Old Dominion Freight Line: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Old Dominion Freight Line was founded in 1934 by Earl and Lillian Congdon in Richmond, Virginia, with a single straight truck running between Richmond and Norfolk. Earl served as the company's only driver in its earliest years, with Lillian serving as an alternate driver and helping run business operations from their home. The company's name references "Old Dominion," a common nickname for the Commonwealth of Virginia. After a Teamsters-led strike following World War II, the Congdons closed operations and reopened 11 weeks later with non-union labor, establishing a union-free operating model the company maintains to this day.

Earl Congdon died in 1950, and Lillian became president, incorporating the company and later being joined by sons Earl Jr. and Jack in leadership. Old Dominion expanded significantly in the late 1950s and 1960s, including the acquisition of Bottoms-Fiske Truck Line, a High Point, North Carolina-based furniture mover, which extended the company's reach into North Carolina. Old Dominion relocated to High Point in 1962 to be near major furniture and textile manufacturers while retaining its Virginia-referencing name. The company went public in 1991 and later moved its headquarters to Thomasville, North Carolina, where it remains based today.

Today, Old Dominion generates nearly $6 billion in annual revenue and employs almost 22,000 people, operating a network of 261 service centers across the continental United States, with additional international freight services through partnerships in Canada and Mexico. The company remains partly owned by the Congdon family, which continues to hold leadership roles. Old Dominion's workforce is centered around professional LTL truck drivers, dock workers, and terminal staff, with driver qualifications and safety records playing a central role in the company's hiring process.

Company culture and employee programs: Old Dominion emphasizes a mission and philosophy of "helping the world keep promises," reflecting its focus on reliable, on-time freight delivery. The company's union-free operating model and emphasis on quality management have been long-standing features of its corporate culture since the 1940s labor dispute. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and terminal location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the commercial trucking and LTL freight industry, including Old Dominion, 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.

Old Dominion 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 Old Dominion 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 Old Dominion Freight Line 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 Old Dominion Freight Line 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.