If a CDL/CLP driver obtains a new medical certificate, the motor carrier may use a copy of the paper medical certificate for up to 15 days as proof of medical certification, to give the state licensing agency time to update the MVR. MVRs obtained to verify medical certification can also be used to satisfy the requirements noted above for initial and annual MVRs. For CDL/CLP drivers whose MVR includes medical certification status, the MVR must be obtained prior to the driver operating a commercial motor vehicle and a new MVR must be obtained each time the medical certification status is updated (i.e., each time the driver obtains a new medical certificate). These annual state agency responses are retained in the DQ file for a minimum of three years from execution date.įor interstate drivers who hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner's permit (CLP), an MVR must be used to verify that the driver is medically certified. A carrier could request MVRs more frequently, as the FMCSRs do not prohibit this. The regulations also require a motor carrier to obtain an MVR on each driver each following year, covering the past 12 months. If an MVR cannot be obtained, then the employer must maintain documentation of its "good faith effort" to obtain the information.Ī copy of each state's record, or response that a record does not exist, must be kept in the driver's qualification file for the course of employment and for three years after it ceases. A few states also have grandfather clauses or other exemptions that may except certain drivers from certain portions of the DQ file, such as medical cards.Īn initial Motor Vehicle Report (MVR), obtained from every state where the driver was licensed or permitted in the past three years, must be placed in the file within 30 days of the date on which the person's employment begins. Other states have increased the weight limit to anywhere from 12,000 pounds up to 26,001 pounds (which does coincide with the CDL requirements). A number of states use the same 10,001-pound criterion as is found in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. So, interstate drivers of vehicles between 10,001 and 26,001 pounds (not hauling hazmat) need to have a DQ file but do not need to have a CDL.įor intrastate drivers, it depends on what the state has adopted for the weight criterion. The weight criterion for which a file is needed is 10,001 pounds. The general weight criterion for which a CDL is needed is 26,001 pounds. The criterion in this definition that causes confusion is the vehicle weight. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be placarded.Vehicles designed to transport more than 15 people, or more than 8 people when there is direct compensation involved or.Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or gross combination weight (GCW) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more or.Individuals operating the following vehicles in interstate commerce need to have a completed DQ file: Intrastate drivers would need to look at state-specific regulations to determine applicability. The applicable definition of commercial motor vehicle (per §390.5) includes both CDL and non-CDL drivers alike. For interstate drivers, the need for a DQ file is based on the size and type of vehicle being driven. This misperception has created confusion for many carriers. Our deep knowledge of federal and state agencies is built on a strong foundation of 70+ years of regulatory compliance experience.Ī driver's qualification (DQ) file is often thought to go hand-in-hand with the commercial driver’s license (CDL). You can trust our expertise across subjects relating to labor, transportation, environmental, and worker safety.
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