If you think a DQF is only necessary for drivers who hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you’re not alone this is a frequent point of confusion. The DQF should contain records documenting the driver’s qualifications, including their employment application and prior employment verification, state motor vehicle records, road test certification, medical exam and certificate of examination, and an annual list of violations. What Is Required To Keep In A DOT Driver Qualification File?
You must also maintain a DQF for each driver on an ongoing basis and be prepared to provide it in case of future audits. The DQF is among the documentation you’ll have to submit as part of that audit. Within the first 12 months of operation, new motor carriers must pass a new-entrant safety audit. The documentation the DQF contains helps to prove that the driver is qualified to drive a commercial vehicle safely. What Is A Driver Qualification File (DQF)?Ī Driver Qualification File (DQF) is a record the FMCSA requires motor carriers to maintain for each driver (including owner-operators who drive commercially). This article will explain what a driver qualification file is, when a DQF is needed for non-CDL drivers, and what records to keep in the DQF. If you fail, your registration will be revoked, and your business won’t be allowed to operate until you correct the safety problems specified by the FMCSA.Įven after you’ve obtained your DOT registration, you’ll need to maintain DQFs in case of an audit. If you pass the audit, your DOT registration becomes permanent.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the DOT arm that oversees commercial motor vehicle safety, requires DQFs from every new carrier as part of the new-entrant safety audits they perform. This includes maintaining driver qualification files (DQFs) for the drivers you employ. Our DOT non-CDL driver qualification checklist can help.Ĭommercial motor vehicle carriers registered with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) have to comply with many regulations to maintain their DOT registration.
IS DRIVER DETECTIVE SAFE TO RUN UPDATE
Learn why a driver qualification file is important, what records to keep, and how often to update the information to stay in compliance. To maintain registration with the US Department of Transportation (DOT), commercial motor vehicle carriers must keep driver qualification files for their drivers, including non-CDL drivers.