The image of bay bridge burning as a result of a fire is still vivid in almost all our minds. It has now come to light that the trucker who was responsible for the accident had been cited for traffic violations several times in the past.

It is surprising that the truck driver passed through the Federal employment screening tests. Jobs such as truck driver positions fall under regulations of the federal Department of Transportation. Employers are required to take a drug test for the position.

However, this was a slip up in pre employment screening that normally does not take place. Usually, applicant screening is intensive enough to expose any discrepancies in the application process.

Pre employment screening usually involves conducting a background check on an individual as well as a criminal history check. Several companies also use the services of a pre employment screening service to conduct social security traces on an applicant.

The social security background check is one of the most stringent of the applicant screening processes. It helps a company identify whether all the details furnished by an applicant on his or her resume are accurate.

Social security background traces are also the best system by which to screen for unauthorized workers and illegal immigrants. The citizenship status of workers is of primary concern today because of the influx of illegal workers and the current debate on Capitol Hill about their fate.

Social security background traces are also crucial in applicant screening because it can help identify if applicants have other names or aliases as well. Using this information, the pre employment screening service can then run criminal background checks against the name and the alias.

Pre employment applicant screening and social security traces can also identify any case of identity theft.  Identity theft has been a growing concern among many employers since 9/11.

The cost of employee background checks can range from $ 50 to $ 200 per applicant depending on the number of services that an employers requests for. The range of services in job screening can include screening of criminal history check, social security trace, motor vehicle history and credit reports.

Apart from this, information on bankruptcy reports, employment, education, references and license verification are also available as part of the job screening services offered by most pre employment screening services.