Recently, Carlo Solórzano, Senior Director of Sales & Business Development at Driver iQ, joined the RadioNemo podcast during the Truckload Carriers Association's 2024 annual conference.

Hosted by Dave Nemo and co-host Lindsay Lawler, the podcast delved into critical aspects of hiring and verification processes within the trucking industry. This discussion highlighted key challenges and technological solutions impacting recruiting professionals in trucking today.

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CDLIS' Role in Keeping the Roads Safe

One segment of the interview focused on the role of CDLIS in transportation background screening.

Dave Nemo:

I was back in the days of the paper logs. It wouldn't be uncommon for a driver to have maybe 3, even 5 different licenses from different states because one state has no clue as to what the other one is doing. They barely do now, but at least they're trying to get together under that CDL umbrella.

So the CDLIS comes out, but it didn't really solve a lot of problems. And then we have the PSP, the Pre Employment Screening Program, and that tightened down some things as well.

Carlo Solórzano:

I think you're right. Historically, there have been big gaps in the background screening piece. A driver might have multiple CDLs in various states, or might have a CDL in area, run into some trouble, relinquish that, and get a CDL somewhere else in hopes that that wouldn't be picked up when they're seeking their next employment. So the CDLIS, Commercial Driver's License Information System, sort of aggregated that. It allowed carriers to be able to access the current, plus previous three, licenses all with one little click.

Accuracy in Transportation Background Checks

Another segment highlights the importance of accuracy in background screening.

Dave Nemo:

We all want our history to be accurate. In fact, the drivers are encouraged to at least once a year, or after an incident wait about 3 or 6 months, and go ahead and check your PSP, your pre-employment screening data, to make sure that everything in there is accurate and correct. I'm not going to put you on the spot with any kind of numbers, but you see inaccuracies there and omissions there a lot. And again, it's whose fault is that? Well, not anybody. But again, it's the process.

Carlo Solórzano:

It's such a fragmented process. And you're right, you do come across that. I think it's consistently gotten better over throughout the years. But from, from one source to the next, the data just doesn't always line up. And so having somebody in your corner who can help you reconcile that is key, and that's what we try to do.

I think the biggest piece about what we do and we take it really seriously is to make sure that the information we pass on to our partners is accurate and actionable, right? And so the last thing we want to do is empower a carrier to put somebody on the road who's not worthy or fit to be on the road.

So we go to great lengths to do so, and the people who partner with us can take great comfort in the fact that when we give them that information, they can act on it. Whether that's to hire somebody or to not hire somebody, which, I think that's the nuts and bolts of what we do, right? We empower them with good information.

Expertise in Background Screening

Lastly, we discussed the importance of your background screening partner having client service team members who are not only experts in transportation, but in background screening regulations as well.

Dave Nemo:

There is an organization, the PBSA. Professional Background Screening Association. I did not know that existed, but you're part of that?

Carlo Solórzano:

We think that's one of the things that set us apart at Driver iQ. When you get hired here, you go through your HR orientation, fill out that paperwork. The very next thing you do is you're handed a huge binder, three rings, about 5 inches thick, and you get 2 weeks to study and to take an exam and pass with an 80%.

It is sort of our governing body, right? And every single person that you speak to a Driver iQ, whether it's the first person who answers the phone at customer service, all the way up through the highest points of our leadership, we've all done it and we all recertify every two years. We think it we think it takes us to another level of knowledge, of professionalism, and that's who we want to be.

Your Partner in Transportation Background Screening

We extend our thanks to  RadioNemo for featuring Carlo Solórzano and Driver iQ on their platform. This conversation not only sheds light on the ongoing challenges in the background screening for the trucking industry, but also illustrates the essential role of a knowledgeable screening partner in overcoming these hurdles.

For those in the industry looking to streamline their hiring processes and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards, we invite you to speak to an expert at Driver iQ today.