Do All Trucking Companies Report To DAC?
Not all companies use Drive-A-Check (DAC) when screening potential employees. The Drive-A-Check report is supposed to be a complete picture of a commercial driver’s history and safety record. However, not all trucking companies may report to DAC, since some companies do not use DAC.
What Is Included on a DAC Report
A DAC report is a comprehensive record of a commercial driver’s history. It is an industry best practice that all trucking companies report to DAC. It should include the following:
- Identifying information for the driver, including social security number, birthday, and license number
- Information about accidents and violations
- History of tickets and infractions
- A trucker’s work history, including info about when they abandoned jobs
- What kind of truck a driver has used
- Drug and alcohol testing history, including when a driver has refused testing
When taken together, all of this info should help trucking companies make wiser hiring decisions. They can see if a driver sticks to the rules of the road and prioritizes safety. If a trucking company is truly concerned about keeping other motorists safe, reporting driver issues to Drive-A-Check and avoiding hiring drivers with a sketchy background should be a priority.
Why Is Drive-A-Check Important for Truck Drivers?
A truck driver needs to be especially skilled and aware of their surroundings. The Drive-A-Check report helps companies figure out if a potential hire will likely operate their truck safely. Ignoring issues on a DAC report, not reporting incidents to Drive-A-Check, or neglecting researching a new hire can make the road a less safe place for all motorists. A trucking company should be held to account for such negligence.
Trucking companies need to put a lot of thought into the hiring process because trucks themselves can be quite dangerous.
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Negligent Truck and Tractor-Trailer Drivers Pose a Threat to Other Road Users
Compare the size of the typical passenger vehicle to the bulk of a truck and commercial trailer. There is basically no comparison. In some cases, a truck can weigh nearly 30 times as much as that car or crossover they are sharing the road with!
This means that an accident involving a passenger vehicle and a large vehicle like a truck can be far more dangerous than a collision between two passenger cars. That increased weight increases the likelihood of the drivers involved suffering serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other ailments that could end up affecting them for life.
Due to their larger size and the weight of their cargo, a truck lacks maneuverability. A truck accelerates slower and can quickly gain speed as it travels downhill. Such a vehicle also has a longer stopping distance than the typical car or SUV would.
Who Is Responsible When a Truck Accident Occurs
In many truck accident cases, there can be multiple at-fault parties. When most accidents occur, drivers are to blame. If a truck driver is found at fault, they might not be the only one who caused the unsafe situation. The trucking company itself could also be at fault.
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The Trucking Company Has Rules It Needs To Follow
This is because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets a variety of rules for trucking companies to follow, including rules about:
- Vehicle inspections
- Carrying certain types of cargo
- Driving behavior, like the number of hours logged behind the wheel and how hours are tracked
- Reporting safety issues they have spotted at their own truck companies to the FMCSA
These rules and regulations keep the road safe for all motorists. A truck driver who ignores rules about hours of service and practices unsafe driving habits is a danger to others, but so is a trucking company that neglects to properly vet their own hires.
A trucking company that does not report violations to DAC, allowing a dangerous driver to be employed by another firm, could also be creating a hazardous situation.
Have You Been Injured in a Truck Accident—We Can Help?
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a trucking accident, you know the real-world implications of flouting these rules and regulations all too well. If the negligence or actions of another party was to blame for your accident, you might want to pursue compensation.
A settlement can help you pay for medical expenses and make up for lost wages. It can help assuage some of the mental anguish you and your family have experienced. Contact the Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers and learn more about the value of your case and your legal options today. Our truck accident lawyers can establish negligence in your case.
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