Knight Transportation: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Knight Transportation was founded in 1990 by four cousins, brothers Kevin and Keith Knight and brothers Randy and Gary Knight, who had previously worked at Swift Transportation, another Phoenix-based trucking company. Both the Knight and Moyes (Swift's founding) families had roots in Plain City, Utah, before relocating to Phoenix. Knight began transporting general commodities between Phoenix and Los Angeles, starting with just a handful of trucks and a single service center. The company grew into one of the fastest-growing trucking companies in the country and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994.

In September 2017, Knight Transportation merged with Swift Transportation, which had itself been founded in 1966 by the Moyes family, to form Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. The combined company has continued to grow through further acquisitions, including AAA Cooper Transportation, a less-than-truckload carrier, in 2021, and U.S. Xpress, another major truckload carrier, in 2023. Knight-Swift now operates as one of the largest trucking companies in North America, with subsidiaries including Knight Transportation, Swift Transportation, AAA Cooper, Midwest Motor Express, and others.

Knight-Swift generates nearly $6 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 28,000 people across its various operating subsidiaries. Knight Transportation specifically operates a large fleet of tractors and trailers serving retail, food and beverage, consumer products, automotive, and manufacturing industry customers. Knight's workforce is centered around professional truck drivers, supported by driver recruiting and safety staff, maintenance technicians, and logistics and dispatch personnel.

Company culture and employee programs: Knight Transportation has emphasized growth, profitability, culture, and innovation as core pillars since its founding, having been recognized multiple times on Forbes' list of best small companies during its early growth years. As part of the larger Knight-Swift organization, Knight Transportation benefits from a substantial combined driver network and operational scale. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by role, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the commercial trucking industry, including Knight Transportation, are legally required to conduct pre-employment background checks on driver candidates under federal Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, in addition to being permitted to screen other employees under standard employment law. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Knight Transportation is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is both standard practice and federally mandated for commercial truck drivers under DOT regulations, including reviews of driving history and prior employment with other DOT-regulated carriers.

The hiring process for driver positions at Knight Transportation typically includes an application, verification of commercial driver's license (CDL) qualifications, a review of driving and employment history, a DOT-mandated drug and alcohol screening, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records, including DOT-required employment history verifications, can be completed. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a commercial driving role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though DOT regulations require review of a commercial driver's employment and safety history going back at least three years, and certain driving record checks may cover a longer period depending on state law.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to a safety-sensitive commercial driving role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates for driver roles can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, a valid commercial driver's license, and signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA and DOT requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Knight Transportation may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Knight Transportation or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.