Disclosure: Evergreen Comply publishes this guide and sells one of the services compared. This is a public-information comparison, not an independent review or hands-on test of competitors. Informational only, not legal advice.
Quick answer
If you want someone else to build and maintain your drivers' qualification files, you're shopping for a done-for-you DQ service, not software. Two services publish their prices: Evergreen Comply at $9 per driver per month with no setup fee, and DotFleet Compliance at $75 per driver to set up plus $30 per driver per month. J. J. Keller and Simplex Group quote by fleet, and Foley sells software plans with an optional document-review service. For a 5-driver fleet, the first year costs $540 with Evergreen and $2,175 at DotFleet's published rates. Either way, the carrier still makes hiring decisions and signs what only a carrier can sign.
Comparison table
Swipe the table sideways if more columns are off-screen.
| Service | Setup | Monthly price | Who does the work | Public pricing checked October 31, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Comply | Free onboarding, no setup fee | $9 per driver | Evergreen's team builds and maintains each file; software included | $9/driver/month; MVRs extra; month to month, no minimum |
| DotFleet Compliance | $75 per driver | $30 per driver | DotFleet builds, corrects, and maintains files remotely | $75 setup + $30/driver/month; month to month, 30 days' notice |
| J. J. Keller | Quote | Quote | A Compliance Advisor manages files on Keller's DataSense platform | Dollar price not stated on reviewed service page |
| Foley | Quote | Quote | Your staff, on Foley's software; the top plan adds a document review service | Dollar price not stated on reviewed pricing page |
| Simplex Group | Quote | Quote | From self-service to a dedicated account manager, by tier | Dollar price not stated on reviewed service pages |
First-year cost at published prices
Swipe the table sideways if more columns are off-screen.
| Fleet size | Evergreen Comply | DotFleet Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 driver | $108 | $435 |
| 5 drivers | $540 | $2,175 |
| 10 drivers | $1,080 | $4,350 |
| 25 drivers | $2,700 | $10,875 |
These totals cover the file service only. MVRs, drug testing, and Clearinghouse queries are billed separately at both. Quote-based providers can't be put in this table until you have their proposal.
What a done-for-you DQ service should handle
For each driver, a file under 49 CFR 391.51 holds the application, the motor vehicle records, the road test or its equivalent, the medical certificate, the annual review, and the previous-employer inquiries. A done-for-you service should:
- Build each file from what you have and list what's missing.
- Chase missing and expiring documents until they're in, not just send you reminders.
- Flag annual MVRs and reviews before they're due.
- Track license and medical certificate expirations.
- Give you the complete files any time, and help during a DOT audit.
What stays with you: hiring decisions and anything only the carrier can sign, such as the annual review of driving record. A service can prepare these; it can't make them for you.
1. Evergreen Comply — published per-driver price, no setup fee
Evergreen's driver qualification service is $9 per driver per month, with free onboarding, no setup fee, no minimum, and no long-term contract. A compliance team builds each driver's file, organizes the documents you already have, follows up on missing and expiring items, flags annual MVRs and reviews, and helps you prepare for DOT audits. The software is included, so you can see every file at any time. MVRs are $12.25 plus the state fee, only when you order one.
Choose it if you want the work done for a published price you can budget per driver.
2. DotFleet Compliance — published setup and monthly fees
DotFleet Compliance advertises fully remote DQ file work, including file builds and corrections, annual MVRs and reviews, previous-employer investigations, medical card tracking, and audit prep, at $75 per driver to set up and $30 per driver per month, month to month with 30 days' notice. It doesn't administer drug and alcohol testing.
Choose it if you want a DQ-only specialist and the published rates fit your budget. Ask about references and audit support.
3. J. J. Keller — advisor-led DQ file management
J. J. Keller's DQ File Management Service pairs a Compliance Advisor with its DataSense platform. The published scope includes an initial file audit, electronic file creation, ongoing maintenance, document notifications, and audit support. MVR ordering and monitoring are listed as additional services.
Choose it if you want a large compliance provider and are ready to request a quote.
4. Foley — DQ software within a compliance package
Foley's DQ files come in software plans (Essential, Professional, and Power) that also include a drug and alcohol program and Clearinghouse queries. Foley will convert paper files, automatic annual MVR checks and expiration alerts are included, and the Power plan adds a document review service.
Choose it if you want DQ files, testing, and screening from one provider and have staff to run the files. Confirm in writing what the document review service covers.
5. Simplex Group — tiered DQ support
Simplex Group's DQ file service comes in three tiers: a self-service hub, an Essentials tier with an on-demand support team (file management, past-employment verification, CDL and medical verification, and a mock DOT audit), and a Managed tier with a dedicated account manager and a drug testing program.
Choose it if you want to pick how much help you get. Request a quote for your fleet size and tier.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Will you build every existing driver's file, or only organize what I send?
- Who obtains the MVRs and previous-employer inquiries, and what do they cost?
- Who follows up when a medical certificate or license is about to expire?
- Is there a setup fee, a minimum, or a long-term contract?
- Can I download complete files myself, and what help do I get during a DOT audit?
- What's included for drug testing and the Clearinghouse, if anything?
If you'd rather run the files yourself with software, see driver qualification file software.
Frequently asked questions
Who can build my DOT driver qualification files for me?
Done-for-you DQ services build and maintain the files for you. Evergreen Comply ($9 per driver per month, no setup fee) and DotFleet Compliance ($75 setup plus $30 per driver per month) publish their prices; J. J. Keller and Simplex Group quote by fleet. The carrier still makes hiring decisions and signs the annual review.
How much does DQ file management cost?
Published prices for done-for-you service range from $9 per driver per month with no setup fee (Evergreen Comply) to $30 per driver per month plus a $75 setup fee per driver (DotFleet Compliance). Larger providers quote by fleet. MVRs and drug testing are usually billed separately.
Is a DQ file service the same as DQ software?
No. Software helps your staff keep files themselves. A done-for-you service assigns people to build files, follow up on missing documents, and track expirations for you. Some services, including Evergreen Comply, include software so you can see the files any time.
Does a DQ service make me compliant automatically?
No. The carrier remains responsible for its driver files under 49 CFR Part 391. A service does the paperwork and follow-up, but you still make hiring decisions and sign what only the carrier can sign, such as the annual review.
Next step
See Evergreen Comply's driver qualification service, or compare DQ file software and managed services.