TMC Transportation: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

TMC Transportation traces its roots to March 1972, when founder Harrold Annett purchased a dormant trucking company known as The Mickow Corporation, hauling its first delivery from Chicago to Des Moines. The company's name, TMC, is derived from "The Mickow Company." Over more than 50 years, TMC grew from a small operation into the largest privately held flatbed carrier in the United States, headquartered on a 50-acre campus in Des Moines, Iowa, which includes training and maintenance facilities as well as a dedicated driver hospitality center.

In 2013, TMC Transportation implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), transitioning to become the largest employee-owned flatbed carrier in the country. The company operates thousands of tractor-trailers across the 48 contiguous United States, hauling a wide range of flatbed freight including building materials, steel products, and machinery. TMC also operates TMC Logistics, a third-party logistics division, and TMC Truck Sales, which sells trucks and used flatbed trailers.

TMC's workforce is centered around professional truck drivers, supported by diesel technicians, logistics and dispatch staff, and corporate functions in areas such as recruiting, sales, and information technology. Given the safety-sensitive nature of commercial trucking, driver qualifications, training, and safety records are central to TMC's hiring process.

Company culture and employee programs: TMC emphasizes integrity, driver training, and a claim-free delivery record as core elements of its brand identity, with its employee ownership structure positioned as a driver of accountability and service quality. The company invests in late-model equipment and driver hospitality facilities as part of its commitment to attracting and retaining professional drivers. 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 TMC 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.

TMC 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 TMC 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 TMC 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 TMC 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.