Stop False Information being Reported on CDL Drivers Dac Report

[Allen Smith]

Trucking Companies have been ruining Drivers careers for years by placing false information on their DAC report.

The sad part is that so many drivers don't even know that a DAC report exists about them, let alone how to obtain one. Every one reading this should request a copy of their DAC and know what companies have said about you, especially if you are having difficulty finding a job. ( the first report is free)

We are standing up for drivers to fight against this unacceptable practice that is used many times as a retaliation tactic against a driver. Many times the information is falsely reported is by an employee who just does not care enough to ensure the accuracy of the information that they are reporting AGAINST the driver.

Please sign the petition and READ some of the COMMENTS by DRIVERS of what FALSE INFORMATION reported on their DAC report has done to their careers.

Stop False Dac Reporting

Sign this petition for your fellow drivers whose lives are being ruined by the extreme difficulty or even inability to remove FALSE information from their DAC report.
It only takes less than 1 minute

[Twilight Flyer]

You know, I’ve posted information on DAC a number of times over the years and people don’t seem to really grasp what DAC is. So once again, I’ll briefly share a few of the more salient points.

DAC is nothing more than a repository for information that many truck companies use to store their information. 99.9% of the time, DAC is used for what it was designed for and that is simply to store the information and make it available to other companies doing employment verifications. Having that information stored speeds up the hiring process for a driver and saves time and money for the company. Most DAC reports are satisfactory and 99% of those DAC reports that are not satisfactory, are done so for good reason.

All that being said, I will agree that sometimes in very rare instances, a disgruntled boss or fleet manager uses DAC in a way to get back at a driver. But these instances are rare - much rarer than some people might want you to believe - and when they do happen, are generally pretty easy to clear up.

A simple phone call to DAC to challenge an erroneous report will fix it. DAC must then issue the challenge to the company and the company must provide written proof within 30 days that the report should stay. If a driver challenges a DAC report and it doesn’t get changed, it is generally because there is some merit to the report. And if a driver ever uses a company like DACFIX or some other 3rd party company to challenge a DAC, then I would like for them to simply send me the money since they are only throwing the money away. You do not need DACFIX or another 3rd party company to do what they do…spend the 5 minutes to make the call and do it yourself and save yourself the $150 or so.

Now, where drivers are really missing the boat is on faxed verifications. While DAC has always only been a storing house for basic information, today, every trucking company must go beyond DAC to verify any employment of that driver in the last 3 years. This has to be done by fax with written permission from the driver (for the D&A portion) and must include all companies, driving an non-driving, in the last 36 months. The reports must include D&A information and any accident information. Work record is not a must, but pretty much every company asks for it and gives it out and there is no set information that can be given out as there is with DAC alone…a company can be extremely detailed on a fax if they want. And while you could always request a copy of your DAC report, getting a copy of a verification fax is not nearly as easy and a whole lot more time-consuming.

So, with the new regs (at least new over the past 3 years or so), it’s actually tougher on a driver. Back when most everything was done through DAC or some other 3rd party information storage like DRIVER FACTS or Work Number for Everyone or whatever, drivers had it fairly easy. But because of the continual push against DAC as if that was a driver’s mortal enemy, now you have to deal with the faxes, too, and that opens up a whole new can of worms for a driver. Companies can get specific and they certainly do, giving a disgruntled boss a wide open range to take shots at a driver that pissed them off. And I can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen a satisfactory DAC report but when we got the fax back, we saw a totally different picture and now suddenly could not hire the driver. How is that progress?

It’s always been said that drivers are their own worst enemies. I know that when it comes to this, drivers certainly have been. You miss the forest for the trees. Your problem has never been with DAC…it’s been with the few companies that abused the system and every other trucking company has always known who those companies were and view those DAC reports with an air of “yeah, right”. However, now that drivers have forced some changes to how things are used, it’s gotten even worse for them. And if you think it’s bad now, wait until CSA 2010 goes into effect. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

[Twilight Flyer]

Here, I’ll give you an example of one that happened just today. Keep in mind that stuff like this is pretty common now, easily a daily occurance.

