Drivers License Verification for Shipping - Useful or Unnecessary?

Hello,

I work in quality at a WH/Distribution center. Our supply team is reluctant to verify driver license IDs (driver verification) prior to the driver signing on receiving/outgoing shipment paperwork.

Their reasoning is that sometimes there is a driver hand-off (?) and the driver specified by the carrier doesn't match upon receiving/loading ; also, since we have trailer seals, driver ID verification is not needed.

My response is two-fold:

1. A transfer of custody during shipment should be documented or noted by the carruer (ie driver change out) 

2. Verifying driver ID prior to signature is an important part of food defense even with trailer seals on all shipments.

Am I being too careful and/or are there any appropriate best-practice guidance documents (SQF, FDA, ISO, etc) to support my reasoning? 

We check for company ID, not DL's.

We check for company ID, not DL's.

Yes, I agree, the company they work for should be monitoring their licenses.

Thank you! This make a lot of sense. So it is a company ID upon receiving that is checked, not a Drivers License. Sounds like a reasonable practice! 

We not only expect driver ID, we make a photocopy to go with other shipping documents at the time shipping. It might change hands later but as far as your dock is concerned, did you do everything possible to ensure proper transfer and safety/control of the product while in your facility?

Even if there is a driver hand-off. you know who picked it up and they will know who delivered it. If an incident occurs you can track them down. Good luck with an employee ID...thats only as good as the card stock its printed on.

I appreciate the different perspective. I agree on some of the points made in the thread.

It seems my initial inclination was correct that a driver verification is needed. Whether or not that is a company ID or Driver's License depends on the company. 

We have never requested driver's license prior loading/unloading. Never heard of this practice either. We check company and truck number for ID.

If you have agreement with transport company to carry goods from A to B, I'd assume it's their responsibility to make sure that the goods are handled accordingly during their part? Why should you keep copy of license (with personal information) of the driver who happens to be there for loading and may or may not be the same person during unloading?  It's the transport company you've hired, not the driver. The responsibility should lay on the company not the individual.

I'm a too naive or understood the question wrong?