Truck Driver Files Renewal: Just a Time Tweak
Published Date: 4/15/2025
Notice
Summary
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is renewing its approval to collect driver qualification files from commercial drivers and motor carriers. There are no new rules or extra paperwork, just a correction to previous estimates about how much time this takes. If you’re a driver or carrier, keep in mind comments are open until May 15, 2025, with no new costs involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Ongoing Requirement: Maintain and Produce DQ Files
Motor carriers must continue to collect and maintain Driver Qualification files under 49 CFR 391.51 and must make those files available to State and Federal safety investigators on demand. Some DQ information is provided once at hire, other required items must be obtained within 30 days of the driver beginning to operate a CMV for the employer, and a driver’s motor vehicle record is updated at least once a year.
No New Paperwork — DQ Files Renewed
If you are a commercial driver or a motor carrier, FMCSA renewed its approval to collect Driver Qualification (DQ) files without changing the existing rules or adding new paperwork. The collection covers an estimated 9.86 million respondents (9.05 million drivers and 0.81 million motor carriers) and an estimated total annual burden of 14.15 million hours.
Corrected Burden Estimates: 9.86M respondents, 14.15M hours
FMCSA corrected prior figures to show 9.86 million respondents (9.05 million drivers and 0.81 million motor carriers) and a total annual burden of 14.15 million hours. The Agency states this is a decrease from the prior approved estimate of 14.23 million hours and corrects errors published in the December 23, 2024 notice.
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