The Postal Service requires that appointing officials obtain state driving abstracts for all applicants considered for positions that require the operation of any motor vehicle as an official duty. Request driving records from all states in which the applicant has resided in the past 5 years. If an applicant has been driving less than 5 years, or has been a resident of the United States for less than 5 years, the only abstracts required are those that document the driving record to date or document the driving record in the United States.
Any person applying for a job as a commercial vehicle driver must inform the Postal Service of all previous employment as the driver of a commercial vehicle for the past 10 years. The applicant must complete a Form 4600, Driver Notification and Compliance Certificate. The local human resources office keeps the original Form 4600, and a copy is given to the driver.
Note: Personnel who operate rider–operated powered industrial equipment off–street are not required to be screened for safe driving.
Form 2480, Driving Record — For Positions That Require Driving, requires the applicant to list the states where he or she was issued a driving permit within the past 5 years. If Form 2480 lists any information that is disqualifying (see 516.4, Table of Disqualifications), the applicant is ineligible for a position with driving duties and there is no need to request a driving abstract.
Most states make abstracts available through the Internet or other types of computer access. Obtain a state driving abstract for all applicants who are being considered for positions that require driving.
The Table of Disqualifications in Exhibit 516.4 identifies and describes the type and number of driving–related factors that may disqualify an applicant from further consideration for a position requiring driving as an official duty. To establish time frames for disqualification, use the date of the actual violation (including suspensions). Compare the applicant’s state driving abstract and Form 2480 with the disqualifying criteria, and if the driving record indicates that the applicant meets or exceeds any of the criteria, he or she is ineligible for a position with driving duties. A decision of ineligibility on driving history disqualifies an applicant only for positions requiring driving, the applicant may be considered for nondriving positions.
- Dates of disqualifying incidents. The date of a disqualifying incident may indicate that the applicant could become qualified before his or her eligibility expires. In this instance, advise the applicant that it is his or her responsibility to provide notification of potential eligibility (disqualifying incident is no longer a factor because of its age) for consideration at a later date.
- Pending convictions. Inform applicants who have pending traffic violations or citations that they are ineligible for consideration for a driving job until the charges are resolved. Further, inform them that they must provide notification of a resolution of the charges, and proof of adjudication, in order to receive consideration at a later date.
- Period of disqualification. The period of disqualification does not extend the applicant’s normal term of eligibility on a register.
Exhibit 516.4
Table of Disqualifications
General disqualifying factors:
- Applicant does not have at least 2 years of documented driving experience.
- Applicant has had his or her driving permit suspended once or more in the past 3 years, or twice or more in the past 5 years.
- Applicant has had his or her driving permit revoked once or more in the past 5 years.
Specific disqualifying violations
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Type of violation
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In past 3 years
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In past 5 years
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- Reckless driving or other similar offenses (e.g., careless driving)
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1 or more
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2 or more
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- Any driving offense involving the use of drugs, alcohol, controlled substances, etc.
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Any conviction
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Any conviction
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- All other traffic offenses (but not parking violations)
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3 or more (or more than 1 in last 12 months)
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5 or more*
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- At–fault accidents
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2 or more, or any at–fault accident resulting in a fatality
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2 or more, or any at–fault accident resulting in a fatality
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- Hit–and–run offense
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Any conviction
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Any conviction
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* Three convictions for the same offense are disqualifying, because they indicate a pattern of inadequate responsibility and disregard for law and order that may affect safety.
Note: For purposes of determining disqualifying violations, consider only offenses resulting in a conviction (e.g., fined, jailed, or ordered to attend traffic school). For purposes of establishing time frames for disqualification, use the date of the actual violation. At–fault accident is defined if the applicant was fined or sued, and received adverse judgment; if the applicant’s insurance company settled for damages to another party or applicant settled out of court; or the applicant is otherwise determined to be liable.
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An applicant or potential driving employee must have at least 2 years of documented, unsupervised driving experience. This time must be continuous and immediately precede consideration for employment or reassignment. The driving must have taken place in the United States or its possessions or territories, or in U. S. military installations worldwide.
If a state determines that an offense is serious enough to warrant suspension of the state driver’s license for any reason, such suspension is disqualifying regardless of the nature of the offense. An applicant or potential driving employee with one or more suspensions of a state driver’s license in the past 3 years, or two or more in the past 5 years, is disqualified for employment or reassignment to a driving position. Use the date of the actual violation that precipitated the suspension, rather than the beginning or ending date of the suspension, to establish time frames for disqualification. In addition, if by using the ending date of the suspension the applicant or potential driving employee does not have 2 years of continuous driving experience immediately before hire, as described in 516.511, Less Than 2 Years Experience, the individual is not eligible for consideration.
An applicant or potential driving employee with revocation of a state driver’s license one or more times in the past 5 years is disqualified for employment to a driving position. The provisions described in 516.512, License Suspension, apply to license revocations with respect to reason for revocation, time frames, and 2 years of continuous driving.
The applicant or potential driving employee who has one or more violations in the past 3 years, or two or more violations in the past 5 years, for offenses such as reckless driving, careless driving, negligent driving, and attempting to elude or evade a police officer, is disqualified. State driving abstracts usually specify reckless driving or careless driving as the violation. These specific terms must appear on the abstract. A reviewer may not make interpretations as to whether an offense such as excessive speeding should be considered reckless or careless.
The applicant or potential driving employee with any conviction for a driving offense within the past 5 years involving the use of drugs, alcohol, or controlled substances is disqualified.
- Driving offense. Refers to a violation where the applicant or potential driving employee was the driver, not just a passenger.
- Use of alcohol. Means actual consumption of or being under the influence of alcohol; therefore, an open container of alcohol in the back seat of a vehicle would not necessarily constitute use of alcohol, but would be considered under all other traffic offenses.
Note: It is the determination of the state that is controlling. Some states suspend the driving privileges of persons who are passengers in vehicles in cases involving the use of alcohol or drugs. In these instances, the individuals are disqualified under the general disqualifying factors of license suspension.
The applicant or potential driving employee with more than one violation in the past 12 months, three or more violations in the past 3 years, or five or more violations in the past 5 years for all other traffic offenses, excluding parking violations, is disqualified. All other traffic offenses includes, but is not limited to, moving and nonmoving violations such as unlawful speed, unlawful passing, unlawful turns, improper or defective equipment, lack of insurance (only when it is a license–suspending offense), or failure to appear in court, etc. Three convictions for the same offense within the past 5 years are disqualifying since there is a pattern of inadequate responsibility and disregard for law and order. Violations that are addressed in other categories must be dealt with separately and not added into this category. If an applicant is charged with multiple violations at one time and convicted of all charges, each violation is counted as a separate offense.
At–fault accident is any accident for which the driver was determined to be liable (i.e., the applicant was fined; or sued and received an adverse judgment; or the applicant’s insurance company settled for damages to the other party or settled out of court; or the applicant was otherwise deemed to be liable). The applicant or potential driving employee with two or more at–fault accidents within the past 5 years, or any at–fault accident resulting in a fatality, is disqualified.
The applicant or potential driving employee with any conviction within the past 5 years for a hit–and–run offense is disqualified.
In determining disqualifying violations, consider only those offenses that were followed by a conviction. These offenses include admitted wrongdoing, forfeiting bond, being jailed, fined, released with a warning, or ordered to attend traffic school, etc.
See 517.5, Driver’s License Review.
