When transportation operators evaluate a driver candidate, the first document most companies review is the Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).

It’s an important tool, but it does not always provide the complete picture of a driver’s safety history.

An MVR typically reflects convictions and reportable crashes. What it often does not include are the roadside inspections, warnings, and violations that may occur during enforcement inspections.

For that information, the industry has another tool: the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP).

Recent legislation introduced in Congress has brought renewed attention to how motor carriers use that program.

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What the PSP Program Shows

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched the Pre-Employment Screening Program to provide motor carriers with access to driver safety information during the hiring process.

A PSP report includes:

• Five years of crash history

• Three years of roadside inspection history

These records come from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) database and are available electronically to carriers with the driver’s written consent.

The records provide information about a driver’s involvement in crashes as well as inspection results and violations recorded during roadside inspections.

Safety Findings Related to PSP Use

According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study, carriers that used PSP experienced measurable differences in safety outcomes.

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Earlier this year, I asked readers to name the single biggest challenge facing their transportation company today. The responses were clear and consistent. Four issues stood out above the rest: a lack of real-time performance data, driver recruitment and retention challenges, rising insurance costs and safety risks, and variable costs that were out of control.

This series — You Spoke. We’re Addressing. — dives into each of those challenges. One by one, we’re exploring the root causes, sharing real-world examples, and offering actionable strategies for leaders ready to respond.

What follows isn’t just a conversation — it’s a practical guide.

In this third installment, we’re addressing rising insurance costs and safety risks — the pressures that continue to squeeze operators from all sides. I sat down with Alan Mar and Carter Bumgardner fro…

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Over the past 10 days, I’ve watched, as I’m sure many have, with deep sorrow as Central Texas faced catastrophic flooding. As images surfaced—bridges overwhelmed, buildings overtaken, families displaced—the scale of the disaster was sobering. Yet for me, the most haunting part has not been the flooding itself, but the growing list of names—lives lost, families shattered.

As of this writing, 120 people are confirmed dead. One hundred seventy are still missing. These aren’t just tragic headlines—they’re reminders that behind every system failure, delayed decision, or underestimated threat are real people who bear the cost.

Having recently lived in Georgetown, north of Austin, I found the images from Central Texas especially difficult to watch. We crossed the Austin Avenue bridge over the San Gabriel River multiple times each week. This sam…

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From June 1 to November 30, hurricane season brings with it a serious test for transportation operators along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Storm surge, flooding, high winds—any one of these can derail operations, damage fleets, and put employees and customers at risk. While weather forecasters give us more lead time than ever, the difference between disruption and resilience comes down to planning and disciplined execution.

This guide is for operators who want to be ready before the clouds roll in—whether you're refining an existing hurricane plan or building one from scratch. Based on my experience, effective hurricane preparedness plans for ground transportation companies address the following key areas:

1. Hurricane Preparedness Team

• Designate a Preparedness Coordinator to lead your plan.

• Assign departmental or location-specific leader…

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One of the accomplishments I am most proud of during my time with Disney Parking & Transportation is leading a team initiative focused on reducing employee injuries, particularly those that resulted in lost time. While vehicle accidents and their related injuries rightfully receive significant attention from the Safety Department, workplace injuries also substantially impact operations. These incidents cause pain and suffering for employees, decrease productivity, increase medical costs, and create financial hardship through lost wages. Additionally, workplace injuries can negatively affect employee morale, operational efficiency, and the company's bottom line. Therefore, minimizing these injuries became a critical priority, highlighting the impressive work done by our team at Disney.

Between 2019 and 2023, the team reduced employee injuries by over 50%, and lost-time injuries decreased by 90% during the same period. From 2021 to 2023, we achieved a consistent year-over-year injury dec…

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Throughout my career, leading ground transportation operations, I’ve faced numerous challenges, including tight margins, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles. However, one of the most persistent and underestimated threats to safe operations is the growing prevalence of distracted driving, fueled by the increasing use of personal electronic devices.

What began years ago as a battle against texting while driving has grown exponentially. Today, we contend with smartphones, Bluetooth-connected headsets, AirPods, smartwatches, and even streaming content—all of which compete for a driver’s attention. These aren’t just minor nuisances. In a safety-sensitive environment like ours, they’re major risk factors.

Whether someone is behind the wheel of a 45-foot motorcoach, directing traffic in a busy lot, or transporting school children, the issue is the same: distraction kills.

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