Idaho uses online tool to track professional drivers' records

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has recently become the first authority in the U.S. to launch a new, innovative online tool called the Driver Record Dashboard (DRD) that will improve the safety of Idaho’s roads.

The tool is designed to help businesses track their employees' driver's license statuses. This will help businesses to keep dangerous drivers from traveling on roads and endangering public safety.

The DRD enables businesses to create and manage a list of drivers. The employers must enter important information, including their name, birth date, and/or license number in a single online location.

“This service is designed to increase public safety and help companies mitigate risk by keeping high-liability, potentially dangerous drivers off the road,” Access Idaho's marketing director Rich Steckler said. “The dashboard provides a convenient alternative to the process of looking up driver's license records manually, and offers 24/7 access to updated medical-certificate information."

ITD Driver Services Manager Ed Pemble said both legislators and employers of drivers with all classes of licenses have long been asking for the services provided by DRD.

“Now, instead of randomly or periodically checking driver records, DRD offers a powerful driver-information tool to continuously monitor a selected group of drivers,” he said. “DRD can provide a level of assurance that drivers are properly licensed and have no unreported driving issues that would affect safe operation of company vehicles."

No tax dollars or state funds were spent on this online tool because ITD and Access Idaho collaborated to create the subscription-based service.

"Prior to the DRD, there was no simple way for small and medium companies to track or access data,” Steckler said. “Now, any company that hires drivers licensed in Idaho is eligible and encouraged to use the service.

“This was a fun project to be a part of because Access Idaho had the chance to work with both ITD and its customers to build a tool that solved multiple business challenges,” Steckler said. “The insight, coordination and cooperation of Pemble and ITD Driver’s License Program Supervisor Deb Hall helped ensure the project’s success.”