An online motor vehicle report (MVR) is an official record of an individual’s driving history created by the state. An MVR contains information such as driving history, moving violations, and license suspensions. An MVR report is a critical tool for employers wishing to hire safe and responsible drivers and often serves as critical due diligence in the event of any legal actions related to the employee’s driving once employed.

What’s the Law?

Federal, state, and local laws dictate in some cases when MVRs must be pulled and how often they should be checked.

  • Motor carriers who fall under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s regulatory requirements must obtain any driver’s MVR every once 12 months and keep those MVRs on file for 3 years. Employers should carefully review the report to determine if the driver meets the minimum safety requirements.
  • The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has a guide suggesting standards for pulling MVRs for employees, regardlessof whether the vehicle being driven is owned by the employee or the employer. Suggestions include checking an MVR for all employees who drive for work, screening out candidateswith poor driving records, periodically reviewing MVRs to ensure driversare maintaining a good driving record, and clearly defining the type and number of violations that will trigger the lossof driving privileges.

What information is on an MVR?

While MVR information varies by state, you can expect to find iterations of the following information on the driver:

  • Driver’s license info including class and current status
  • Endorsements
  • Past license suspensions, revocations, and cancellations
  • Motor vehicle crimes
  • Accident reports
  • DUI convictions
  • Traffic tickets and citations
  • Unpaid court summons and auto insurance lapses

You Can’t Afford Bad Drivers

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, motor vehicle accidents cost US employers upwards of $60 billion dollars each year in property damage, medical care, legal fees, and lost productivity. Accidents drive up worker’s compensation costs, social security costs, and health and disability insurance costs. You simply can’t afford bad drivers in your workplace. Consider the following:

  • The average car crash costs an employer $16,500.
  • If that crash was on the job and caused injuries, it will cost an average of $74,000.
  • If a fatality occurred, costs can quickly exceed $500,000.

Many of these crashes are largely preventable by implementing safe driving practices in your workplace that include the regular and consistent review of MVRs for each and every driver. The cost of obtaining MVRs for your drivers is pennies when compared to the costs of poor driving.