomm (e-logbooks) so the driver can't cheat on the logbook.
(am I right; Central Drivers?)

 

We shall need to wait until the dust settles a bit to see how this plays out over the next year or so. I do like the idea that it is much easier to check a driver's behavior. Most carriers will keep their equipment up. The problem comes in when the driver doesn't do his job and check his equipment. If the driver fails to inform his company about problems with his equipment they can't repair it. Frankly, I think that it is about time drivers were held more accountable for their behavior. Things can happen that are out of a driver's control. Most of the time the driver can prevent any negative happenings if he gets stopped. In the past a driver's behavior had little or no effect on him. Everything fell on his carrier. That is no longer the case. If a driver is found to have too many violations then the carrier is likely to cut their losses rather than allow drivers to lower their safety score. A good safety record can have a direct impact on the carrier's ability to get better paying loads. When a carrier has a good record they are also less likely to be hassled by the DOT.

 

I used to recruit years ago.

I avoided tattle tale crap like DAC because a potential good hire could be being blackballed into staying at the other carrier.

When I roadtested guys that was the interview that counted.

 

I would not rely entirely on DAC, but it can show trends. If a driver has had more than 2 or 3 jobs in 2 years then he will likely not stay with you very long. Someone who changes jobs too frequently is likely to be someone who is not a good people person, likes to have his own way and when he doesn't, he takes his toys and goes elsewhere. It costs carriers a lot of money to recruit and send drivers through orientation. DAC is only a tool among others which can help determine a drivers fitness or if he would be a good fit for a particular company. If a driver has an abandonment, I think he should be permanently banned from the industry. If a driver has a DUI or drug conviction while driving a commercial vehicle he should be permanently banned, as well. There is absolutely NO excuse for any of those behaviors. Most carriers use DAC as a quick and less expensive way to check a driver's background. If everything looks to be in order, that may be as far back as they will go in checking their background. The feds require that all carriers check the last 3 years work and driving history. If something pops up on your DAC, the carrier will usually check further to see if there is anything in the driver's background which would be a problem.

 

I don't know how blackballing a driver would result in the driver staying at a particular company since they don't report to DAC until after the driver leaves, and that can day from days to a month or longer to appear on their DAC.

I disagree about the roadtest being the only thing that counts. Just because someone can drive well doesn't necessarily mean that he is honest or has good character. It also doesn't say anything about his work ethic. All the driving test does is tell you that he can handle a truck.

 

G/Mann You did things the right way I only wish things were done that way now.

 

The problem is that alot of companies rely just way too much on that DAC. A previous company can put what ever they want on it, and if the driver does not really know how to get a copy and dispute, then there is a problem. As far as job hopping, a driver went to a company because of what he was told. Found that it was not what told, but still tried to stick it out, only to get more frustrated. Alot of companies will just get the DAC, and not even bother to hear the drivers side. Again, many of the larger companies rely solely on this

 

I interviewed a driver on the phone several years ago. I asked him how many jobs that he had in the last couple of years. He responded that he had about 20 jobs in the last 2 years. He went on to explain to me that it all of them were problems with owner operators equipment. There could be a problem with one guy's equipment. Two would be the most before anyone would start to check equipment before taking the job. I told him that it was a driver's problem, not equipment. There is no way that I would hire someone who has had that many jobs in that amount of time. In fact, I would question anyone who has had that many jobs during a career. That driver had the most jobs in such a short time that I have ever interviewed. It isn't always the carrier or owner operator who employs these drivers that are at fault. Most of the time it is the driver. DAC just gives you a snapshot of a driver. It doesn't tell the entire story. I have had a couple of things that were mistakes reported on my DAC. They didn't cause me a problem, but it is up to the driver to periodically check to make sure that all information is correct. It is a good idea to keep good records with names should you have a problem. By carefully documenting any problems, it will make it easier to challenge any erroneous information. I think that most carriers are careful about what they report to DAC due to the possibility of litigation. Most of what is reported is pretty basic.