FMCSA & Compliance
Annual Driving Record Review
The annual driving record review is an FMCSA-required check in which a motor carrier pulls and reviews each driver's current MVR once per year, documenting the review in the driver's qualification file. It's meant to catch violations or license status changes that occurred since hire, not just rely on the initial pre-employment MVR check.
Under 49 CFR §391.25, motor carriers must request a current MVR for each driver they employ at least once every twelve months and review it against the carrier's own safety standards for continued employment, documenting that review in the driver's DQF. This is distinct from the pre-employment MVR check and exists specifically because a driver's record can change meaningfully over the course of a year of employment. Carriers that fall behind on annual reviews — a common audit finding — risk both a compliance citation and continuing to employ a driver whose record has deteriorated without the carrier being aware.
Why it matters for recruiting and operations
Missed annual driving record reviews are a recurring, easily avoidable item cited in FMCSA audits, and automating the review calendar per driver is one of the simplest ways a safety team avoids this gap. It's also a safety issue, not just a paperwork one: without the annual check, a carrier may unknowingly keep dispatching a driver who has accumulated serious violations since being hired.
Related terms
Where this shows up in Fleegital
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