Greater Boston · Massachusetts
DQF compliance for Boston fleets
From South Boston contractors to Chelsea produce haulers, FileReady keeps every driver qualification file complete, current and in the order a federal investigator or a State Police inspector reads it.
Request pricing · No contract · CDL, non-CDL and non-DOT drivers
R. Sullivan · CDL-A
Dorchester yard
67%
- §391.21Employment applicationOn file
- §391.23Driving records at hire: MA + NHOn file
- §391.23Previous employers' safety historyOn file
- §391.33CDL in place of road testOn file
- §391.25Annual driving record reviewDue in 21 days
- §391.43Medical examiner's certificateExpired
By the numbers
Suffolk County fleets on the federal record
- motor carriers based in Suffolk County with an active USDOT number
- 2,183
- of them are registered as interstate carriers, where the federal rules apply in full
- 835
- operate intrastate only, and Massachusetts still applies Part 391 to them
- 62%
Source: FMCSA Company Census File, September 2026. Suffolk County covers Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop.
Who needs this in Boston
Most fleets that need driver files don't think of themselves as trucking companies
Landscaping and snow removal
A heavy pickup pulling a loaded equipment trailer can be rated at 10,001 lbs or more combined. If it ever crosses into New Hampshire or Rhode Island on the job, the driver needs a full qualification file, CDL or not.
10,001 lb + interstate → Part 391
Construction and trades
Dump trucks, box trucks and service bodies moving between the Seaport, Dorchester and suburban job sites. Mixed fleets of CDL and non-CDL drivers are the hardest to keep straight on paper.
CDL and non-CDL in one view
Food and produce distribution
Early routes out of the New England Produce Center in Chelsea and cold-chain carriers supplying restaurants across the city. High turnover means new driver files every month.
New-hire files by secure link
Massachusetts rules
Staying in Massachusetts doesn't exempt your drivers
Massachusetts applies the federal driver qualification rules to intrastate carriers too (540 CMR 14.03), with state exceptions for driver age and certain medical waivers (540 CMR 14.05). The full breakdown, with the regulation behind each rule and the document checklist, is on the Massachusetts page.
Massachusetts driver qualification file requirements →How it works
From a filing cabinet to a current file in four steps
- 01
Upload
Drag-and-drop driver documents. AI validates each file against the correct §391 requirement.
- 02
Score
Real-time compliance scores per driver and fleet-wide. Know exactly where you stand.
- 03
Alert
Automated expiration alerts for medical certs, MVRs, and annual reviews. Never miss a deadline.
- 04
Renew
Request updated documents directly from drivers via secure upload links. Close the loop fast.
Questions from Boston fleets
Driver files in Boston: FAQ
Do Boston companies that never leave Massachusetts need driver qualification files?
Yes. Massachusetts applies 49 CFR Part 391 to intrastate carriers as well as interstate ones (540 CMR 14.03). That covers most of Suffolk County: 62% of its active carriers are registered as intrastate only.
Does a landscaping or snow-removal truck with a trailer need a DQF?
If the truck and trailer together are rated at 10,001 lbs or more and the rig crosses into New Hampshire or Rhode Island for work, yes, under the federal rules, even without a CDL. For work that stays in Massachusetts, confirm your vehicles against the state's thresholds with the RMV.
Can a 19-year-old drive for my Boston company?
For intrastate trips only. Massachusetts exempts intrastate drivers from the federal minimum age of 21 (540 CMR 14.05(1)(a)). Outside federal pilot programs, the same driver cannot take a load into another state until they turn 21.
What does FileReady track for a Boston driver?
Every Part 391 document in the driver's file, including the yearly driving record review and the medical certificate, with alerts 90, 60, 30 and 7 days before anything expires.
Serving fleets across Boston and Suffolk County
FileReady runs in the browser, so it works the same for a yard in any of these communities: Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, Dorchester, East Boston, South Boston, Hyde Park, Roxbury, Mattapan, Charlestown.
See where your Boston drivers' files stand
Bring one real driver file. We'll go through it against Part 391 line by line and give you the gap list, whether or not you sign up.