Had a driver that drove for a company last year, DAC report shows quit with a satisfactory work record. No problem, sounds good. However, the fax report comes back that the driver was terminated for log violations. Driver challenges the company and they correct their fax to say driver quit instead of being terminated, but that the log violations will remain and they will now change the DAC to show the same thing. So a new DAC is going to show log violations. How did the driver win by the new way things are done, using a combination of DAC and faxes?

He didn’t and that’s been my point for years.

[Allen Smith]

You know, I’ve posted information on DAC a number of times over the years and people don’t seem to really grasp what DAC is. So once again, I’ll briefly share a few of the more salient points.

DAC is nothing more than a repository for information that many truck companies use to store their information. 99.9% of the time, DAC is used for what it was designed for and that is simply to store the information and make it available to other companies doing employment verifications. Having that information stored speeds up the hiring process for a driver and saves time and money for the company. Most DAC reports are satisfactory and 99% of those DAC reports that are not satisfactory, are done so for good reason.

All that being said, I will agree that sometimes in very rare instances, a disgruntled boss or fleet manager uses DAC in a way to get back at a driver. But these instances are rare - much rarer than some people might want you to believe - and when they do happen, are generally pretty easy to clear up.

A simple phone call to DAC to challenge an erroneous report will fix it. DAC must then issue the challenge to the company and the company must provide written proof within 30 days that the report should stay. If a driver challenges a DAC report and it doesn’t get changed, it is generally because there is some merit to the report. And if a driver ever uses a company like DACFIX or some other 3rd party company to challenge a DAC, then I would like for them to simply send me the money since they are only throwing the money away. You do not need DACFIX or another 3rd party company to do what they do…spend the 5 minutes to make the call and do it yourself and save yourself the $150 or so.

Now, where drivers are really missing the boat is on faxed verifications. While DAC has always only been a storing house for basic information, today, every trucking company must go beyond DAC to verify any employment of that driver in the last 3 years. This has to be done by fax with written permission from the driver (for the D&A portion) and must include all companies, driving an non-driving, in the last 36 months. The reports must include D&A information and any accident information. Work record is not a must, but pretty much every company asks for it and gives it out and there is no set information that can be given out as there is with DAC alone…a company can be extremely detailed on a fax if they want. And while you could always request a copy of your DAC report, getting a copy of a verification fax is not nearly as easy and a whole lot more time-consuming.

So, with the new regs (at least new over the past 3 years or so), it’s actually tougher on a driver. Back when most everything was done through DAC or some other 3rd party information storage like DRIVER FACTS or Work Number for Everyone or whatever, drivers had it fairly easy. But because of the continual push against DAC as if that was a driver’s mortal enemy, now you have to deal with the faxes, too, and that opens up a whole new can of worms for a driver. Companies can get specific and they certainly do, giving a disgruntled boss a wide open range to take shots at a driver that pissed them off. And I can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen a satisfactory DAC report but when we got the fax back, we saw a totally different picture and now suddenly could not hire the driver. How is that progress?

It’s always been said that drivers are their own worst enemies. I know that when it comes to this, drivers certainly have been. You miss the forest for the trees. Your problem has never been with DAC…it’s been with the few companies that abused the system and every other trucking company has always known who those companies were and view those DAC reports with an air of “yeah, right”. However, now that drivers have forced some changes to how things are used, it’s gotten even worse for them. And if you think it’s bad now, wait until CSA 2010 goes into effect. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

The truth is that Many drivers have FALSE info on their DAC REPORT. This is a fact!
Read some of the comments on the link to the petition to STOP DAC ABUSE that I started this thread with
.
Also, DAILY, and I do mean DAILY, truckers are writing me with their individual horror stories about False info on their DAC Reports

There are 2 companies in particular who are notorious ( no names mentioned, you all probably know them anyway) for providing false info. Unfortunately they are just the 2 "biggest" ones, but many more do it.

