FleetCollect, a compliance and fuel-tax platform for small to mid-size trucking fleets, has launched automatic SMS reminders that notify drivers when their documents are approaching expiration. The feature aims to help carriers keep Driver Qualification Files (DQFs) audit-ready by preventing lapses in required records such as medical cards, MVR reviews, and CDL renewals.
Under FMCSA regulation 49 CFR §391.51, motor carriers must maintain 18 documents per driver in their DQF, covering pre-employment records, annual reviews, and ongoing testing. DOT auditors frequently find these files incomplete, with common gaps including expired medical cards and outdated MVRs. FleetCollect's new system sends text reminders to drivers at 30, 14, 7, and 1 day before a document expires, and again if it lapses, with a secure link to upload the renewal via their phone.
The reminders are included automatically on every plan, with no additional cost. Carriers must obtain driver consent to send texts, and drivers can opt out by replying "STOP." FleetCollect founder Herman, a former CDL holder and carrier, emphasized that the feature addresses a common pain point: "The medical card nobody remembered is the thing that fails your audit. The driver has the document and a phone. The software should just ask them for it at the right moment."
FleetCollect tracks all 18 §391.51 items on a single dashboard, integrates with Checkr for background checks and drug tests, uses OCR to read uploaded documents, and allows drivers to upload records via a secure portal. It also exports a complete, audit-ready PDF for any driver. The platform works alongside ELD systems like Samsara and Motive, focusing on the compliance paperwork those systems do not handle.
Sarah Chen, Fleet Manager at Mountain Transport, noted: "We passed our FMCSA audit with zero deficiencies thanks to FleetCollect. The auditor was impressed with how organized our DQFs were."
The company, founded by a driver and carrier, aims to replace file cabinets and spreadsheets with a single app. More information is available at https://fleetcollect.net.
