DriverCheck History

"This story is my personal interpretation of the DriverCheck business, from its inception to present date."
- Melissa Woudstra, DriverCheck National Account Manager.

It all began in 1996…in a Barn. Sorry folks, let me back up here; it all began with a man in his pick up truck. The Barn came just a bit later. What I’m about to describe here is a story that most who have built a successful company can and will relate to. We all have to start somewhere.

For anyone out there who is interested, this is a story about the history and evolution of a well-known, family-oriented company in the drug and alcohol testing industry by the name of DriverCheck.

Dr. Chris Page had a vision that he acted upon back in 1996. It began as most famous success stories do; an individual with an idea, a plan and a truckload of ambition to fuel it. Dr. Page, a former practising hospital emergency doctor, began his company traveling door to door in his pick-up truck. After his MRO certification he set out to shake hands with every potential trucking industry customer he could reach. Dr. Page’s certainty and confidence was a strong compliment to his belief that this company would succeed. This driven mindset helped his business begin what would soon become a giant growth spurt.

With 60 customers under his belt, the operation was moved out of a one-man office to the Barn; an outbuilding on Dr. Page’s home property. His daughter, Maggie and newly acquainted co-worker Dianne, had the privilege of being DriverCheck’s first official employees. Both Dianne and Maggie are now managing the company at present date. They shared a computer and used a green rotary phone that needed some special finessing in order to make a call. It was often too cold in the lower part of the Barn, where all files were kept and too hot upstairs, where all supplies were kept. The mice would often come and eat leftover lunch crumbs on the girls’ desks at nighttime. DriverCheck adopted a mascot for a short while; a bat that hung inside the Barn’s door. From what I hear, he was quite content to stay. Dianne bravely removed him and set him free. Idiosyncrasies and all, the Barn contributed handsomely to the office character. Clients always left with a smile when paying a visit to the Barn.

Meetings resided in a makeshift boardroom with a table, some chairs and a John Deere Tractor for that added extra je ne sais quoi. Clients were offered a cup of coffee, tea or a ride on the John Deere tractor. In all seriousness, most people chose a ride on the tractor. I’m just kidding of course. In the winter, Dr. Page often had to tow employees out of the driveway with this very tractor! Creatures, machinery and all, DriverCheck began to thrive. The Barn only added to a down home feeling, and a certain charm for the staff and the clients who came to visit.

The DriverCheck customer base quickly grew, along with the number of employees. The need to move brought the DriverCheck family to a beautiful stone office building in the heart of Ayr, Ontario. There was no more tractor in the boardroom, no more cardinals pecking endlessly at the Barn windows and no more mice to eat nighttime crumbs. There was however, a newer, more professional environment to house the new staff and new shiny image of DriverCheck Inc.

Along with the move came major company purchases, acquiring Can-Staff in 1998, HealthStar Enterprises Corporation back in 2004 and Accutest in 2006. Dr. Barry Kurtzer, former president of HealthStar joined the DriverCheck team as a fully licensed MRO adding to the company’s medical expertise. These company mergers have only enhanced DriverCheck’s capability to become the “one stop shop” company, providing clients an array of services for the drug and alcohol testing industry.

This brings us to 2006, where DriverCheck has just celebrated its 10 year anniversary! DriverCheck exists as the leader in the drug testing industry, covering the majority of drug testing in Canada. It has grown from the original 60 companies to over 5300 to date. The majority of these companies are in the trucking industry. Recently, the company has expanded its drug and alcohol testing services to support the safety needs of high risk positions in the workplace as well. As the company moves forward, the possibilities are endless with the support of 44 dedicated full time employees. A plan to expand the company building, adding an extra 5000 square feet is being executed in the fall of 2006. DriverCheck’s new home will consist of whopping 11,000 square feet of office space.

Amidst all of the growth and expansion, the family-owned charm still radiates through the walls of the company. DriverCheck is forever branching out, learning how to constantly improve client service. It just goes to show that anything is possible with the right combination of vision, teamwork and determination; a sure combination for success.

DriverCheck has come a very long way, and is leaving a sure trail of success stories with every step forward. Employees and clients alike simply can’t wait to see what DriverCheck has in store for the future!