Driver Selection for Community Action Agencies

Your fleet of vehicles is a vital link in the operation of your organization. The quality of the people behind the wheel of those buses, vans and cars helps determine your agency's success. One very important part of a Drivers Safety Program is to review and evaluate Motor Vehicle Records (MVR). By implementing a program now you could reduce negative publicity and financial loss.

MVR's can provide conclusive and objective information on an employee's (or potential employee's) driving history. Most insurance carriers use this information to evaluate driver qualifications. You should also have an internal program to review and evaluate the records of your drivers. It is important that you order and evaluate MVR's on a consistent basis (at least semiannually). This program should include all persons whose regular duties involve the use of company owned or non-owned vehicles including but not limited to salespersons. We can assist by providing the MVR's along with the appropriate Fair Credit Reporting Act notices.

The MVR information is only the starting point for evaluating a driver's ability and history. You should set up formal standards against which to measure an employee's driver experience. To assist you in developing your own form to make your MVR evaluation, we can provide a sample "Driver Accident Potential Analysis". The form includes these significant factors: length of employment, moving violations (only those not associated with an accident) and accidents (only those reported to the police and listed on the MVR or reported to your company). You may wish to add other factors for your operation.

The total number of points can give you a quick, accurate analysis of your driver's likely accident potential. To use these scores effectively, you also need to establish procedures that dictate the type and degree of actions to be taken with marginal or unacceptable drivers. Such actions could include additional training, remedial training or reassignment. These standards and procedures should address and encompass all company drivers.