Driver reference checks for warehouse and logistics.

HGV drivers, van drivers and warehouse operatives referenced in a day or two, so starters are not left waiting at the gate.

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Drivers and operatives Referees answer on any phone From 80p a reference
A former employer opening a reference request on his phone by a rainy window

Most referees mean to reply. RefAssure keeps reminding them.

How do you check references for drivers?

Quick answer

Driver reference checks ask previous transport employers to confirm dates, vehicles driven, reliability and any incidents they recorded. With RefAssure you send a driver template in two minutes, the candidate signs consent online, and each referee gets 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days. Half of references come back within 24 hours. The licence and Driver CPC are checked separately.

Peak season does not wait for a referee.

When a site needs another forty pickers by Monday, references cannot take a week. This is how fast they come back on RefAssure.

23 hrsmedian time from request to a completed reference
50%of references back within 24 hours
40%arrive after an automatic reminder you did not have to send

From 229 completed references on the RefAssure platform, October 2026. Figures across all sectors.

What to ask in logistics references.

Drivers and operatives need different questions. Add these to your templates once and every consultant asks them.

HGV and van drivers

Dates employed as a driverDate range
Vehicle types and classes drivenShort text
Any accidents or incidents recorded while employed?Yes / No
Kept drivers’ hours and tachograph records correctly?Yes / No
Care of vehicle and daily walkround checks1 to 10
Would you employ them as a driver again?Yes / No

Warehouse operatives

Role, site and dates workedDate range
Attendance and timekeeping on shifts1 to 10
Followed health and safety rules?Yes / No
Equipment used, such as forkliftsShort text
Pick rate or productivity compared with the team1 to 10
Would you re-employ?Yes / No

Built for people on the move.

Transport managers answer between runs. Your consultants check progress from the yard. Everything works on a phone.

  • Referees use a secure link with no login, on any device
  • A text alongside the email when you add a mobile number
  • Live counts of pending, awaiting review and bounced on your dashboard
  • Consent and references received at a glance for each worker
RefAssure dashboard on a phone showing live candidates, pending references, items awaiting review and credits
A candidate record on a phone showing consent received and two of two references received

Why previous employment history matters for drivers

A generic reference that asks about attendance tells you little about a professional driver. HGV driver references are most useful when they come from transport employers and cover the vehicles driven, how the driver handled hours and tachograph records, vehicle care and any incidents the employer recorded. Ask for the full employment history first, so gaps stand out before you send.

Warehouse worker references are different. Reliability on shifts, safe working and the equipment someone has used matter more than vehicle questions, so give operatives their own template.

What references do not cover

A reference is one check among several. You still need to check the driving licence and its endorsements with the DVLA, see the Driver CPC card for HGV work, and run right to work checks before anyone starts. RefAssure handles the references and puts them on file alongside those checks.

Evidence for client sites

Distribution centres and logistics clients often audit how temp warehouse staff references and other logistics reference checks were collected. Each RefAssure PDF shows when consent was signed, when each request and reminder went out and when the referee submitted. For staffing agencies, the reference checking for recruitment agencies page covers team accounts and client reporting.

RefAssure chase status page showing referee timelines from the first request through each chase to the final reminder

Chasing that keeps shift patterns.

A request on day 0, then reminders on days 2, 5, 8 and 12. The chase stops the moment the referee submits.

  • Texts on day 0 and day 5 when a mobile number is given
  • Most bounced requests flagged within minutes
  • Told after day 12, so you can add another referee
  • Every step timestamped for a client site audit

Your peak season playbook.

1

Set up templates early

One for drivers, one for operatives, one for forklift work. Check them once.

2

Send at registration

Two minutes per worker. Add a mobile for each referee where you have one.

3

Watch the dashboard

Pending, bounced and complete at a glance. Swap a dead referee straight away.

4

Share with the site

Send the signed PDF to the client, or keep it on file for their audit.

Logistics reference questions.

More in the full FAQs.

Do HGV drivers need references?

No law says every HGV driver must have a reference, but many operators and agencies ask for them, and many client sites expect documented checks. References sit alongside the driving licence check and the Driver CPC card, which you check separately.

How far back do driver references go?

There is no fixed legal period. Many operators ask for references covering the last two or three years of driving work, or the last two employers, with any gaps explained. Pick a rule, put it in your template and apply it to every driver.

Can you start a warehouse temp before references are back?

For most warehouse roles there is no legal ban, so it comes down to your policy and your client’s terms. Many client sites want references first. With a median turnaround of about 23 hours on RefAssure, that rarely holds a start back.

How do agencies reference-check high-volume temp staff?

Use one template per role and send requests as soon as a worker registers. With RefAssure you can send as many references as you need, the chasing runs on its own, and the dashboard shows which workers are cleared and which referees have gone quiet.

Can I use different templates for drivers and warehouse operatives?

Yes. You can keep up to 10 templates on an account, each with up to 25 questions, so drivers, forklift operators and pickers can each have their own set. Consultants choose the right one when they send.

Can referees answer on their phone?

Yes. Referees get a unique secure link by email, and by text if you add a mobile number. There is no login, the form works on any device, and they sign the reference on screen.

How much do driver reference checks cost?

Your first reference is free. After that a reference costs 99p on the 10 pack, falling to 80p on the 250 pack. There is no monthly fee and no VAT added, and credits never expire, so quiet months cost nothing. See pricing.

Related guides

HGV driver reference checks Reference checks across multiple depots Driver employment history references Peak season reference checking Van driver reference checking Forklift operator references

Keep the shifts filled.

Your first reference is free. Send a driver or operative reference in two minutes and let RefAssure chase it.

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