Next, I would like to address the fact that it is almost impossible to get false info off of the DAC Report. It's not like trying to get false info off from a credit bureau, where the company or institution has to prove the disputed info is TRUE. With DAC Reporting, it is the drivers burden to prove that the disputed info is FALSE.

I've been informed by MANY that people are trying to post here on this thread and their comments are not being posted. Please check if there is a problem with this thread for new registered members trying to post.

Thanks

[Twilight Flyer]

The truth is that Many drivers have FALSE info on their DAC REPORT. This is a fact!

No, that’s not a fact. That’s nothing more than sensationalizing. You need to realize that in most instances where there is bad information on a DAC, it is by no means false. I’ve been doing this for over 8 years…have reviewed thousands and thousands of DACs and I always ask every driver that has a bad report, to tell me why a company is reporting the bad information. In nearly every instance, with the occasional obvious screwjob, the explanation from the driver exactly matches what the company reported on the DAC.

“I left the truck at my house and told them I quit and they had to come pick up the truck themselves! Hell, they're claiming I abandoned it and they even charged me $302 to do it!”

“OK, so then the information is accurate.”

“How so?!?”

“Well, the fact that in orientation, you signed a statement that informed you that if you quit, you must return the equipment to the orientation terminal or you would be charged $1 a mile for the company to do it for you. That also explains why your DAC report says ‘unauthorized location without notice’ since, in fact, the equipment was not returned to an authorized location, as in the orientation terminal spelled out on the form you signed.”

“…..oh…..”

If I had even a penny for every conversation I’ve had that went that way, I’d be retired and living on a beach, earning 30%.

Read some of the comments on the link to the petition to STOP DAC ABUSE that I started this thread with.

I’ve heard countless stories. Some are legit…most are not. I don’t say that to disparage drivers in general…I only state what I have seen in the years I have been doing this.

Also, DAILY, and I do mean DAILY, truckers are writing me with their individual horror stories about False info on their DAC Reports

Most drivers that are complaining are those that cannot get a job because they cannot remove the information from their DAC because the information has turned out to be true. It’s a classic case of not wanting to take responsibility for your actions. See my above example. That happens WAY too much.

There are 2 companies in particular who are notorious ( no names mentioned, you all probably know them anyway) for providing false info. Unfortunately they are just the 2 "biggest" ones, but many more do it.

Again, you are incorrect in 'claiming' that many more do it. Few companies do it. The occasional abuser of the system, everybody else is already aware of.

Next, I would like to address the fact that it is almost impossible to get false info off of the DAC Report. It's not like trying to get false info off from a credit bureau, where the company or institution has to prove the disputed info is TRUE. With DAC Reporting, it is the drivers burden to prove that the disputed info is FALSE.

Again, you are mistaken. The burden of proof is on the company, not the driver. All the driver has to do is contact DAC directly and challenge a report. They do not need a third party to do it for them, either. The company then has 30 days to reply and prove why the report is valid. Don’t confuse a FALSE report with a BAD report. As I said, most of those BAD reports are valid. For that matter, there are more satisfactory reports that are NOT valid, than the other way around. But no one talks about that now, do they?

I've been informed by MANY that people are trying to post here on this thread and their comments are not being posted. Please check if there is a problem with this thread for new registered members trying to post.

Oh give me a break. That’s an outright lie and you know it. Do you HONESTLY think that we are keeping people from posting? We could not care any less what anyone has to say about any subject, providing they follow the board rules, which are rather tame. No one is being kept from posting on this thread. If they want to, they simply have to be a registered member (guests do not have posting privileges) and they can post away. A good discussion on CAD is always welcome, particularly when some people might learn something they did not know about.

