Ben Cavallo
C&S Insurance Agency
Driver Verification: How Massachusetts' DVS Tracks Commercial Drivers Statistically speaking, today’s second-most-expensive business insurance claim is not one that results from a slip-and-fall, customer property damage, inventory theft, or even a fire. Instead, the second-most-costly loss event your business can suffer is a motor vehicle accident, averaging $45,000 per claim, according to data from The Hartford. Last year, insurance companies paid out roughly $28 billion in commercial auto claims. Not surprisingly then, commercial auto insurance is expensive. Depending on the type of business you operate and the number of vehicles in your fleet, commercial auto could represent a significant portion of your overall insurance premium. And the types of drivers you employ—safe, responsible, or somethingless-than—could be a major cost-containment factor. But with all the other tasks you’re overseeing, how can you keep up with driver quality or individual driver license issues? Believe it or not, the Massachusetts RMV can help. Massachusetts’ DVS (or Driver Verification System) is an incredibly convenient tool. In addition to fulfilling the FMCSA’s requirement for driver record inquiries (more on this below), it’s designed to support you—a Massachusetts business owner—in your fleet safety goals.
What is the Massachusetts Driver Verification System (DVS)? The DVS helps you keep track of the status of your employee drivers’ licenses. Once enrolled, if a license expires or gets revoked, you will receive an email alert. This will allow you to take quick action to rectify the situation, and get your driver off the road, temporarily, if necessary. FEBRUARY, 2022
What kind of driver information can Massachusetts employers gather from DVS? The DVS provides the following information for any employee driver enrolled: • License class held (CDL, Passenger, Motorcycle) • License status and expiration date • If a 7D School Bus Certificate is held, status and expiration date • If a CDL is held, CDL self-certification type and expiration date • Organ Donor status • Any restrictions and endorsements held continued on page 57
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