In the United States economy, transportation workers comprise a little over 4% of the workforce. That translates into more than six million jobs ranging from train conductors and truck drivers to airport personnel and more. These workers play a fundamental part in making the supply chain work optimally and support domestic travel, which are substantial responsibilities. The government mandated background checks for transport industry companies as a matter of safety.
However, the vetting process can be long, complex, confusing, and even expensive for some categories of transportation workers. Some employees may only need a DOT-mandated background check, but others require additional screening steps. A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the United States Congress recently introduced a new bill to change the system—what is happening?
Lawmakers say the multi-layered screening process for some authorizations is redundant and time-consuming. They say that the complexity of the necessary screening continues to cause delays in allowing much-needed workers to enter roles that support the supply chain. Importantly, lawmakers also say that the checks financially burden many transport workers.
Steps such as receiving a hazardous materials endorsement on an individual’s commercial driver’s license are often self-funded. Such costs and the time involved in obtaining a clearance can dissuade qualified applicants from applying for advertised vacancies.
The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act would consolidate several background check processes into one. An individual who passes the comprehensive check would receive immediate clearance in three vital areas. These include:
This step would not replace an employer’s responsibility to conduct a driving history check on truckers or other workers. It would, however, eliminate the need for workers to go through very similar vetting processes for the same result. The goal is to increase the flow of workers into the transportation industry and rebuild the resilience of the American supply chain.
Whether this bill ever becomes law remains to be seen. So far, it has only received a basic introduction into Congress and must still go through committee processes, revisions, and multiple votes. For now, the existing process remains in place. Employers do not need to adjust to account for legislative changes yet.
Even if the law does pass, you will still need to run an MVR background check to comply with Department of Transportation regulations. Practically, the law’s passage could increase the number of applicants for some positions in your business. Employers should monitor the progress of this law and prepare to take advantage of the streamlined process if it comes into effect.
Transportation jobs play a critical role in underpinning the entire economy. Maintaining safety while hiring effectively is challenging for every business in this space. Soon, finding cleared applicants ready to work for you may be more accessible. For now, review your existing screening processes and identify inefficiencies in how you use background checks for transport jobs. With products and support from backgroundchecks.com, you could accelerate your times-to-hire and prepare your business for its next success.