In the end, I understand your passion for your topic, but I stand fast on the point that you are badly misinformed. Again, I will not discount the fact that abuses do occasionally occur, but I will challenge your unfounded assertion that they occur with great frequency because they simply do not. If you want to claim that your numbers are facts, then you need to investigate every claim of DAC abuse that comes your way and match it up to what the company is saying. This is something we do many times every day and I could safely say that you would be shocked at what you hear.

I also will reiterate that your focus is on the wrong party. Blaming DAC is like blaming pork farmers because the sausage on your delivery pizza had gone bad from sitting out on the restaurant counter for 2 weeks. Your issues should be against the following two entities:

1. The couple of companies that still try to use DAC to hurt a driver and in doing so, add to the lake of venom that separates drivers from their companies.

2. Those third party people that perpetuate the claims of rampant fraud and unaccountability and then prey on that discord by charging drivers $75, $100, $150 or more to do nothing more than attach a rebuttal to a driver’s DAC report. $150 for 5 minutes of work. Yeah, that’s not yet another driver-targeted scam. You might as well throw your money into a 3-card Monty ring.

And finally, I will point out that your posting, which indirectly takes you back to your website where you are selling a product based on perpetuating the myth, could very easily be categorized as advertising and that is strictly against board policy. If you want to sell, contact Internet Brands and pay for the advertising space. Otherwise, please remove the link from your post, as well as from your signature line, and allow the discussion to continue without trying to make a buck off of it.

Thanks.

[Allen Smith]

We realize that it's not DAC's fault, they are just the 3rd party in the entire system. It's the trucking companies that are reporting the false/inaccurate information.

The example you gave of the driver leaving their truck at their house is the DRIVER FAULT and not anof example of a legitimate False claims on a DAC Report.

However, a Driver giving a 2 week notice and then told to leave the truck at a designated area
( terminal)AND THEN the company writes that the truck was abandoned, is a FALSE claim.
These are the types of False Accusations that are causing drivers to lose their careers. These are REAL and yes we do research the authenticity of many of these claims.

I asked you to check and see if there was a problem with people registering to make a comment to the post...first time users. We are receiving info that they are having difficulty registering to comment...that's all. And NO...it's not a lie at all, that's what they're telling us. There may just be a problem with registering!

I'm not sure what link you are asking us to remove? The petition link? That goes to the petition "Stop DAC Abuse" not a website. That's the only link I can see. There is NO LINK and never has been on our signature line either.
If the signature isn't acceptable I won't check the box on this post that asks if I want to put my signature....no problem. No one has mentioned it prior to this thread though.

If you would like to remove the link on the first post I made to this thread that directs people to the DAC Petition, that's fine. People can just Google DAC Petition and they'll find it.

My motive is to help drivers and it always has been. They know that.
The information we offer is free all over the net and we tell them that. We created the tangible products so they can listen in their cars or trucks and have it all in one place. They THEMSELVES asked us if we could put it on an audio for them. If they can't afford it we send them the downloads.

As far as making a buck, that's a joke. If that was the case I wouldn't be driving and then DONATING an extra 40 hrs/week to help other drivers.
There are organizations that charge yearly memberships to drivers and don't give a fraction of the one on one individual time we spend with drivers to try to help them, whatever their problems are.

The bottom line is that we are very passionate and committed to help drivers resolve the issues with the unfair practices of the DAC report SYSTEM...not DAC, but how it is used for the advantage of the companies and not the DRIVER.

[Twilight Flyer]

We realize that it's not DAC's fault, they are just the 3rd party in the entire system. It's the trucking companies that are reporting the false/inaccurate information.

Now you’re cookin’. But your first post comes across as going after DAC and they should not be your target. That was my whole point.

The example you gave of the driver leaving their truck at their house is the DRIVER FAULT and not anof example of a legitimate False claims on a DAC Report.

Sure, there are some legitimate false claims. I only pointed out that they are not as numerous as you and others might think. Most of those bad reports have some bearing. It’s sad, but unfortunately, it’s true.

However, a Driver giving a 2 week notice and then told to leave the truck at a designated area
( terminal)AND THEN the company writes that the truck was abandoned, is a FALSE claim.

