Background Checks for the Automotive Industry: A Checklist
August 19 2019
The automotive industry is a specialized field that requires a variety of skilled talent, from customer service and sales representatives to high-tech automotive engineers. Each employee needs to be vetted and screened to ensure they’ll be a good fit and a safe investment of company time and resources. But what should a background check cover when screening for the automotive industry?
With years of experience serving companies in the automotive industry, we’ve compiled best practice recommendations designed to help shape your screening program. Consider the following when running a background check for the automotive industry:
A criminal history search is one of the most basic aspects of any background check—and that’s because it’s important. These can be performed at any level, from county to nationwide. A criminal history search reveals past convictions, ranging from felonies to misdemeanors to reportable traffic violations. A national criminal search casts a wide net and uncovers which states or counties to request a little additional research. InfoMart’s National Criminal Search also includes a scan of the National Sex Offender Registry, which can reveal information not found in a standard criminal history search.
Verifications are another key component of your standard background check, particularly when hiring for a skilled position like a technician. They’re conducted by contacting previous employers and education institutions listed on a candidate’s resume to confirm that the applicant did in fact attend and work at those organizations. This may seem like a basic process, but it is often complicated by incomplete information, closed businesses, and diploma mills. Verifying a candidate’s credentials is not always simple, but it is always necessary in such a highly specialized industry—that’s why you should partner with an experienced provider for quick, compliant, and accurate verifications.
3. Drug Testing
Automotive industry employees work in a variety of environments: auto repair shops, assembly lines, dealership sales floors, and more. Maintaining a safe, drug-free workplace is crucial to the safety of staff, customers, and valuable equipment. New staff should be drug tested prior to starting, and random post-hire testing can deter drug use after applicants become employees.
Drug testing, like background checks, can be as cursory or as in-depth as employers require. A 5-panel drug test screens for common drugs like marijuana and amphetamines while a more advanced 10-panel test covers a wider variety of illicit substances. Impaired workers can lead to costly accidents, so it is paramount for the automotive industry to maintain a drug-free workplace.
Sometimes automotive employers need to employ drivers of their own. Before they hit the road, it’s standard to perform a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) search. This provides information on an applicant’s driving record, current license status, and any DUI offenses they may have. Many in the automotive industry also prefer to utilize driver monitoring and Driver Qualification Files (DQF) services, which allow employers to monitor driver performance, approaching license expirations, and any new convictions.
Your workforce extends beyond your direct hires. Whether you’re bringing in contractors or outsourcing part of your production, a vendor background screening program ensures your third-party or contracted talent meet the same criteria as your traditional workforce. Third-party risk management is key in today’s workforce. Screening packages for this type of program are highly customizable; they can include just a cursory criminal history search or they can directly match the services that screen your in-house talent. Either way, a comprehensive vendor screening program managed by an experience background screening company will deliver accurate results quickly.
Work with an Experienced Employment Screening Provider
Background checks can seem like a confusing process no matter what industry you’re in. Partnering with a trusted and accredited background check vendor streamlines the background check process and ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local laws. Doing your due diligence on your own can be costly, time-consuming, and often leads to compliance errors. By choosing a background check company to handle your pre-employment screening, you’re placing your candidates and their information in the hands of experts.
Many people are surprised to learn that InfoMart is a certified diverse supplier that can increase your required diversity spend. Recognized as one of the top 10 largest background check companies in the industry, choosing InfoMart means you’re choosing a reliable, time-tested provider. Have questions or ready to make a change to your screening program? Reach out to an InfoMart expert today.
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record. To learn more about Tammy, visit www.tammycohen.com.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.