DRIVER COMPLIANCE
How to complete the annual MVR review
Ordering the MVR is only half the task. The carrier must review the record, consider whether the driver remains qualified, and document that review at least once every 12 months.
TIME: Usually 10–20 minutes after the MVR arrives
COST: The State or authorized source sets the MVR fee—check it before ordering
Last reviewed August 21, 2026
HANDS-ON HELP WITH YOUR DRIVER FILE
We put the DQ file together. $99 per driver.
Forms, employer inquiries, organized records and a clear list of anything still missing. You purchase and retain your own MVRs; provider charges are separate. One-time service; no app subscription required.
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Before you start
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Current MVR from each required licensing state
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Driver's current license information
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Carrier's review form or DQ-file checklist
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Information about any known violations or suspensions
Get it done
01
Obtain the proper MVR
Request the employer-appropriate record from the issuing state or authorized source. Follow the state's consent and identity rules.
02
Review the whole record
Look for suspensions, revocations, disqualifying offenses, restrictions, expiration, and patterns that affect whether the driver meets the applicable qualification rules.
03
Resolve anything unclear
Do not simply initial a form when the record conflicts with the license, driver disclosure, or known event. Verify the driver's current status.
04
Document the carrier's decision
Record who reviewed it, the review date, and whether the driver remains qualified. The review record is distinct from the MVR itself.
05
File both records and set the next date
Keep the MVR and documented review in the DQ file, then record the completion date in We Heart Paperwork.
Where people usually get stuck
The MVR and the carrier's review are two records. If the MVR conflicts with the license or shows a suspension, revocation, restriction, or possible disqualification, do not simply sign the review form. Verify the driver's current status before deciding that the driver remains qualified.
What to save when you finish
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Signed or otherwise documented annual review
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Any supporting resolution records
An annual review does not cure a suspended, revoked, expired, or otherwise disqualifying license. Address current qualification problems immediately.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Straight answers before you start.
How often is the annual MVR review required?
At least once every 12 months for each employed driver covered by the rule.
Is pulling the MVR enough?
No. The carrier must also review the driving record and keep a note with the reviewer's name and the date of the review.
What records go in the driver qualification file?
49 CFR 391.25 requires the motor vehicle record obtained for the annual inquiry and a note documenting who reviewed the record and when.
Does We Heart Paperwork store the MVR document itself?
The current tracker is focused on the recurring review date and completion history. The carrier remains responsible for maintaining the required underlying driver qualification records.
Filing it is the easy part. Remembering the next one is what gets people.
When the document is finished, save the completion date and next deadline in We Heart Paperwork.
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We Heart Paperwork helps organize compliance information and does not provide legal advice or guarantee regulatory compliance.