I do not disagree with that at all and will go even further to say that the driver does not even have to give notice. We see many times on DAC reports where a driver quit without notice and we ignore every single one. Drivers simply needs to make sure he/she is not under load when they quit. I always tell drivers when they are quitting a company and are worried about a rough break-up with that company, to make sure they ask where the truck needs to go and get it on the QualComm (and take a picture) or get it in writing somehow. If they do and show us the picture or the paper, we don’t care what the company says at that point. Always cover your assets.

These are the types of False Accusations that are causing drivers to lose their careers. These are REAL and yes we do research the authenticity of many of these claims.

But again, there are not thousands and thousands of these instances.

I asked you to check and see if there was a problem with people registering to make a comment to the post...first time users. We are receiving info that they are having difficulty registering to comment...that's all. And NO...it's not a lie at all, that's what they're telling us. There may just be a problem with registering!

There is not. We manually check the registration cue several times per day.

I'm not sure what link you are asking us to remove? The petition link? That goes to the petition "Stop DAC Abuse" not a website. That's the only link I can see. There is NO LINK and never has been on our signature line either.

There is the website in your signature line. I removed it. This board is very sensitive to advertising SPAM and I never would have even checked if someone had not sent me a PM and pointed it out. But if any signature line contains a link to a website that is part of that poster’s business, that is against board policy unless you have previously cleared it with Internet Brands, the owners of the board.

The website is also linked in your petition link, but since it’s indirect, I am not going to edit that. I don’t care if you’re looking for petition signers. That’s all well and good. Ultimately, though, the line has to remain solid on advertising and since you are charging for your audio books, it cannot be allowed in a post.

If the signature isn't acceptable I won't check the box on this post that asks if I want to put my signature....no problem. No one has mentioned it prior to this thread though.

Again, I don’t believe anyone ever checked until it was brought to my attention.

My motive is to help drivers and it always has been. They know that.

And that’s great…but it actually does a disservice to drivers when it comes across as sensationalizing. As I said, I’ve been doing this a long time. I have a pretty good understanding of the level of deceit going on in reporting practices and it is nowhere near the level that some people claim.

Always remember. There are 3 sides to every story. The driver’s side…the company side…and the truth. And unfortunately, the truth is more often than not, closer to the company side of the field. It’s sad, but it is what it is.

[Allen Smith]

Trucking Companies have been ruining Drivers careers for years by placing false information on their DAC report.

As you can see, my very FIRST post from the Thread that I started here says"Trucking Companies have been ruining Drivers careers for years by placing false information on their DAC report"
Nothing about DAC creating false info themselves.

The petition is against the unfair practice of how the information reported to DAC ( HireRight)is handled. The way it is set up now has made it very difficult for a driver to have false information REMOVED.
Again, the burden is on the driver to prove the info FALSE rather than the Trucking Company proving the info TRUE.

Neither we nor the Drivers are sensationalizing this AT ALL.

Yes, there are people who are contesting negative info on a DAC and it is on their DAC for just cause, however, this is not the case much of the time.
Again, please read some of the comments of the 1034 people who have already signed the petition thus far.
They are not all fabricating these events, I assure you.

Also, we are still getting emails and Direct Messages from people saying that they are having difficulty posting after they register here on the forum. The last person who registered here, contacted the forum and asked why they couldn't post on the thread and they received this answer:

Your account has been activated but you are currently in the moderation queue to be added to the forum.

The above reply is a copy and paste of what the forum sent the person trying to register and then they forwarded it to me.

Please check and see if there is a problem in the moderation queue

Thanks,

Allen

[doitherselfer]

I would like to hear from an expert in the field? I understand that you are Twilight Flyer an expert in the field are you not?
What would your definition of Abandonment of a load be? I am new to this industry have heard so many different things.
The trucking industry's definition.

Now you’re cookin’. But your first post comes across as going after DAC and they should not be your target. That was my whole point.



