What is a PSP report and how do I get one for a driver?
A PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) report is FMCSA's record of a CDL driver's crash and roadside-inspection history, drawn from the federal Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Federal law directs FMCSA to make those MCMIS crash and inspection reports available for pre-employment screening (49 U.S.C. § 31150(a)) and forbids any screening without the driver-applicant's written consent (§ 31150(b)). To get one: collect the driver's signed PSP consent, then request the report through an enrolled screening provider — Vertical Identity captures the e-signed consent, pulls the report, and files both in your portal — or directly from FMCSA's PSP service. Drivers can request their own record the same way.
What's actually in a PSP report?
A PSP report contains 5 years of DOT-recordable crash history and 3 years of roadside inspection history from the FMCSA's MCMIS database. Crash records show date, location, type, and casualties. Inspection records show every violation written up — including out-of-service orders — whether or not a citation was issued. It does not include conviction status, license class, or anything that lives at the state DMV; that's the MVR.
Is PSP the same as a background check?
No. A criminal background check covers criminal records, identity verification, employment history. PSP is a narrowly-scoped FMCSA report on a CDL driver's safety performance — crashes and roadside violations. They're complementary, not interchangeable. A complete pre-hire workup typically runs all of them: criminal background check + MVR + PSP + a Clearinghouse query. The MVR is required (49 CFR 391.23(a)(1)); PSP and the criminal background check are recommended, not required.
Do I need the driver's consent before I pull it?
Yes — written consent on FMCSA's PSP authorization form is required before a carrier can pull a record, and the carrier is required to retain that consent. We capture e-signed consent as part of the workflow and store it in your portal alongside the resulting report. Both are produceable on demand if FMCSA audits the hire.
Can a driver pull their own PSP?
Yes — and they should, before applying. Drivers can pull their own record at any time, through us ($20) or directly from FMCSA's PSP service. If a driver finds an error, the dispute goes through FMCSA's DataQs system at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov.
How current is the data?
FMCSA refreshes the MCMIS snapshot once a month — usually around the last week of the month. The snapshot date is printed on every report we deliver, so you can see exactly which version of the record you're looking at. If a critical violation just occurred, it may take up to a month to appear.
What's the turnaround?
It depends mostly on the driver. The request goes to FMCSA once the driver signs the PSP consent, so the consent step is almost always the slow part.
How long should I keep the report on file?
FMCSA's general DQF retention rule is 3 years after termination. With DQF Pro, included with membership, the reports you order are filed in the driver's DQF, and a former driver's file is kept 39 months.
What if the report shows a violation the driver disputes?
Disputes go through FMCSA's DataQs program (dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov) — that's the only authoritative channel. PSP doesn't issue corrections; it shows what's in MCMIS. If the DataQs review modifies the record, the next monthly snapshot will reflect it, and a re-pulled PSP will show the updated record.
