checking driving record, is it legal

We need to hire someone that will be required to do fairly extensive driving and at some times will be transporting people for work purposes in their cars. May we request a copy of their driving record prior to hire and may we request the record for our current employees in this job position?
Comments
Experience speaking, once again. An employee, with a suspended license, had an accident with one of our trucks.
Spare yourself the insurance agony.