The reference shelf.
Guides for motor carriers
Eight long-form guides on the regulatory mechanics of driver screening — MVR fundamentals, CDLIS, the §391.51 DQ file checklist, DPPA & FCRA consent, and what to do when a screening report comes back with a violation. Written for fleet managers and compliance staff who need an answer, not a sales pitch.
- MVR9 min read
How to Read an MVR: A Line-by-Line Guide for Motor Carriers
Decode every section of a Motor Vehicle Record — license status codes, class and endorsements, restrictions, accidents, citations, suspensions — and learn which violations disqualify a CDL driver under 49 CFR §391.15.
Read the guide - DQ File8 min read
The Complete DQ File Checklist Under 49 CFR §391.51
Every document required in a Driver Qualification File, in the order to file them, with the federal authority for each item. The exact checklist FMCSA auditors work through during a compliance review.
Read the guide - Compliance7 min read
49 CFR §391.23 vs §391.25: Pre-Hire MVR vs Annual Review
The two FMCSA regulations that govern when a motor carrier must pull an MVR — pre-employment under §391.23 and annual review under §391.25. What each requires, the deadlines, and what auditors look for.
Read the guide - CDLIS7 min read
CDLIS vs MVR: Why a Single-State Record Is Not Enough
A Motor Vehicle Record only shows what one state knows. CDLIS is the federal database of every CDL ever issued. Here is what each catches, what each misses, and when 49 CFR requires both.
Read the guide - Compliance8 min read
DPPA & FCRA Driver Consent: What the Law Requires (with Sample Language)
The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 USC §2721) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act both require written driver consent before an MVR can be pulled for employment screening. Here is what compliant consent language looks like.
Read the guide - Compliance8 min read
MVR Comes Back With a Violation: A Decision Tree for Motor Carriers
A step-by-step framework for evaluating violations on a Motor Vehicle Record against the FMCSA disqualification criteria in 49 CFR §391.15 and §383.51, with documentation guidance for the DQ file.
Read the guide - Hiring7 min read
Non-CDL vs CDL Driver Screening: What's Actually Different
When non-CDL commercial drivers need an MVR (almost always), when they need CDLIS (almost never), and where the FMCSA pre-employment requirements diverge under 49 CFR §391.
Read the guide - Hiring7 min read
How to Handle a Failed Pre-Employment Screening (PSP, MVR, or CDLIS)
When a pre-employment PSP, MVR, or CDLIS report comes back with disqualifying content, here is the FCRA-compliant adverse-action process and the FMCSA documentation that goes in the file.
Read the guide
Need a report, not just the reading?
When you are ready to pull a report on a driver, the whole process takes about ninety seconds at the order page. Five packages from $40 (MVR Basic) to $100 (DOT Pre-Employment with FMCSA Clearinghouse), with an optional $25 reusable DQ File template at checkout.
Run an MVR — from $40