How to recruit and retain drivers using PSP reports

Carriers are increasingly integrating Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP) reports into the driver recruitment and hiring process. Developed by the FMCSA in 2010 with the goal of making the roads safer one hire at a time, PSP reports allow carriers to review secure, electronic safety records from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) to view a commercial driver’s 5-year crash and 3-year inspection history. 

This voluntary report into previous driver behavior and past violations gives carriers another tool to evaluate a driver before offering employment. Here are two ways PSP reports help carriers to hire the best, safest talent.  

Hire the best (and safest) talent

For carriers concerned about hiring the best, safest drivers and building a culture of safety, PSP reports are an excellent tool. Carriers can request a PSP report for every potential new hire with the candidate’s written permission. Examining a driver’s safety history during the recruitment process ensures every candidate is evaluated fairly and the best possible hiring decision is made to improve productivity and safety for everyone. 
Using the report alongside interviews and other collected data allows carriers to make more informed hiring decisions to determine whether or not to hire a candidate. For drivers, a good PSP score should improve their likelihood of being hired, and for carriers, should translate into fewer potential driver performance problems, as a poor record will alert potential employers to unsafe driving behaviors or a history of violations. This way, carriers ensure they’re doing as much due diligence during the hiring process as possible to vet the candidate.  

Improve safe driving

Another less traditional use for PSP reports is as a training tool. Carriers who identify unsafe habits or behaviors on a driver’s report can discuss concerns during the hiring process and address any potential safety performance issues before allowing the driver behind the wheel. Additionally, if the carrier uses fleet management software with safety analytics features, fleet managers can set specific metrics and KPIs to monitor, track and benchmark specific behaviors, like harsh braking or speeding, in an ongoing effort to train and improve drivers’ behavior. Managers can then coach drivers one-on-one with personalized feedback. From a talent retention perspective, carriers can implement incentives for safe driving, recognizing top drivers in the fleet or those showing the most improvement over a period of time with monetary or non-monetary rewards, like cash bonuses or extra time off. With specific initiatives or programs in place to improve safe driving behaviors, fleets can reduce the rate of incidents or violations and make drivers feel empowered.   

While it’s not mandatory to use PSP records during the hiring process, the safety information presented offers carriers a data-driven way to hire the best possible drivers by evaluating past violations, training drivers to improve behavior and building a culture of safety.

Learn more about Teletrac Navman’s approach to improving fleet safety, here.