We are fast approaching the busiest time of year for holiday travel, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, as well as vacation travel. Travelers need transportation in the form of taxis and limos to and from airports, train, and bus stations in order to visit relatives and friends or even Disneyworld.

But just who is responsible for the safety of these travelers in taxis and limos? Well, there are rules and regulations that must be adhered to for drivers and it is only through a thorough background check that we can make sure these requirements are met.

Business Licensing and Insurance
At the very least, licensing and insurance are essential for starting a limo service. Every state has different requirements. A state business license and a business name registration are needed, and likely a county or city license will be required as well.

The Department of Transportation (DOT)
But licensing and insurance are just the beginning. The Department of Transportation (DOT) issues regulations and standards for those providing transportation service to citizens, including public transportation, private transportation, and commercial trucks. Safety is of the utmost importance to DOT and they have created drug and alcohol screenings all employers and employees must adhere to. Limousine drivers are no exception to these standards, even if they are a privately-owned company. (Source: Why It’s Important For Limo Drivers To Be DOT Compliant, Industry Facts and News by Elda Paloulian.) This includes thorough drug and alcohol screening of drivers.

If DOT finds that your company has employed one or more employees who pose a threat to public safety, they won’t hesitate to shut down the business. Anne Ferro, an administrator with DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said in a report, “When it comes to safety, there is no cutting corners. We will continue to take immediate action to shut down companies that put the traveling public at risk.” All taxi and limo services should be DOT-compliant.

Tragic Example #1
In January 2016, 55-year-old Semere Dawit, a limo driver, caused an accident that killed two people and left five seriously injured. Dawit was driving under the influence although he had a past record of driving infractions; he was still employed as a limo driver despite a background check. If his employer had provided DOT-compliant drug/alcohol testing, and possibly a more thorough background check, Dawit might have been suspended from driving, and would have avoided the crash.

The National Limousine Association: Drivers and Sexual Assaults
Apparently, many taxi and limousine services take background checks of their drivers too lightly. In an article by Thomas Ahearn for ESR News, National Limousine Association Renews Call for Better Background Checks of Drivers for TNCs Such as Uber and Lyft, “The National Limousine Association is calling for legislation mandating fingerprint-based background checks and universal drug screening for transportation network company (TNC) drivers following the responses of Uber and Lyft to a public service announcement (PSA) called “The Signs” that draws attention to sexual assaults that occur in ride-hailing vehicles.”

Tragic Example #2
In January 2018, the Associated Press (AP) reported that California prosecutors charged a Mexican man living in the U.S. illegally with raping, assaulting, and robbing four female victims while using his job as an Uber driver to target intoxicated women.

Uber also faces a class action lawsuit filed by two women who claim they were sexually assaulted by two Uber drivers due in part to Uber allegedly “using low cost, woefully inadequate background checks on drivers.”

What Is Needed
In addition to the above, a good, professional employee background check should cover an applicant’s arrest record, criminal record (CORI), driving record, employment history (including the questioning of former employers), medical records, credit history, educational background, and references check all going back 8 to 10 years, including drug and alcohol testing as mentioned. And, as we have said in previous blogs, the new HR trend to perform ongoing checks after employment is also an excellent idea to keep abreast of any new information.

Why Choose The Hire Authority for Your Background Screening?
Be safe, not sorry. At The Hire Authority we are thorough in our screening, which guarantees that you will receive information that is current and relevant. We care about your security and we will work to keep you safe from harm or unnecessary problems.

We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and give you a quote. Call (508) 230-5901 or visit our website www.hireauth.com.

The foregoing should not be construed as legal advice. Employers should always consult their own legal counsel for advice on labor and employment matters.