Sure, there are some legitimate false claims. I only pointed out that they are not as numerous as you and others might think. Most of those bad reports have some bearing. It’s sad, but unfortunately, it’s true.



I do not disagree with that at all and will go even further to say that the driver does not even have to give notice. We see many times on DAC reports where a driver quit without notice and we ignore every single one. Drivers simply needs to make sure he/she is not under load when they quit. I always tell drivers when they are quitting a company and are worried about a rough break-up with that company, to make sure they ask where the truck needs to go and get it on the QualComm (and take a picture) or get it in writing somehow. If they do and show us the picture or the paper, we don’t care what the company says at that point. Always cover your assets.



But again, there are not thousands and thousands of these instances.



There is not. We manually check the registration cue several times per day.



There is the website in your signature line. I removed it. This board is very sensitive to advertising SPAM and I never would have even checked if someone had not sent me a PM and pointed it out. But if any signature line contains a link to a website that is part of that poster’s business, that is against board policy unless you have previously cleared it with Internet Brands, the owners of the board.

The website is also linked in your petition link, but since it’s indirect, I am not going to edit that. I don’t care if you’re looking for petition signers. That’s all well and good. Ultimately, though, the line has to remain solid on advertising and since you are charging for your audio books, it cannot be allowed in a post.



Again, I don’t believe anyone ever checked until it was brought to my attention.



And that’s great…but it actually does a disservice to drivers when it comes across as sensationalizing. As I said, I’ve been doing this a long time. I have a pretty good understanding of the level of deceit going on in reporting practices and it is nowhere near the level that some people claim.

Always remember. There are 3 sides to every story. The driver’s side…the company side…and the truth. And unfortunately, the truth is more often than not, closer to the company side of the field. It’s sad, but it is what it is.

[dlittle]

I do not agree that 99 % of DAC reports are correct, nor do I think any driver should take part in a trade off of correct info.

I could spend all day on this topic and will answer anyones question's case by case

Thank You

[doitherselfer]

I would like to hear from an expert in the field? I understand that you are Twilight Flyer an expert in the field are you not?
What would your definition of Abandonment of a load be? I am new to this industry have heard so many different things.
The trucking industry's definition.

One more question? Is a driver responsible for what his/her co-driver does under the law if you were off duty?

[Twilight Flyer]

I do not agree that 99 % of DAC reports are correct,

And you base that assertion on what? Are you a driver or do you work inside the office? Not trying to be combative, but pointing out that unless you work inside and have access to these reports and have viewed thousands and thousands of them, then you have no basis for your point. Over the years, the problems a few people have had with DAC have been sensationalized to the point that they are simply accepted by everyone as the baseline for all things evil in the trucking industry.

Look, I’m not saying that DAC is the end-all, beat-all of employment verification for drivers. My point is that it’s the best thing going right now and until someone comes up with a better system, that’s what we have. And quite honestly, I don’t know if there is a better system, though the current one could stand to be tweaked a little to better protect the drivers that do have legitimate complaints with a company giving them the screwjob. I just don’t know how you go about adding that additional protection and I certainly don’t agree that the problem is anywhere near widespread as some people would have you to believe.

nor do I think any driver should take part in a trade off of correct info.

I honestly have no idea what you mean here. Elaborate please?

[Twilight Flyer]

Sorry, I missed this.

I would like to hear from an expert in the field? I understand that you are Twilight Flyer an expert in the field are you not?

Hardly an expert. I simply work on the other side of the business, so have access to many, many dacs and have been the middle-man between drivers and former companies for over 8 years. So I do have the benefit of hearing both sides of the story.

What would your definition of Abandonment of a load be? I am new to this industry have heard so many different things.
The trucking industry's definition.

The DAC report is a handful of pre-set work record options that a company chooses when filling out a DAC report. The most common is the Satisfactory work record. Most companies opt for the Satisfactory work record, even when that option is not warranted, because it is simply the easiest thing to do without worrying about any potential headaches. The DAC, being as cut and dry as it is, does not give a company carte blanche to write a book on a drivers work record, unlike a faxed verification.

