PSP Webinar Q&A: How a PSP Report Improves Driver Recruiting & Safety

Did you have a chance to attend our webinar last week, "How a PSP Report Improves Driver Recruiting & Safety"? We received more questions than we had time to answer in the allotted timeframe, so we've answered them below.  

Sean Garney, Director of Business Development of NIC Federal LLC and presenter on the webinar, answers each of the questions we received in this Q&A-style blog post. Whether or not you were able to attend, these questions regarding a PSP report can help to improve driver recruiting and safety.

Question: Can we get a copy of the slides from the webinar?

Answer: The webinar is now available on-demand and can be viewed in its entirety by clicking here. 

Question: Can you explain the difference between an MVR and a PSP report?

Answer: An MVR is issued by the state and includes a lot of great information including the final adjudication of any citation issued by state law enforcement. A PSP report includes all violations and accidents reported by state law enforcement to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), which includes items found on roadside for which a citation was written. More information can be found here.

Question: Is it mandatory to run a PSP report?

Answer: No, purchasing a PSP report is voluntary.

Question: Can PSP reports be run on current drivers?

Answer: No, PSP reports can only be obtained for drivers pre-hire.

Question: When was the last time that the disclosure and authorization form was updated?

Answer: The disclosure and authorization form was last updated in December of 2015. Please be sure your company is using the most recent version, found on the PSP website.

Question: Is there any way other than PSP that a driver can obtain their inspection and crash records?

Answer: Yes, a driver may request his or her own crash and inspection data by filing a Freedom of Information Act request.

Question: How long does it take for an inspection or crash to get into the PSP record?

Answer: Data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) is uploaded to the PSP system approximately once a month. This is a 'MCMIS data snapshot'. In the bottom left corner of your PSP record, you can find the data snapshot date effective at the time of the record request. If this date is earlier than a recent inspection, then you will not see the inspection on the report.  

Also, keep in mind that reporting times vary by state. If you do not see a crash or inspection that you expected to see, then you may consider accessing your PSP record again approximately a month after the snapshot date printed on your PSP record, or after the next data snapshot update. If you want to know the current MCMIS data snapshot date prior to requesting a PSP record, it is posted on the PSP home page. You can sign up to receive email notifications about snapshot updates via the GovDelivery system.

Question: Is the PSP report only from MCMIS or will city police departments, county safety offices, and other enforcement agencies be able to add crash and inspection information? What about crashes or tickets in a personal vehicle?

Answer: PSP only contains MCMIS inspection and crash information that is uploaded to MCMIS by FMCSA federal staff and state partners.

Question: How do we receive the record? Is it sent via mail or email?

Answer: PSP records are available instantly and can be accessed, saved, and printed from the PSP webpage.

Question: I use a third-party service to do my pre-hire checks. Can I get a PSP record from them?

Answer: Yes, most third parties, including DriverReach, provide access to PSP records.

Question: I use some drivers without a CDL. Will they have a PSP record?

Answer: Yes. The MCMIS database contains inspection and crash data for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and trailing units that weigh 10,001 pounds or more. This includes drivers of CMVs that may or may not have a CDL. A driver is not required to obtain a CDL unless they drive a vehicle that meets at least one of the following distinctions:

• the vehicle weighs at least 26,001 pounds; OR
• the vehicle contains hazmat materials; OR
• the vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the driver); OR
• the vehicle is a tanker truck, or the vehicle has air brakes.

Question: How do I handle a driver who has had a CDL in multiple states in the last 5 years?

Answer: Each CDL number and state should be entered into the system using the “add license” button to ensure the most accurate results.

Question: How would I know if my account has been audited?

Answer: Your account’s primary contact will be notified via email when your account is selected for audit. Your company will have to acknowledge the audit when you log into the PSP system. If your account’s primary contact has not received notification, then you have not yet been selected for audit.

Question: If a driver has a clean (no violation) inspection, will it show up on a PSP report?

Answer: Yes, provided the inspector completed an inspection report and uploaded it into the federal database, the no-violation inspection will be reflected on the PSP report.

Question: Where can carriers find a list of everything they need to be compliant in the hiring process?

Answer: Most regulations regarding the hiring process can be found at 49 C.F.R. Part 391.

Question: How long do I have access to PSP results?

Answer: PSP records can be access in the PSP system for up to 5 calendar days from when the record was requested. They can also be saved and printed for later review.

Stay tuned for more upcoming webinars, as well as other important recruiting and retention related topics from DriverReach's blog.