DOT checks

If you hire certain commercial drivers that the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates the checks below:

• DOT drug and alcohol test
• DOT employment verification
• DOT physical evaluation
• Commercial motor vehicle record (MVR) report with CDLIS search
• Drug and alcohol clearinghouse report

DOT checks are available for candidates in the United States (US) and are available as add-ons.
Checkr recommends the custom packages below based on your hiring needs:

• Commercial drivers' license fleet
  
  • Essential package
  • Commercial MVR report
  • DOT drug and alcohol test
  • DOT employment verification
  • DOT physical evaluation
  • Drug and alcohol clearinghouse report
• Non-commercial drivers' license fleet
  
  • Essential package
  • MVR report
  • Clinic-based or onsite drug and alcohol test
  • DOT employment verification
  • DOT physical evaluation

DOT drug and alcohol tests

Collectors, employers, lab staff, and medical review officers (MROs) must follow strict testing and collection guidelines for DOT drug and breath alcohol tests.

The DOT drug test includes the substances below:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates (opium and codeine derivatives)
• Amphetamines and methamphetamines
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

The DOT alcohol test 

The Checkr Dashboard usually has test results within three days of the candidate completing the appointment. Medical review officer (MRO) review extends the average turnaround time up to ten business days.

DOT drug and alcohol tests are available as add-ons or as standalone searches.

DOT employment verification

A DOT employment verification meets FMCSA requirements and verifies the information below:

• Confirm the candidate's past three years of employment.
• Ask about the candidate's safety performance history.
• Ask about the candidate's drug and alcohol history.

The turnaround time for DOT employment verification varies depending on the responsiveness of the candidate's previous employers.

You can verify the candidate's current employer, or the last 3, 5, 7, or 10 years of employment history.

DOT physical evaluation

A medical provider with the qualifications below must perform the DOT physical evaluation:

• DOT medical provider license
• National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) certification

The DOT physical evaluation includes assessments of hearing, vision, blood pressure, and other health factors that could put a driver at risk while operating a CMV. Depending on the evaluation result, the medical provider certifies the driver for a time period below:

• 3 months
• 6 months
• 1 year
• 2 years

A DOT physical evaluation is available as an add-on or as a standalone search.

Commercial MVR report with CDLIS search

Checkr's MVR reports include candidates' driving histories. Checkr's commercial MVR reports include candidates' driving histories and incidents, Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) search, and candidates' medical certifications. CDLIS searches can identify whether the candidate has additional CDLs and automatically completed additional commercial MVR reports. 

Commercial MVR reports are available standalone searches. 

Drug and alcohol clearinghouse report

A drug and alcohol clearinghouse report applies only for candidates with commercial driver's licenses.

A clearinghouse report results in a PDF that shows the candidate as prohibited or not prohibited.

To order a clearinghouse report, employers must meet the conditions below:

• Have their own clearinghouse account
• Designate Checkr as the third-party administrator for the clearinghouse report
• Have an available balance with the clearinghouse to order reports

Drug and alcohol clearinghouse reports are available as add-ons or standalone searches after Checkr adds them to your account.

Video overview

Play the Checkr Academy video below to learn what DOT checks are and how to add them to your order in the Checkr Dashboard.

Candidate experience

The candidate provides the relevant personally identifying information (PII) below:

• Birth date
• Driver's license number
• Driver's license state
• Email address
• Full name
• Phone number
• Social Security number (SSN)

The candidate then reads and acknowledges receipt of applicable forms and authorizations:

• A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation
• Other state and required disclosures as applicable
• Authorization for a background check

For DOT physical evaluations and drug & alcohol tests, the candidate completes the steps below:

1. Consent to the test.
2. Select a test location.
3. Confirm the appointment with the clinic, and schedule the test before the listed date.
4. Download and print the pass.
5. Bring the pass to the clinic for the test.

For drug and alcohol clearinghouse reports, candidates complete consent directly in Clearinghouse.

If you applied for a job and want to know your background check’s status, log in to the Checkr Candidate Portal.