The word abandonment can be used in 3 different scenarios, but the word “abandonment” is not even used on DAC anymore. I haven’t seen it in probably 7 years now. So, those three scenarios are:

- Job Abandonment – we see this on faxed verifications more and more these days. On DAC, it equates to the phrase “No Show”. All it means is that a driver quit without notice while at home without the equipment, which is ALSO a DAC option. Usually, you see these when a driver was on vacation time or hometime (if in a slip seat truck) and simply decided not to return. No worries…we don’t care about those, nor do most other companies.

- Abandonment of Load – On DAC, this is listed as a “Quit Under Dispatch.” It’s pretty self-explanatory. If you quit a job and are under load or a pre-plan, then you will get tagged with this both on DAC and on faxed verifications. You may even be empty or bobtailing to a pickup point, but if the company has you under load or preplanned, your best bet is to let your company know that you are quitting, but that you will finish up your load and take the truck back to wherever the company wants it. That’s really all any of them are asking.


- Abandonment of Equipment – this is the biggee and what seems to cause people the most problems. On the DAC, it lists as “Unauthorized Location without Notice.” Faxes run about 50/50 between this and “abandonment”. This means that you left the equipment in a location other than where the company wanted it. Whether it is sitting in your front yard, sitting at the truck stop, abandoned off the side of the road somewhere, or even sitting in a company yard that is not the yard they wanted it at, you will get tagged with this.

So, if you’re thinking of quitting a job and figure that the drop yard or terminal 25 miles from your house is where you will leave the truck, better rethink that. If the company wants the truck at a certain location, it’s because that certain location is either an orientation terminal or they will have a driver waiting there to pick it up. If you take the truck to a location other than that, the company has to spend resources (time, money, and personnel) to retrieve that truck. You, being the cause of that, would get tagged with the “unauthorized location without notice” and also likely be charged $1 a mile for the distance the company has to return that truck to where they wanted it. Every company will have you sign an agreement in orientation that covers that, as well, so it’s always a good thing to make sure you read and understand the paperwork.

Hope that helps some.

One more question? Is a driver responsible for what his/her co-driver does under the law if you were off duty?

If you’re talking about actual legalities concerning moving violations, accidents, etc., then no…only the driver is responsible for that. If you’re talking about what will be reported on a DAC report, then yes, both drivers are usually responsible for things like quit under dispatch, unauthorized location without notice, etc., if both drivers do it. Accidents and stuff are again, back on the owning driver.

[chris1]

It also doesn't allow conflicting info. Example,years of satisfactory performance and quit without notice.(that can be portrayed in a fax)
The reason a company can usually back up what is reported is because they keep more detailed records of what happened.

[Twilight Flyer]

Actually, that isn't completely accurate. DAC does indeed allow multiple 'hits' and I have seen a few drivers over the years that were given the works. Imagine a DAC report that looks like this:

Unauthorized Location Without Notice
Unsatisfactory Safety Record
Quit without Notice
Quit Under Dispatch
Excessive Complaints
Late Pick-up/Delivery
Unauthorized Equipment Use
Personal Contact Required

It happens. Certainly not a lot, but it does happen occassionally. And that usually makes our first question "Wow...who did you p!ss off at Company A?" Because that's usually what those kinds of multiple hits are from.

But you are definitely correct that companies do keep detailed records of things that happen, which is why the majority of bad DAC reports turn out to have some truth to them. You truly have to be in the position to get both sides of the story, to fully understand and appreciate that.

[curtislowe]

While on the DAC subject, I know that with CSA2010 they will be going back 36 months for drivers. How far back on the DAC reports are they going to go? Or are they not collecting that type of information, just MVR and Inspection history? I meen, If they arent including information from beyond 36 months then some of these driver worries are pointless. Or is DAC only used for employment purposes and not driver ratings?

