Comments By 40 Ton Land Captain

Hello! Saw on another thread where a poster said that HireRight keeps employment information on a DAC report "forever". As I understood it, a DAC report is treated as a credit check under federal laws and as such any info on a DAC report "falls" off after 7 years, be it good or bad. Example- A driver had a negative report placed against their DAC report by a trucking company before 2009, then that info should fall off this year (2016) or before. Is this correct? Thanks!

I run background checks and work with compliance for motor carriers. On your application, as a CDL driver, you are required by DOT to have 10 years of employment listed. This includes unemployment and student years. 10 Years has to be accounted for. When MVR's are pulled, this is associated with your state ID. Some states allow 7 years of driving background to be viewed and others allow only 3. Being unemployed or a student for any of the 10 years you list does not seem to be much of a deterrent for most companies, nor a speeding ticket several years in the past. I have, however, seen a deterrent due to lying about your past employment as (depending on what backgrounds are pulled) your past employers can be listed from other sources fairly easily.

Mike Doyle - Safetycp.com

Mike, thanks for the info.

Just wondering, do companies that run a DOT pre-employment drug test or other DOT mandated testing show up in a database somewhere? I never failed a drug test but have had a few jobs in transportation (not trucking) that just did not go well and departed the company rather quickly- I would prefer to not list a job for a few days or weeks at the most.

All drivers - flatbed, refrigerated, van..

Thanks for the reply- I am well aware that an CDL driver needs a valid/current DOT med-card and that includes a basic test for things like BP, pulse, heart rate etc.

But I read something else about the requirements for Roehl and that made me wonder-It seems a bit much but then again, I have not drove a truck in years so it's possible a number of companies are doing this now, does anyone know which companies do such a test as below?

This is from another poster (Razor) in another thread (https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-13362/Page-1/roehl-gycdl-program-day-to-day) about the ROEHL training program:

"Next came a series of exercises you must do. Your heart rate is then measured after each. My maximum heart rate was 176 to continue the program. I will be the first to tell you that I have gotten out of shape with a string of jobs that required long hours on my rear. I don't plan to make that same mistake with my trucking career. Anyway, the highest I ever got was 135, so the majority of people will have no issues with the tests. Your maximum HR is determined by your age and weight. From here on I will use the letters HRT to signify when your heart rate is checked.

The first test was a simple squat down and read a sheet of paper attached to the wall, return to standing, then back down for 20 seconds before standing back up. One knee and hand was allowed on the ground if needed, however you could not grab anything for assistance going up or down. HRT.

Second, we had to simulate climbing into the back of a truck while maintaining three points of contact. Not much to expand on. HRT.

Third, it was time for 10 squats. Simple enough, at least one hand has to touch the ground. No knees allowed. HRT.

Fourth, we had to squat and pick up a basket that was 25lbs and had to carry it 25 feet down and 25 feet back before squatting down and placing it back on the floor. Next the weight was bumped up to 70lbs, same drill. HRT.

Fifth, we moved to a table to a crate that was 20 lbs and were required to lift it from waist to shoulder height 3 times. Weight was bumped to 40lbs and repeated. HRT.

Sixth, we moved to a push/pull bar. First we were required to pull on the bar three times, each time had to be over 120lbs of force. Next we had to push on the bar with a minimum of 100lbs of force each time. HRT.

Seventh, we moved to a lat station and had to do three standing lat pull-downs of 80lbs. HRT.

Eighth, we moved to a small rolled up tarp. We were required to squat down and pick the tarp up. after getting it to chest level, we had to curl the tarp waist to chest two times before placing it back on the ground.

Ninth, we were required to walk across a balance beam that was approx. 10 feet long, pivot around and walk back. You were allowed one retry before failing this portion.

Tenth, the final test was to climb a ladder approx 25 feet, touch the ceiling, and climb back down. End of test."

That is pretty extreme and I would think some prospective drivers fail right there. Something to be aware of. I doubt all companies do such a test.

Funny or ironic thing is this: I have worked on-board ships for years as an oiler and junior engineer yet I have a relatively poor sense of balance-ROFL :-D But I did fine hahaha! And then a trucking company asks for a balance test? LOL!

Hello- For anyone who is either with Roehl in their training program or a recent hire, does every new Roehl driver have to pass the physical exam/heart rate tests? Or is it just for the flat-bed division? Thanks!

What concerns me is this part: "Ninth, we were required to walk across a balance beam that was approx. 10 feet long, pivot around and walk back. You were allowed one retry before failing this portion."

There are physical tests for all applicants during orientation, but I think flatbedders must have to do more because of the nature of the work. I am dry van and I did not have to do the particular exercise you are concerned about. My training was outsourced to an accelerated community college program and I did those tests during my one day of orientation. Possibly they go more in depth for students in their school since they have more time with them but to my knowledge you dont need to be worried about that particular test pursuing reefer or dryvan

Thanks for the 411~!!!

Hello- For anyone who is either with Roehl in their training program or a recent hire, does every new Roehl driver have to pass the physical exam/heart rate tests? Or is it just for the flat-bed division? Thanks!

What concerns me is this part: "Ninth, we were required to walk across a balance beam that was approx. 10 feet long, pivot around and walk back. You were allowed one retry before failing this portion."

Hello- For anyone who is either with Roehl in their training program or a recent hire, does every Roehl driver have to pass the physical exam/heart rate tests? Or is it just for the flat-bed division? Thanks!