Frequently Asked Questions

ComplyDQ is a web-based DOT Driver Qualification (DQ) file management platform built for trucking companies, fleets, and DOT compliance consultants. It automates the collection, tracking, and renewal of driver compliance documents (CDLs, MVRs, medical certificates, and more) so you stay compliant without the manual work.

The platform stores all your documents in one place, sends automatic expiration reminders to you and your drivers, and makes it easy to collect signatures and files directly from drivers via email. No spreadsheets, no chasing paperwork.

ComplyDQ serves two main audiences:

• Trucking companies and fleets: small to mid-size carriers, safety managers, dispatchers, and independent contractors who need to keep their own drivers compliant.
• DOT compliance professionals: consultants, trucking insurance agents, fleet management firms, and motor carrier associations who manage compliance for multiple clients. These users can access ComplyDQ through our Partner Program with a white-labeled platform under their own brand.

ComplyDQ is a product of Driving Compliance, our parent company that has been building trucking compliance tools since 2008. Emails from the platform may reference Driving Compliance or come from a Driving Compliance address, but the product you're using is ComplyDQ.

If you have questions about your account, you can always reach us at [email protected].

ComplyDQ was built to get you up and running in minutes, with no IT team or heavy onboarding required. Here's the basic flow:

• Sign up at my.complydq.com/register. No credit card needed for the 30-day free trial.
• Fill out your company profile (company name, DOT number, etc.).
• Review the Documents section and use the pre-made DOT forms provided or add your own.
• Add your drivers and either upload existing documents yourself or send document requests directly to drivers via email.

Once you add a driver, the platform starts tracking expiration dates and reminders automatically from day one.

The dashboard is your main compliance view. Once drivers are added, you can see every driver's document status at a glance, without opening a single file. Status indicators work as follows:

• Green: file is on file and current
• Yellow: file is expiring soon
• Orange: action required (e.g., expiration date needs updating)
• Red: file is missing or expired
• NR: not required for this driver

A green circle next to a driver's name means all required files are in place. A red dot means at least one file is missing or expired.

Yes. ComplyDQ includes all required DQ file holders as well as pre-made DOT forms you can use immediately. Some document slots show “No Attachment,” which means you need to upload your own organization's version of that document.

You can also create or upload your own custom documents at any time. We recommend discussing any specific forms with your legal team to ensure they meet your organization's needs.

Sample documents provided are examples only. ComplyDQ does not provide legal or regulatory advice. Please consult your attorney for compliance guidance specific to your operation.

Click the “Add Driver” button on the dashboard or navigate to the Drivers tab. From there you can fill in the driver's profile and either upload documents you already have on file, or send document requests directly to the driver via email.

Once a driver is added, their DQ file is created in the system immediately and the platform begins tracking compliance status for them automatically.

There are two ways to add documents to a driver's file:

• Upload yourself: from the dashboard, click the colored status box next to the driver's name under any document type to upload a file directly.
• Request from the driver: go to the driver's profile, select the documents you need, and the driver will receive a secure email with instructions to submit their files. Documents auto-file into their record once submitted.

Driver-entered: In the Documents tab, you can configure any document to ask the driver to enter the issued and expiration date when they submit. Any document with a reminder has this enabled by default.

Admin-entered: When you manually upload a document that requires an expiration date, the system will prompt you to enter it before you can exit. Click the date field and a calendar picker will appear.

For CDLs: if the expiration date you enter differs from the date listed in the driver's profile, ComplyDQ will flag the discrepancy.

If a document isn't required for a specific driver (for example, a HazMat certificate for a driver who doesn't haul hazardous materials), click on the colored status box next to that driver's name under that document type, then select “Not Required” in the pop-up. The field will update to NR and stop generating reminders for that driver and document.

When a driver is deleted from your active roster, their archived file is available for a one-time fee of $5, so you can view it at any time going forward. No reminders will be generated for an archived driver, and their documents cannot be updated after archiving.

FMCSA regulations generally require you to retain driver qualification files for as long as the driver is employed and for 3 years afterward. Some records within the DQ file have shorter retention periods. Always consult current FMCSA regulations for the most up-to-date retention requirements.

