Think of a DAC report as your trucking credit score. Officially called the Drive-A-Check report and maintained by HireRight, it's a database that carriers use to verify your employment history, accident record, drug test results, and the reason you left previous employers. Almost every major carrier checks it before making a hiring decision.
What Information Is on Your DAC Report
Your DAC report contains your employment history with participating carriers, including dates of employment, positions held, and reason for separation. It also includes any DOT-recordable accidents, failed or refused drug and alcohol tests, eligibility for rehire status, and any safety performance data your previous employers chose to report. Not all carriers report to the DAC system, but most large and mid-size companies do.
How It Affects Your Career
A clean DAC report opens doors. A problematic one can close them fast. If a previous employer marked you as "not eligible for rehire" or reported an accident, that information follows you to every future application. Top-tier carriers — including several of National Standard Trucking School's partners like J.B. Hunt, Werner, and Schneider — rely heavily on DAC reports during the screening process. A clean report can mean the difference between a premium driving position and settling for less.
How to Check and Dispute Your DAC Report
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you're entitled to a free copy of your DAC report once per year. Request it through HireRight's website. Review every entry carefully. If you find errors — and they do happen — you have the right to dispute them. HireRight must investigate within 30 days and correct any information that can't be verified. Document everything, and consider getting legal help if a former employer is reporting false information.
Building a Strong DAC Report from Day One
The best strategy is prevention. Give proper notice before leaving a carrier. Maintain a clean safety record. Never refuse or miss a drug test. Handle disputes with employers professionally and through proper channels. Your DAC report is a career-long document — treat it that way.
At National Standard Trucking School in Tacoma, we educate our students about the professional standards and career management skills that go beyond driving technique. Understanding tools like the DAC report gives you an edge before you even start your first job. Call (253) 210-0505 to learn more about our CDL programs.
