How Obtaining A Driver’s Abstract Improves Your Hiring

December 10, 2018

If the role you’re hiring for involves frequent driving or use of a company vehicle in the Province of Ontario, it is recommended to obtain an Ontario driver’s license abstract. By doing so, you are ensuring you have all the information you need in order to make a more informed hiring decision.

Along with peace of mind, having driving history information on potential hires will also allow you to avoid the following:

Possible Liabilities: Having a driver that has a proven track record of dangerous behaviour while behind the wheel opens you up to a whole list of potential problems, including vehicle damages, lawsuits, insurance claims, injury, tickets and fines, and more. When looking to hire someone in a role where driving is an essential aspect of their job, be sure to investigate their driving record before giving them the keys to a company car or vehicles that are used for business purposes.

Bad Hiring Decisions: A drivers abstract provides a variety of information that helps you make an informed hiring decision. The information available in a driver’s abstract when ordered by an employer is as follows:

• Their name as it appears on the license
• Driver’s license number
• Their date of birth
• Sex
• Height
• Class of license (G, M, etc.)
• Any conditions such as glasses requirements or endorsements like air-break certified
• License status (licensed, unlicensed, suspended)
• The date the license was obtained and its expiry date
• Convictions, discharges or any other actions

Embarrassment: Being unaware of certain key points of information can lead to potential future embarrassment should one of your new hires lose their license or have an accident. This could present terrible problems for your company. You want to be sure that you have everything covered and have done your research on potential hires before extending a job offer.

Drivers Abstract Record Available for Employers

As an employer in Ontario, you are able to request a 3-year driver’s record. This record can be certified if necessary, or uncertified. The certified document includes an embossed seal from the Ministry of Transportation and is typically required for court or legal purposes. This 3-year driver’s record shows, along with the previously mentioned items, the demerit point total of an individual and any legal issues. These may include active fine suspensions or convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements under the Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code of Canada within the last three years.

You are also able to order a collision report, also known as an accident report. To order this, you require the driver’s license number and information about the accident including date, location, and license plate number. If the accident occurred within the last 20 days, it would not be on this record. The report includes the names of the drivers involved in the accident, as well as a description of the vehicles and road condition at the time of the collision. As with the 3-year record, this document is available certified and uncertified.

Our pre-employment services are highly effective and deliver useful results. For more information on the driver’s abstract services offered by RightFit Plus, contact us at 905-604-4951 or toll-free at 1-888-604-4951.