Commercial Vehicle Officer Selection Process
The Pre-Employment testing portion of the Commercial Vehicle Officer Selection Process is comprised of several phases, including a written examination, oral interview board, polygraph examination, background investigation, medical examination, psychological examination, and a drug screening. You are expected to successfully complete each phase of the selection process to be considered for employment.
After each testing phase, you will receive notification of your status. Due to this, it is imperative the Human Resources Division has a current mailing address and telephone number on file for you. You are responsible for immediately notifying Human Resources of any address or telephone number change. All individuals are notified of their status and informed of the application procedures for future testing periods.
An explanation of each phase of the selection process is listed below:
Written Examination
The written examination consists of a series of multiple-choice questions, and true-false questions that are necessary for effective job performance as a Commercial Vehicle Officer. The written exam was developed and consists of five areas that were determined as essential to the performance of the job. These five areas are as follows:
- Ability to Follow Direction
- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Spelling
- Attention to Detail
These five test areas are comprised of 50 questions. There is no time limit to take the exam.
Oral Interview
Independent of the written examination and physical agility test, the applicant will participate in a structured oral interview. During the interview, the interview board will rate the applicant's oral communication skills and responses to questions in predetermined dimensions.
CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
Budget constraints, number of vacant openings, and applicant interview scores, are utilized in determining the exact number of applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment.
Polygraph Examinations
The applicant must undergo and successfully complete a polygraph examination, administered by a Patrol polygraphist. The examination is used to assist the background investigator in conducting a comprehensive investigation of an applicant. The main recording in the polygraph examination is blood pressure. The polygraph examination can be stressful for some applicants. Conditions such as hypertension, pregnancy, respiratory or heart ailments, etc., may affect the results of the polygraph examination. While there is no medical evidence that a polygraph examination effects a person's health, applicants are encouraged to discuss this step with their physician prior to the examination to determine if it is suitable to be tested. If an accommodation is needed, the applicant must discuss that with the Human Resources Division at the time the examination is scheduled. Those applicants who are pregnant will not be tested until after the birth of the child. All applicants are required to sign a waiver form prior to taking the polygraph examination. The areas covered in the polygraph examination are as follows:
- Employment History
- Traffic Record
- Financial History
- Record of Criminal Convictions
- Basic Honesty
Background Investigation
A uniformed member of the Patrol conducts an extensive pre-employment background investigation, in order to determine the applicant's character and overall suitability for employment. Information obtained through the background investigation is held strictly confidential. To assist the background investigator, applicants are required to obtain a standard list of documents, such as:
- Certified copy of birth certificate obtained from the birth states' Department of Health (an original birth certificate, photocopy of the original or certified copy, or a notarized copy are NOT acceptable)
- Valid driver's license (photocopy)
- Military service discharge papers, if applicable (DD214 and/or DD215)
- High school diploma or GED certificate (photocopy)
- College diploma(s) (photocopy)
- College transcript(s) (official copy)
- Peace Officer Standard Training (POST) certificate
Background Review
Each applicant's background investigation is submitted to Human Resources who evaluates the information presented and assesses the applicant's suitability for the position.
Medical Examination, Psychological Examination, Drug Screening
- Medical Examination - Contracted doctors conduct the medical examinations. Applicant must meet minimum medical standards and be determined to be medically capable of performing the job. The initial medical examination, as prescribed by the Superintendent, is given at Patrol expense. However, additional examinations to prove an applicant's eligibility may be at the applicant's expense.
- Drug Screening - Applicants must successfully pass a Patrol administered drug test. The drug screening consists of a urine sample, tested for specific drugs, using cutoff levels established by the Patrol and/or the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Psychological Examination - A battery of psychological tests, that measure individual responses to law enforcement, behavioral, and societal psychodynamic factors, are administered. A contracted clinical psychologist completes the evaluation during a one-on-one interview.
Final Offer
This offer is extended to applicants who successfully completed the polygraph examination, background investigation, medical examination, psychological examination, and drug screening. Additionally, applicants must sign a contract that requires the applicant to remain employed with the Missouri State Highway Patrol during the length of the contract; otherwise, the applicant must reimburse the Patrol the cost of training and uniform expenses based upon a prorated basis.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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