Tenneco: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Tenneco's origins trace to 1940 (with some sources citing 1943), when it was formed as the Tennessee division of the Chicago Corporation to build a natural-gas pipeline from Texas to West Virginia, addressing wartime fuel shortages for Appalachian defense industries. After the division was sold following World War II, the company was incorporated in 1947 as the Tennessee Gas & Transmission Company, with founder Gardiner Symonds serving as its longtime president. Under Symonds, the company diversified significantly, forming Tenneco Corp. in 1960 to oversee its growing oil and gas subsidiaries, and expanding into chemicals with the 1961 purchase of Heyden Newport Chemical Corp. and into packaging with the purchase of Packaging Corporation of America. Between 1950 and 1966, Tenneco acquired 22 companies, including Walker Manufacturing and Monroe, which would eventually form the core of its automotive business; the company adopted the Tenneco name in 1966.

Tenneco grew into a sprawling conglomerate spanning shipbuilding, packaging, farm and construction equipment, gas transmission, automotive, and chemicals. Beginning in the early 1990s, Tenneco underwent a major restructuring under CEO Michael Walsh, including a $2 billion plan that closed plants and divested numerous holdings, such as its Case farm machinery subsidiary in 1995. The automotive division was spun off in 1991 along with other divisions, and virtually all remaining non-automotive and non-packaging businesses were divested between 1994 and 1996. Tenneco relocated its headquarters from Houston, Texas to Greenwich, Connecticut during this period, and in 1999 Tenneco Packaging was further spun off, becoming Packaging Corporation of America and Pactiv Corporation, leaving the automotive business as Tenneco Automotive.

Tenneco has continued to operate as a focused automotive components manufacturer, with headquarters relocating to the Chicago area (Lake Forest, Illinois) and more recently Northville, Michigan. In 2022, private equity firm Apollo Global Management acquired Tenneco, taking the company private. Today, Tenneco generates close to $19 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 70,000 people across manufacturing facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, operating through segments including Clean Air, DRiV, Performance Solutions, and Powertrain. Tenneco's workforce includes manufacturing and production line employees, engineers, quality assurance staff, and corporate functions supporting its global automotive parts operations.

Company culture and employee programs: Tenneco emphasizes advanced technology development for cleaner air, fuel efficiency, and improved ride quality as central to its engineering culture. The company has continued to invest in its well-established aftermarket brands, including Monroe shocks and Walker mufflers, alongside its original equipment manufacturing business. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and facility, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the automotive parts manufacturing industry, including Tenneco, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. 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.

Tenneco is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for large manufacturing employers, particularly for production roles involving heavy equipment and machinery operation.

The hiring process for manufacturing and production roles at Tenneco typically includes an application, an interview with a hiring manager, 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 can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

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

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

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 the role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA 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 Tenneco 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 Tenneco 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.