KEN'S KORNER - NOVEMBER 2007

THE DAC REPORT BLUES
BY AUTHOR, EDUCATOR & DRIVER KEN SKAGGS

We all know how important a DAC report has become lately. Nobody seems to know what “DAC” stands for, but it has become important nonetheless. But even experienced drivers may be surprised to learn about some things that can disqualify them from working for many trucking companies. Sadly, in almost every orientation, there is usually at least one driver who finds out the hard way, and is sent home with his tail between his legs. And it usually comes as a shock – even to the most experienced of drivers. So, I thought I’d tell you about a few things that I have seen over the years regarding DAC reports.

In case you just fell off the turnip truck, a DAC report is just like a credit report for truck drivers. Trucking companies report employment information, dates employed, positive drug test results, accidents, or any information which they feel prospective employers should be aware of. However, even though most drivers know about DAC, there are a lot of them that apparently don’t know that certain accidents can disqualify you from being hired, like striking an overpass or jack-knifing.

Every orientation I’ve been to (probably fifteen) is basically the same. The company policies differ, but the process is usually the same. Over the course of a few days, the drivers become friends – one is funny, one is quiet, one is obnoxious, and they all know everything. Generally, they are a fun bunch of guys who talk about past jobs, compare trucking experiences, make each other laugh and try to have fun during the lengthy orientation process. Behind the scenes, the office personnel are hard at work, certifying past employers, looking at driving records and evaluating the dreaded DAC reports. Occasionally, a driver will be called into the office to explain a problem, which is usually something harmless like a mixed-up date or phone number. But sometimes it is not harmless – like when they ask about past accidents.

Just last month I was at an orientation where a driver failed to mention a time he jack-knifed. He tried to explain that the accident wasn’t his fault, but simply because he jack-knifed, he couldn’t be hired. It was company policy, etched in stone, with no room for negotiation. He thought it was unfair and I did too, simply because they should have found out before they bought his thousand-mile bus ticket. I’m sure it was a long ride home for him.

Then, at a previous orientation, there was a driver who had once struck an overpass. He too tried to explain that the damage was very minimal. Again, company policy, etched in stone, no hitting overpasses allowed – zero tolerance – and a bus ticket home. He swore it was only one hundred dollars damage and wished he had paid to fix it himself. Again, a long bus ride home, I’m sure.

At most of the orientations I have attended there is usually a driver who has had a positive drug test or two. We all understand that if you test positive you will not be hired. But, sometimes a DAC report shows a positive drug test result from a year ago. Even though he may have passed his current drug test, he is sent home with no job. Obviously, they should have looked at his DAC report before they “hired” him and bought his bus ticket, but too often, they don’t. While some companies take a week or two to decide to hire you or not, others rush to judgment with quick approvals over the phone. Then, after further scrutiny, they wind up sending some people home a few days later, wasting not only the driver’s time, but a lot of the company’s time (and money) as well.

I’ve even heard drivers say the DAC report is lying. They’ll argue a different side of the story and swear that the company made up a lie because they didn’t like him/her for some reason. Rarely will the new company ever investigate – they take the DAC report as a “be-all end-all” document. Luckily, there are ways to correct false information on your DAC report, but it takes a lot of time and money. But for now, there goes another rejected driver on a long and lonely ride home.

It wasn’t always this way. Only a few years ago, every company didn’t report every little thing to DAC. Back then, the report only had employment dates and abandoned truck information. In the beginning, a DAC report was just a quick way for a company to tentatively verify your work history. Later, it became the “abandoned truck report” as more and more drivers began leaving company trucks in faraway places. In the old days, if a driver got mad at his dispatcher, he would just drive the truck home and find another job. As recently as ten years ago, it was not uncommon to hear about drivers who had abandoned their truck at a truckstop because their company took too long to find a backhaul. Thankfully, with modern technology, backhauls are easier to find. And, thanks to DAC, drivers do not abandon their trucks as often anymore.

Too bad there isn’t a DAC report for companies. It would be great if drivers could report companies for their misgivings. And when a driver was considering employment at a certain company, he/she could pull their DAC and see what their history looked like. Of course, this would never work. Drivers would be filing complaints about everything. We (drivers) always talk about recruiters and dispatchers lying. Could you imagine the stories some drivers would tell, given this power?

Actually, drivers do have this power – it’s called the internet. Nowadays, it’s easy to find out about a company. Just Google “what it’s like to work for (fill in the blank)” and you will find plenty of information. They talk about the good and bad of every major company. Next time you are looking to change companies, do some research and make a good choice. I probably sound like I don’t like DAC. Well, I do. Don’t get me wrong. I just think companies should look at them before buying a bus ticket. I think it’s great that trucking companies can see what they are getting, and I also think it’s great that drivers can research trucking companies a lot easier these days as well. Maybe now there won’t be as much job-hopping. Yeah, right!

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