Understanding the FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP)
How the program works, what safety data it provides, and why new legislation could expand how motor carriers use it
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.
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.