[Ridge Runner]

DAC is only for employment purposes. CSA is for driver rating.

[curtislowe]

How about a signed Affidavit, with both parties signatures, a witness and copies to office and driver at the of the employment period, describing the end of the relationship. That way, all ammicable relationship endings would be known by both parties. Obviously, abandonded or other similar situations would not give to the signing of such a document and the driver would not posess what would amount to evidence of a proper disolutionment of the driver/employee relationship. Anyone wanting to end employment correctly would most certainly not be averse to this type of process. Or would be that be too over the top?

[doitherselfer]

Thanks for taking the time to explain all of this to me. It really helps me to understand.

Sorry, I missed this.



Hardly an expert. I simply work on the other side of the business, so have access to many, many dacs and have been the middle-man between drivers and former companies for over 8 years. So I do have the benefit of hearing both sides of the story.



The DAC report is a handful of pre-set work record options that a company chooses when filling out a DAC report. The most common is the Satisfactory work record. Most companies opt for the Satisfactory work record, even when that option is not warranted, because it is simply the easiest thing to do without worrying about any potential headaches. The DAC, being as cut and dry as it is, does not give a company carte blanche to write a book on a drivers work record, unlike a faxed verification.

The word abandonment can be used in 3 different scenarios, but the word “abandonment” is not even used on DAC anymore. I haven’t seen it in probably 7 years now. So, those three scenarios are:

- Job Abandonment – we see this on faxed verifications more and more these days. On DAC, it equates to the phrase “No Show”. All it means is that a driver quit without notice while at home without the equipment, which is ALSO a DAC option. Usually, you see these when a driver was on vacation time or hometime (if in a slip seat truck) and simply decided not to return. No worries…we don’t care about those, nor do most other companies.

- Abandonment of Load – On DAC, this is listed as a “Quit Under Dispatch.” It’s pretty self-explanatory. If you quit a job and are under load or a pre-plan, then you will get tagged with this both on DAC and on faxed verifications. You may even be empty or bobtailing to a pickup point, but if the company has you under load or preplanned, your best bet is to let your company know that you are quitting, but that you will finish up your load and take the truck back to wherever the company wants it. That’s really all any of them are asking.


- Abandonment of Equipment – this is the biggee and what seems to cause people the most problems. On the DAC, it lists as “Unauthorized Location without Notice.” Faxes run about 50/50 between this and “abandonment”. This means that you left the equipment in a location other than where the company wanted it. Whether it is sitting in your front yard, sitting at the truck stop, abandoned off the side of the road somewhere, or even sitting in a company yard that is not the yard they wanted it at, you will get tagged with this.

So, if you’re thinking of quitting a job and figure that the drop yard or terminal 25 miles from your house is where you will leave the truck, better rethink that. If the company wants the truck at a certain location, it’s because that certain location is either an orientation terminal or they will have a driver waiting there to pick it up. If you take the truck to a location other than that, the company has to spend resources (time, money, and personnel) to retrieve that truck. You, being the cause of that, would get tagged with the “unauthorized location without notice” and also likely be charged $1 a mile for the distance the company has to return that truck to where they wanted it. Every company will have you sign an agreement in orientation that covers that, as well, so it’s always a good thing to make sure you read and understand the paperwork.

Hope that helps some.



If you’re talking about actual legalities concerning moving violations, accidents, etc., then no…only the driver is responsible for that. If you’re talking about what will be reported on a DAC report, then yes, both drivers are usually responsible for things like quit under dispatch, unauthorized location without notice, etc., if both drivers do it. Accidents and stuff are again, back on the owning driver.

[chris1]

Actually, that isn't completely accurate. DAC does indeed allow multiple 'hits' and I have seen a few drivers over the years that were given the works. Imagine a DAC report that looks like this:

It will not allow you to enter satisfactory performance along with quit without notice.abandoment,ect. You can have multiple good or bad but it will not allow a combination of the two.