Driver Record Check Procedure Change

University policy APM 05.08, Vehicle Use and Coverage, requires employees to become qualified drivers if their job duties require them to operate a university-owned or rented vehicle. The qualification process requires a driving record check to provide evidence of satisfactory driving performance. Currently, record checks are performed by U of I Risk Management and authorized record checkers within the colleges and divisions. To provide better security for sensitive records and multistate records, Risk and Human Resources updated procedures. Effective July 1, driver record requests should be submitted through HR’s Criminal Background Check/Driving Record Check Request Form. The university’s background check service provider will search driving records. Colleges and divisions will no longer be able to check drivers’ records.

All driver records must be checked through this process. The service will check driving records in all 50 states. Allow at least three days for the return of results which will either be yes (qualifies) or no (does not qualify). If a driver’s record complies with university procedures in APM 05.08, it will be accepted. 

To complete the driver qualification process, employees with an accepted record must then complete the Defensive Driver Training and sign the Vehicle Use Agreement. If a driver’s record doesn’t comply with university procedures, the driver’s record will not be accepted and the employee cannot drive university-owned or rented vehicles. Prospective and current employees should understand that many states are part of the compact to show drivers’ complete driving histories and the decision to accept or not accept a driving record is based on their full driving history. APM 05.08 lists what is acceptable for a driving history. If an employee wants to discuss a record that is declined, and therefore does not qualify them to drive, the employee should contact crimcheck@uidaho.edu. HR and Risk will review the employee’s request.

A combined background check and driver’s license check will be done as part of the conditional hiring process. Since driver’s records must be checked at three-year intervals, units will be able to use the same procedure to request the updated driving record without the background check.