Driver File Management Services
Keep Every Driver Qualified. Reduce Risk. Defend Your Business.
Managing your Driver Qualification (DQ) files are one of the most important parts of your DOT Compliance and can be your first line of defense against DOT audits and even lawsuits. Every missed signature, expired medical card, or unverified employment history is a potential liability — and plaintiff attorneys know it.
At CNS, we manage and monitor your driver files from start to finish. Combining a hands-on approach and our powerful online compliance platform, CNS Connects — we help your fleet stay 100% DOT compliant, organized, and legally protected.
Are you registering for the clearinghouse?
White Glove Service from start to Finish
What’s Included in Our Driver File Management Program?
Our hands-on approach provides you with end-to-end management of all DOT-required driver qualification records. Built for fleets of any size, with the scale, precision, and hands-on approach that large organizations need.
What steps is CNS taking for you?
- Initial Driver File Audit
- Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Checks
- Drug and Alcohol Testing
- Annual FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries
- Driver File Reporting and Records
- Online driver application, filing and notifications
- Tailored applications and forms for your company
- Audit Support
- White-Glove Support — Anytime You Need It
Why Driver Qualification Matters
Lawsuits are getting Bigger
In today’s era of “nuclear verdicts,” attorneys target the driver qualification process immediately after a crash looking for any failure to follow FMCSA hiring rules and use them as proof of negligence.
Common Gaps that lead to Litigation:
- Missing or expired Medical Examiner’s Certificates
- Incomplete or missing prior employment verifications
- No record of annual MVR reviews
- Unsigned or outdated driver applications
- Failure to document drug and alcohol testing history
- Poor or inconsistent record retention practices
ARTICLE – Learn more about “Nuclear Verdicts”
VIDEO – Learn more about “Nuclear Verdicts”
CNS Connects prevents these Litigation Gaps by flagging missing items, sending automated alerts, and giving your compliance team real-time visibility into every driver’s status.
White Glove Service + Technology
Designed for Medium and Large Fleets
CNS Protects + CNS Connects is built for and specializes in helping medium-sized and large carriers in managing high driver volumes efficiently and consistently.
Whether your fleet is local, national, or even a regional transit system, we’ll ensure every driver meets requirements — and every document is ready when the DOT or your legal team asks for it.
ARE YOU A SMALL FLEET?
We have options for you! Contact us for more information!
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!
White Glove Service from the CNS Compliance Team and the CNS Connects Technology to back it up!
Why Our Clients Choose CNS Protects + CNS Connects
Manage hundreds or thousands of drivers, vehicles, and employees across divisions with a Driver File Specialist to help along the way.
Files are continuously maintained by the CNS Compliane team and available in seconds through CNS Connects.
Control every step of the hiring, qualification, and onboarding process from one secure portal and one dedicated Driver File Management team.
Track driver, vehicle, and accident records side by side and ask your Account Manager about any discrepancies.
Your dedicated Driver File Management Team handles the work, while CNS Connects gives you real-time control and reporting.
We streamline your hiring process
Online Driver Applications
You need high quality drivers and you need them on the road fast. We have developed a new hire program that will streamline your hiring process and easy application to quickly process candidates that are managed directly in CNS Connects.
Only need a few PSM® services?
Check out our Custom PSM® Program
Bundle the services that matter most to your operation
—without paying for each one a la carte.
What is the Driver Qualification FMCSA Regulation?
§391.11 (a-b)
DOT rules and regulations dictate that you must keep your Driver Qualification Files (DQFs) up-to-date at all times or your company will not be DOT Compliant. An individual who meets the definition of both a motor carrier and a driver employed by that motor carrier must comply with both the rules in this part that apply to motor carriers and the rules in this part that apply to drivers.
391.1 (a)
A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Except as provided in § 391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
391.1 (b)
Except as provided in subpart G of this part, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she:
(1) Is at least 21 years old;
(2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;
(3) Can, by reason of experience, training, or both, safely operate the type of commercial motor vehicle he/she drives;
(4) Is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with subpart E – Physical Qualifications and Examinations of this part;
(5) Has a currently valid commercial motor vehicle operator’s license issued only by one State or jurisdiction;
(6) Has prepared and furnished the motor carrier that employs him/her with the list of violations or the certificate as required by § 391.27;
(7) Is not disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle under the rules in § 391.15; and
(8) Has successfully completed a driver’s road test and has been issued a certificate of driver’s road test in accordance with § 391.31, or has presented an operator’s license or a certificate of road test which the motor carrier that employs him/her has accepted as equivalent to a road test in accordance with § 391.33.
Why Fleets Choose CNS
Your driver qualification files are more than a checklist, they’re legal protection, which is why it's so important for CNS to help you take control of your fleets' DOT Compliance.
- Personalized service — a dedicated compliance manager who understands your operation
- Integrated solutions — easily add drug testing, background checks, and driver onboarding
- In-house DOT Compliance Specialists, MROs, and Safety Consultants
- Fast turnaround — typically within 24–48 hours for most driver setups
- 15,000+ testing and service sites nationwide