ComplyDQ sends automatic alerts before any document expires. By default, alerts go out at 60, 30, and 7 days before the expiration date. You can configure when alerts go out, who receives them (the driver, the admin, or both), and how often each document type needs to be renewed (annual, monthly, or custom).

If a driver stays non-compliant after the initial reminder, ComplyDQ automatically follows up 3 times, once every 3 days, until the document is submitted. You never have to send the same email twice.

Yes. In the Documents section, each document type has configurable reminder settings. As an admin you can adjust:

• When alerts go out (default: 60, 30, and 7 days before expiry)
• Renewal frequency per document type (annual, monthly, or custom)
• Who receives alerts: the driver, the admin, or both

A “Custom” renewal setting means the document has a specific expiration date you enter manually, rather than a standard annual or monthly cadence. ComplyDQ will send reminders based on that specific date.

As the admin, you'll receive an email notification each time a driver uploads a document. The driver's file in the system updates automatically, so the status indicator on your dashboard changes in real time. It's always a good idea to confirm that what was submitted is accurate and includes the correct expiration date.

No. Drivers do not need a separate portal login to submit documents. When you request documents from a driver, they receive a secure, tokenized link via email. They click the link, upload their file or complete an e-form, and they're done. All from their phone in minutes, with no account creation or password required.

Documents go directly into the driver's file in the system automatically. The only exception is if a driver also acts as an administrator on the account.

There are two ways to send documents to a driver:

• From the driver's profile: Click their name, then Edit, then check the boxes for the documents you want to request, and save. An email goes out to the driver automatically.
• From the Documents tab: Click the specific document, go to the Employee tab, check the box next to the driver's name, and save. An email with upload instructions is sent to the driver.

E-forms are digital versions of compliance documents that drivers can fill out and sign electronically without needing to download, print, or mail anything. ComplyDQ provides several pre-made e-forms for common DQ file requirements, and drivers can complete and sign them directly from their phone or computer.

You can use the pre-made forms as-is, edit them, or create your own. Once completed, forms are automatically saved to the driver's record.

The document files into the system automatically, so you don't need to do anything for it to appear in the driver's record. That said, it's always good practice to review submitted documents to confirm the file is accurate and that any expiration date associated with the document is correctly recorded.

FMCSA offsite audits can give you as little as 48 hours to produce all DQ records digitally. With ComplyDQ, every driver's file is organized, complete, and ready to export at any time. No scrambling, no digging through email chains.

From the Audit & Reports section, you can build and export compliance reports for any driver or your entire fleet. You'll always know exactly where you stand before an auditor does.

FMCSA recordkeeping violations can carry civil penalties of up to $15,846 per violation (FMCSA Appendix B to 49 CFR Part 386, 2025).

FMCSA regulations are subject to change, so always refer to current regulations for the most accurate guidance. As a general reference:

• Driver qualification files: for as long as the driver is employed and for 3 years afterward.
• Within the DQ file, these items may be removed after 36 months: MVR associated with the annual review, certificate of violations, annual review document, medical examiner's certificate, national registry note, and MVR associated with the medical card.
• Accident register: 3 years
• Negative drug test results: 1 year
• Positive drug test results: 5 years

Pricing is based on the number of active drivers in your account. There are no costs until you add a driver, and you can have as many admins as you need at no extra charge.

• 1–2 drivers: $10/month flat
• 3–99 drivers: $10 + (number of drivers minus 2) × $4/month
• 100+ drivers: $400/month flat

No contracts, no hidden fees. Cancel anytime.

Yes. ComplyDQ offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. You can sign up, add drivers, explore every feature, and send your first reminders before you pay anything.

Admins do not count toward your billing total and you can have as many as you need. The only exception is if an admin also drives and needs DQ files maintained for them. In that case, they should also be added as a driver, which is the billable role.

ComplyDQ is 100% web-based. There is no app download required for admins. You log in at my.complydq.com from any browser on any device.

Drivers also do not need to download anything. They receive a link by email and submit documents directly from that link on their phone or computer.

All file uploads and data transfers are secured and encrypted via 256-bit SSL, the same standard used by banks. Driver submissions use tokenized, single-use links that are tied to a specific driver and document request, so files can only be submitted by the intended recipient.