How to Verify a CDL (Commercial Driver License)

CDL classes and endorsements

Confirm that the CDL class and endorsements match the role before running any further checks. Using a driver in a vehicle class above their license is a federal violation.

Key endorsements to verify by role:

• H — Hazardous materials (requires TSA background check)
• N — Tank vehicles
• P — Passenger transport (16+ passengers)
• S — School bus (requires additional state requirements)
• T — Double/triple trailers
• X — Combination of H and N

CDLIS: Commercial Driver License Information System

CDLIS is the national database maintained by AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators) that stores CDL information for all 50 states. A CDLIS query confirms that a CDL is valid, reveals the driver's full license history across all states, and shows any disqualifications or out-of-service orders.

The key issue CDLIS catches is drivers who have licenses in multiple states — which is federally prohibited. Each CDL holder is supposed to have only one license from one state. CDLIS reveals if a driver attempted to obtain a CDL in a second state after having problems in the first.

How to run a CDLIS query:

• Employers cannot query CDLIS directly — access is through state DMV agencies
• Request a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from the driver's CDL-issuing state — the MVR incorporates CDLIS data
• Third-party driving record services (Driving Records, DataQ, etc.) can pull MVRs across states
• DOT-regulated employers must obtain a 3-year driving history from each state the driver held a license in the past 3 years

PSP: Pre-Employment Screening Program

The FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) provides employers with a driver's 5-year history of DOT roadside inspection results and 3-year history of crash data from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). This information is not available in a standard background check or MVR.

PSP records include:

• Driver-specific roadside inspection violations (hours of service, vehicle defects, alcohol/drugs)
• Out-of-service orders issued to the driver
• Crash history involving DOT-regulated vehicles

PSP access requires driver consent (signed release). Queries are $10 per driver through the FMCSA PSP portal (psp.fmcsa.dot.gov). Drivers can also obtain their own PSP report.

PSP is not mandated by FMCSA regulations, but the agency strongly recommends it and provides a safe harbor from liability for employers who use it. A driver with a pattern of hours-of-service violations or multiple out-of-service orders in their PSP record is a material risk that an MVR alone will not reveal.

FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse: mandatory

The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov) is a federal database that records DOT drug and alcohol program violations for CDL holders. Since January 2023, employers are required to query the Clearinghouse before hiring any CDL driver in a DOT safety-sensitive function. Violations recorded include:

• Positive drug or alcohol tests (DOT-administered)
• Refusals to test
• Alcohol violations while on duty
• Return-to-duty process completion status

A driver with an unresolved Clearinghouse violation is prohibited from performing DOT safety-sensitive functions — including driving a CDL vehicle. This is not optional — placing a driver with an unresolved violation creates federal regulatory exposure for the carrier.

Employers must also run annual limited queries on all currently employed CDL drivers. Drivers must provide electronic consent through their own Clearinghouse account for full queries.

DAC/HireRight employment history

DAC (now part of HireRight) is the industry-standard employment history reporting service for the trucking industry. Most major carriers report driver separations to HireRight's employment history database, which includes:

• Previous carrier employment history
• Reason for separation (voluntary, involuntary)
• Safety performance history (accidents, violations reported by prior employers)
• Drug and alcohol test results reported by prior employers (pre-FMCSA Clearinghouse era results)

FMCSA regulations require motor carriers to investigate the 3-year employment history of CDL drivers before hiring, including requesting records from prior DOT-regulated employers. A DAC/HireRight check satisfies part of this requirement, but direct outreach to prior employers is also required.

Drivers have the right to review and dispute their DAC report. Inaccurate or outdated entries are a common driver grievance — if a driver disputes their history, investigate the underlying records before concluding their application is fraudulent.

Verification checklist for CDL employers