United States High-risk taskVersion 1Updated September 25, 2026

Fleet compliance audit checklist for motor carrier records

Free fleet compliance audit checklist for US motor carriers: driver files, drug and alcohol testing, hours of service and maintenance records.

How often: How often you run the full audit is set by your organization. Several records it checks have their own 12-month deadlines: the annual driving record review, the annual Clearinghouse query and each vehicle's periodic inspection.

Sections
7
Checks
60
Critical
6
Sources
123

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1

Motor carrier legal name *

2

USDOT number *

3

Date of the audit *

4

Name and role of the person doing the audit *

5

Records sampled for this audit

Run it with your team in Conformata

  • Schedule it per site and assign it to the right people.
  • Turn every failed check into a corrective action that someone else verifies.
  • Keep signatures, photos and the full audit history across sites.
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Frequently asked questions

What records does a fleet compliance audit cover?

This checklist covers the driver qualification file for each driver [65], the controlled substances and alcohol testing program records [13], records of duty status and supporting documents [100], and each vehicle's inspection, repair and maintenance records [122]. It also checks the accident register, which is kept for 3 years after the date of each accident [36].

How long must a motor carrier keep driver qualification files?

For as long as the driver is employed and for three years after [74]. Safety performance histories from previous employers for a hired driver are kept in the driver investigation history file for the same period [77].

How long must drug and alcohol testing records be kept?

At least five years for alcohol results of 0.02 or greater, verified positive drug results and refusals [15] [16] [17]. At least one year for negative and canceled drug results [19] and alcohol results below 0.02 [18]. FMCSA can ask to see the records at the carrier's principal place of business within two business days [22].

How long do we keep driver logs and supporting documents?

At least 6 months from the date the carrier receives them [100] [101]. Drivers submit each record of duty status within 13 days [97], and supporting documents are kept so that they can be matched to the driver's record of duty status [84].

Built from 123 official sources

Every check traces to the text it is based on. Read the purpose, how to use it, the rules behind it, what it does not cover and every source.

Guidance, not legal advice. It does not replace the law, the manufacturer's instructions or your organization's competent people, and completing it does not certify that work is safe.