LOS ANGELES, CA — FleetCollect, a compliance platform for owner-operators and small-to-mid-size trucking fleets, has introduced automatic SMS reminders that notify drivers when their qualification documents are nearing expiration. The feature aims to help carriers maintain audit-ready Driver Qualification Files (DQFs) under FMCSA regulation 49 CFR §391.51, which requires 18 documents per driver.
Motor carriers must keep DQFs for every driver, covering pre-employment records, annual reviews, and ongoing testing. According to FleetCollect, DQFs are the first category DOT auditors open and the most frequently found deficient. Common issues include lapsed medical cards, missed MVR reviews, and outdated CDL copies — gaps that often surface only during an audit.
FleetCollect tracks all 18 §391.51 items on a single dashboard, integrates with Checkr for MVRs and background checks, uses OCR to read uploaded documents, and provides a secure driver portal. The new SMS feature automatically texts drivers at 30, 14, 7, and 1 day before a document expires, and again if it lapses, with a secure link to upload renewals. Carriers must attest to driver consent, and messages include an opt-out option.
“The medical card nobody remembered is the thing that fails your audit,” said Herman, Founder of FleetCollect, who held a CDL for over a decade. “The driver has the document and a phone. The software should just ask them for it at the right moment — and read the date so nobody has to. That shouldn't be a premium feature; it should just happen.”
The reminders are included on every plan at no extra cost. FleetCollect serves carriers from single-truck owner-operators to mid-size fleets, and works alongside existing ELD systems like Samsara and Motive. The platform also handles GPS-based IFTA mileage tracking.
“We passed our FMCSA audit with zero deficiencies thanks to FleetCollect,” said Sarah Chen, Fleet Manager at Mountain Transport. “The auditor was impressed with how organized our DQFs were.”
Every plan includes a 7-day free trial. Learn more at FleetCollect.net.
