The Value of Monitoring Employee Driving Records

Employees who drive on the job might present some of the highest risks to an organization. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of workplace deaths in the United States. Driving on the job is just another form of operating large machinery, but it’s not always treated as such. Most employers require a motor vehicle record (MVR) check before placing a candidate in a role that involves driving. Many employers even follow this up with annual MVR rechecks to ensure employees continue to drive safely. But even annual checks of employee driving records leave gaps that keep the employer vulnerable.

Continuous MVR monitoring gives employers peace of mind that they will know right away if one of their drivers has a new infraction on their record. Choosing to start a driver monitoring program as a new safety initiative might require buy-in from various stakeholders. And while initiating MVR monitoring to increase employee safety and reduce organizational risk may seem like a no brainer to you - some may not see the need. Luckily, the ROI of monitoring employee driving records speaks for itself.

What’s at stake with dangerous employee drivers?

Employing drivers with a history of unsafe driving can have serious implications. On top of general safety concerns, accidents caused by employees can have a large financial impact.

A study done by The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety found that U.S. employers lost $72.2 billion in 2019 alone to employee traffic accidents. The cost of accidents varies, but recent lawsuits show how quickly costs can stack up:

• The family of a man in Ohio sued the employer of the driver who struck and killed him on the side of the interstate. The family accuses the employer of negligent hiring, stating that the driver had a history of driving violations. While the case is ongoing, the family is seeking over $75,000 in damages from the company.

• The employer of a driver who caused a fatal accident in Texas was sued for negligent hiring. The lawsuit stated that the company should have known the driver was not safe and ended in a $150 million settlement.

The potential monetary costs of bad drivers in your workforce are one thing, but financial costs are only part of the picture. Unsafe driving can have hidden costs and impacts on the rest of your organization, too, such as:

• Over half of employees who are involved in a car accident miss work, impacting your team’s productivity and morale.

• Car accidents result in increased corporate insurance premium costs.

• The organization’s brand reputation is at risk since every employee is a representative.

The worth of continuous MVR monitoring

Monitoring employee MVRs can help employers avoid putting dangerous drivers on the road. With monitoring, employers get notified as soon as possible when a new infraction is added to a driving record so they can make employment decisions in real-time. Implementing continuous monitoring can help employers prevent the potential financial and organizational costs related to car accidents.

Additionally, SambaSafety found that drivers who are aware that their employer monitors their record are safer on the road. Drivers enrolled in a monitoring program saw a 22% decrease in driving violations, showing that just implementing continuous MVR driving alone can create a significant positive change in driving behavior.

Implementing an MVR monitoring program proves investment in your employees and their safety. It’s one more resource to help keep employers informed and make more informed employment decisions. Learn how easy Continuous MVR Monitoring is with Verified Credentials ›