USIS celebrates 25th Anniversary of DAC Services
USIS recently announced the twenty-fifth anniversary of its flagship transportation business, DAC Services.
DAC Services has provided innovative screening solutions to the transportation industry since 1981. During this time, DAC has evolved from a business that began by supplying motor carriers with motor vehicle reports (MVRs) as a sole means by which to screen drivers, to the industry’s premier source for comprehensive driver information and screening services.
The products and services DAC has developed over the past 25 years represent the company’s ongoing commitment to promoting safe and responsible transportation management. In 1986, DAC revolutionized the driver screening process by launching its Employment History File, a proprietary driver information repository which allows motor carriers to exchange employee work history information. Today, the database contains over 5.9 million records from more than 2,500 motor carriers, and remains a unique product in the transportation industry. read more
FMCSA Launches "Be Ready. Be Buckled." Campaign
The FMCSA, in conjunction with a group of professional organizations representing truck drivers, law enforcement officers, manufacturers, and insurers in the commercial motor vehicle industry throughout North America, has launched the “Be Ready. Be Buckled.” campaign.
The campaign was launched as a result of a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation that shows only 54 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers wear safety belts compared to 82 percent of passenger vehicle drivers. In 2004, close to half of the 634 commercial motor vehicle drivers killed in crashes were not wearing safety belts. Of those killed, 168 of them were ejected from their vehicles, and nearly three out of four were not wearing safety belts. read more
President Bush Signs SAFE Port Act
On October 13, 2006, President Bush signed the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act. The SAFE Port Act is a comprehensive bill that will take steps to prevent threats from reaching the United States, track and protect containers en route, and tighten security at U.S. ports.
The SAFE Port Act contains provisions addressing high-risk containers by identifying the contents of the container, the identity of the shipper and consignee, the port of origin and the destination. The SAFE Port Act also establishes port security training programs, improves employee identification, and implements appropriate measures for evaluating federal, state, local, and foreign governments, seaport personnel, and non-governmental emergency response providers.
Components of the bill include:
- Increasing domestic port security and strengthening critical U.S. infrastructure defenses
- Taking a global approach by strategically preventing threats from reaching the United States
- Tracking potentially high-risk containers that are traveling to the United States
- Strengthening the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, which creates partnerships between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the private sector to establish communication regarding the supply chain, enhance security measures, and encourage greater information sharing
For more information, visit www.house.gov/chs.
Employee Spotlight:
Tamala Wiley, Customer Service Department Lead
 At USIS, we attribute much of our success to our committed customer service department. Tamala Wiley has contributed to this effort in her role as Customer Service Department Lead for more than a year and as part of the customer service team for five years.
Wiley is responsible for handling a number of customer calls each day, covering topics ranging from MVR interpretation questions, criminal record inquiries to data transfer issues. To fulfill the expectations placed on her as a department lead, she spends the rest of her day answering internal questions from other customer service representatives and handling escalated customer service calls. read more
USIS to Launch Driver Violation Alert (DVA)SM
In late January 2007, USIS will launch Driver Violation Alert (DVA)SM, a unique risk mitigation solution that an employer can use to monitor the motor vehicle records of its drivers on a monthly basis. DVASM will be offered to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated organizations and non-DOT regulated commercial businesses.
To enroll in the service, a company provides USIS with a list of current employees they wish to monitor on a monthly basis. USIS then searches state repositories for updated information on each driver’s motor vehicle record, and notifies the carrier of any change to the record. Employers can update the list as needed to ensure only active drivers are screened each month.
“Driver Violation AlertSM allows employers to take a more proactive role in monitoring employee driving records, and gives an employer a chance to take corrective actions or offer driver safety training that may reduce the risk of future accident involvement,” said Kim Bishop, credit and driving records product manager for USIS’ commercial services business. “Proactive screening of company drivers also helps eliminate any surprises that may occur during the annual MVR review process.” read more
USIS Partners with eScreen to Provide Rapid Drug Testing Solutions
USIS has partnered with eScreen to deliver affordable, rapid, and compliant drug test results to clients of all sizes and types. Using proprietary testing technology, eScreen provides companies with 15-minute drug test results through its nationwide network of over 1,100 clinics that are equipped with the automated system. This efficient, cost-effective system allows employers to decrease hiring time and lower the overall cost per hire.
The entire drug screening program is managed from one easy, web-based application that features a paperless process. A digital Chain of Custody form is generated for every test ordered, and accompanies the specimen throughout the process, which includes electronic storage, distribution and retrieval. Employers will receive negative test results electronically in less than 15 minutes after the applicant completes his or her test. All donor specimens that require further testing are sent to SAMHSA-certified laboratory partners for confirmation. read more
Nevada Added to MVR Express
MVR Express provides all of the benefits found in a standard motor vehicle record, but speeds the response time from the state. Additionally, MVR Express provides real-time, immediate response reporting for driving records from 44 states, which includes the recent addition of Nevada. Oregon is slated to be the next addition for MVR Express state availability.
Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) can identify the status of a policyholder’s driver’s license, license type, endorsements, restrictions, driving violations and suspensions. USIS provides fast, consistent reporting with direct access to driving records from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and 11 Canadian Provinces. Our MVR Smart Ordering Entry System saves time and improves the accuracy of information received. An MVR Table can be provided to show state-by-state availability.
For more information, call 866.205.6129 or visit www.usis.com.
Neglecting to Conduct I-9 Employment Screening Could Result in High Penalty Fees in Some States
Effective January 1, 2007, Colorado employers (regardless of size or head count) will be required to comply with the Colorado state employment verification requirements, which will be enforced by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The state of Colorado will require each employer to provide in writing 20 days of hiring an employee that it has examined the legal work status of such newly hired employee and has retained file copies of the documents showing the employee's identity and work eligibility; that it has not altered or falsified the employee's identification documents; and that the employer has not knowingly hired an unauthorized alien.
Currently, other states such as Georgia are also pending similar legislation. To assist your business with meeting this requirement, consider USIS’ I-9 Employment Eligibility service. With this service, employers can fully comply with the new state requirements and be ready for pending requirements without worrying about the inability to provide the appropriate documentation, resulting in high penalty fines. USIS makes this easy for you by handling the process in an efficient manner, providing you with peace of mind.
The I-9 Employment Eligibility product uses information provided by the employee on the I-9 form. USIS will then submit a request to search the files of the Social Security Administration as well as the Department of Homeland Security to determine if the employee is eligible to work in the U.S.
After the information is submitted by the employer, the results of the screen are completed by USIS and returned to the customer. Based on the results, additional action may be required by the employer.
This verification is available in all 50 states and can be implemented on a location by location basis. The product cannot be utilized during the pre-employment screening process and must be used within three days of the employee’s initial hire date.
For more information about I-9 Employment Eligibility, call 866.205.6129 or visit www.usis.com.
Company Closings
USIS and Affiliates will be closed December 25 for the holiday season, January 1 in observance of New Year’s Day, January 15 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and February 19 in observance of President’s Day.
Trade Show Schedule
USIS will be participating in a variety of trade shows in the next couple of months. Please take a look at the list by visiting http://www.usis.com/commercialservices/calendar.htm.
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