WASHINGTON -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has launched the first phase of its Driver Pre-Employment Screening Program, which when fully active will allow commercial bus and truck to electronically access driver safety inspection and crash records as a part of their hiring process.

The program, which was expected to begin this past December, is the first effort by the federal government to give motorcoach operators access to such information.

The FMCSA says that by using its driver safety information during the hiring process motor carriers will be able to better assess potential safety risks of prospective driver-employees, and drivers will have additional opportunities to verify the data in their driving history and correct any discrepancies. (See Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 issues of Bus & Motorcoach News.)

The first phase of the program provides motor carriers the opportunity to visit the Pre-Employment Screening Program website, at www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov, and pre-register for the program by submitting their company contact information. Questions and answers about the program also can be found on the program website.

The program, which is expected to be fully functional this summer, will contain driver crash and safety inspection information collected by state and federal safety enforcement officials.

Through the system, motor carriers, as well as individual drivers, can purchase the driver information contained in the Motor Carrier Management Information System database.

In accordance with federal privacy laws, drivers must first give written consent for their records to be released to a prospective motor carrier employer.

The new program is being administered for the FMCSA by a contractor, National Information Consortium Technologies, of Olathe, Kan.

Until the program becomes operational motor carriers will not be able to order driver information. However, pre-registering for the program will expedite motor carrier access to the data once the next phase is launched.

By going to the website now, carriers will be able to download the program enrollment package, sign the agreement form, and return the completed documents to the program administrators.

More information can be obtained by e-mailing PSPenrollment@nicusa.com, or calling (877) 684-6832.