July 6, 2010

DOT Issues Position on Medical Marijuana

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently issued guidelines for Federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of "medical marijuana." The DOJ guidance would seem to, at least partially, counter Department of Transportation (DOT) rules concerning the use of marijuana. It is very important that DOT regulated employers understand the DOT's position. Because the DOJ guidance is what may have caused the confusion, a summary of the DOJ's position is outlined first, followed by the DOT position. US Dep...


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June 29, 2010

Criminal Records Searches a Key Step in the Driver Screening Process

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) require a number of employment-related background checks and safeguards from the transportation industry, but—with the exception of a few situations such as HazMat and port access—federal laws do not require criminal records searches on drivers. Given the cost of fulfilling basic background screening requirements, many trucking companies forego these searches. While understandable, this may be a "false economy" that ends up cos...


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June 14, 2010

Tips for Identifying the Ideal College Recruit

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half of the current working population over the age of 25 will be of retirement age within the next two decades. In many cases, this rapidly aging workforce has made it mandatory for businesses to adapt their recruiting techniques to focus more heavily on college graduates. Running a background check on a new grad, though prudent and recommended, may provide less intelligence than that of the average hire. With little or no work experience and fewer years of life to have committed a crime, ...


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