DQ File

Also known as: Driver Qualification File

By Korey Sharp-Paar · Reviewed by the Fast Trucking Compliance team

Definition

The Driver Qualification File (DQ file) is the set of documents 49 CFR §391.51 requires every motor carrier to maintain on every CDL driver. Required contents include the application, three-year MVR pull, three-year employment history check, road-test certificate, medical examiner's certificate, and annual review of driving record. Carriers must keep the file for the full duration of employment plus three years after termination. New-entrant audits routinely flag DQ-file gaps as the highest-frequency violation category. Carriers should automate DQ-file building during onboarding so every driver enters the dispatch pool with a complete, audit-ready file.

Authoritative source

49 CFR Part 391 - Driver qualification files

New-Entrant Safety Audit

The 12-month FMCSA audit walkthrough - the seven items investigators check.

Related terms

MVR(Motor Vehicle Record)
PSP(Pre-Employment Screening Program)
FMCSA Clearinghouse(Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse)
ELDT(Entry-Level Driver Training)

← Back to glossary