Read an MVR from the top: license status first, then medical certification, then convictions and withdrawals by date. Layouts differ by state, but a commercial driver’s record from the license state carries the same core information.
A sample record, annotated
This is a hypothetical record with made-up details, laid out to show what to check. Real MVRs look different from state to state.
Swipe the table sideways if more columns are off-screen.
| Section | Example entry (hypothetical) | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| License | Class A CDL, status valid, expires May 2029 | The status must be valid. A suspended, revoked or downgraded CDL means the driver can’t drive a CMV until it’s restored. |
| Endorsements and restrictions | Tank vehicle and hazmat endorsements; restricted from CMVs with manual transmissions | Match them to the vehicles and loads you’ll assign. |
| Medical certification | Self-certified non-excepted interstate; medical certificate valid until August 2027 | For an interstate driver who needs a medical certificate, it must be current. |
| Convictions | Speeding 15+ mph over the limit in a CMV; violation March 14, 2025; conviction May 2, 2025 | A serious traffic violation. A second serious violation of any type within 3 years, from a separate incident, would disqualify the driver for 60 days. |
| Withdrawals | Suspension for failure to appear, 2022; reinstated 2022 | Whether the action is still active or cleared. |
| Crashes | One reportable crash, 2024 | Which crashes appear depends on the state. |
License, endorsements and restrictions
The license section shows the class (A, B or C), status and expiration. Endorsements allow specific vehicles or cargo, such as tank vehicles, passengers or hazmat. Restrictions limit what the driver may operate; federal restrictions include CMVs with air brakes, CMVs with manual transmissions and tractor-trailers connected by a fifth wheel (49 CFR 383.95). States show restrictions as codes or text; the state’s legend explains them.
Medical certification status
States post two medical items to a CDL holder’s record (49 CFR 384.225):
- Self-certification: the type of driving the driver certified to: non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate or excepted intrastate (49 CFR 383.71). Non-excepted interstate drivers must have a medical examiner’s certificate.
- Medical certificate status: whether the certificate on file is current, and when it expires.
For a CDL holder, the CDLIS MVR from the current license state documents the medical certificate in the driver qualification file when it shows this status (49 CFR 391.51). Before a new CDL driver operates a CMV, you must use that record to verify their self-certification and medical certification (49 CFR 391.23(m)).
Convictions and conviction codes
Each conviction usually shows the offense, the violation date and the conviction date, and often whether it happened in a CMV or while hauling hazmat. Note both dates: the disqualification rules count convictions for separate incidents within set periods. See what disqualifies a CDL driver.
States exchange CDL convictions and withdrawals using the AAMVA Code Dictionary (ACD), a standard set of codes. That’s how a ticket from another state shows up on the license state’s record in a consistent form. Some MVRs print the ACD code, some print the state’s own description, and some print both.
A CDL holder’s traffic convictions in any vehicle and any state (other than parking, weight and vehicle-defect violations) are posted to their CDLIS record (49 CFR 384.209, 384.225), and states can’t mask them through deferral or diversion programs (49 CFR 384.226).
Withdrawals and crashes
Withdrawals are suspensions, revocations, cancellations and disqualifications. Check the reason, the dates and whether the action has been cleared or is still in effect.
Crash entries vary by state. Ohio’s record lists every crash the driver was involved in, regardless of fault; a Texas Type 2 record lists crashes where a ticket was issued. Our state guides describe what 10 major trucking states include.
What an MVR won’t show
- DOT drug and alcohol testing violations: positive tests and refusals are in FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The MVR can show a resulting CDL downgrade, though DUI convictions do appear as convictions.
- Crash and inspection history across carriers: that’s the PSP report. See MVR vs. CDLIS vs. PSP.
- Every state’s history: for hiring, federal rules require a record from each state where the driver held a license in the past 3 years. See pre-employment MVR requirements.
Order an MVR, or see how far back an MVR goes.
Federal rules checked against eCFR on November 3, 2026. The sample record is hypothetical and not based on a real driver or a specific state’s format. This is general information, not legal advice.