driver's qualification file
For driver's qualification file, regulation is 49 CFR 391.51; regulator / programme is FMCSA; retention period is for as long as a driver is employed by that motor carrier and for three years thereafter; who it binds is each motor carrier; exceptions and notes is certain records — annual motor vehicle records, annual review notes, medical examiner's certificates, medical variances, and National Registry verification notes — may be removed from the file three years after the date of execution, recorded from its source on 2026-08-11.
- Regulation
- 49 CFR 391.51 verified
- Regulator / programme
- FMCSA our reading
- Record type
- driver's qualification file verified
- Retention period
- for as long as a driver is employed by that motor carrier and for three years thereafter verified
- Who it binds
- each motor carrier
- Exceptions and notes
- certain records — annual motor vehicle records, annual review notes, medical examiner's certificates, medical variances, and National Registry verification notes — may be removed from the file three years after the date of execution
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
What the source says
( c ) Except as provided in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.51#p-391.51(d)> paragraph (d) of this section, each driver's qualification file shall be retained for as long as a driver is employed by that motor carrier and for three years thereafter.
— ecfr.gov, retrieved 2026-08-11
Source
- ecfr.govhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-391/subpart-F/section-391.51