Driver Qualification Files

This ICR estimates the burden commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and motor carriers incur to comply with the mandatory reporting and recordkeeping tasks required for motor carriers to maintain driver qualification (DQ) files. FMCSA’s authority to require carriers to maintain DQ files is in 49 U.S.C. 504, 31133, 31136, and 31502; 49 CFR 391.51; and 49 CFR 1.87. A motor carrier is required to maintain specified information in a DQ file for each CMV driver it employs. The purpose of the information is to document the driver’s qualifications to operate a CMV. DQ files assist the motor carrier in assessing the safety risk of hiring an individual to drive a CMV. The DQ file documents that a driver: (1) is physically qualified to operate a CMV, (2) has the experience and training to safely operate the type of CMV he or she is assigned to drive, (3) has the appropriate driver’s license, (4) has not been disqualified from operating a CMV, and (5) has a history of avoiding high-risk behavior. The annual burden associated with this information collection consists of the Driver Hiring Process (IC-1), the Annual Review of Driver Qualifications (IC-2), the Limited Exemptions from Driver Qualification Documentation (IC-3), and the Driver Review and Rebuttal of Safety Performance History (IC-4). The DQ file assists Federal and State safety investigators in determining that motor carriers are weighing these factors in deciding who may drive CMVs on their behalf. Motor carriers collect and maintain part 391 information, and FMCSA does not require that information to be submitted to the Agency. A motor carrier must make the part 391 information available when an FMCSA or State investigator conducts an on-site review at the motor carrier’s place of business or terminal. The ICR is a revision. This ICR estimates the burden hours for CMV drivers and motor carriers based on updated driver population and turnover rate data. The current ICR did not monetize driver and motor carrier burden hours. This supporting statement monetizes the burden for drivers and motor carrier personnel performing DQ file reporting and recordkeeping tasks. The current ICR included the burden hours incurred by motor carriers to obtain drivers’ medical examiner’s certificates (MECs) and file them in the drivers’ DQ files. This reporting and recordkeeping requirement is accounted for in the ICR titled Medical Qualification Requirements, covered by OMB Control Number 2126-0006, therefore the burden associated with this reporting and recordkeeping requirement is removed from this ICR to avoid double counting. The current ICR does not include an estimate of motor carrier burden hours to file the list of violations in the DQ file. The burden associated with this task is included in the supporting statement for this ICR.

The latest form for Driver Qualification Files expires 2023-04-30 and can be found here.

Driver Qualification Files

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Transportation - Ground Transportation