§FMCSR.com
Historical textIn force on Oct. 1, 1998Source: annual CFR editions 1996–2003

§ 391.23 Investigation and inquiries.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded by the 2004 annual edition.

govinfo, 1998 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 1998 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 1998 and Oct. 1, 1998 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.
49 CFR § 391.23 — Investigation and inquiries.. Text in force on October 1, 1998. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to October 1, 2004. Source: govinfo, 1998 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-1998-title49-vol4/CFR-1998-title49-vol4-sec391-23. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/391.23?asof=1998-10-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, each motor carrier shall make the following investigations and inquiries with respect to each driver it employs, other than a person who has been a regularly employed driver of the motor carrier for a continuous period which began before January 1, 1971:

(1) An inquiry into the driver's driving record during the preceding 3 years to the appropriate agency of every State in which the driver held a motor vehicle operator's license or permit during those 3 years; and

(2) An investigation of the driver's employment record during the preceding 3 years.

(b) The inquiry to State agencies required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be made within 30 days of the date the driver's employment begins and shall be made in the form and manner those agencies prescribe. A copy of the response by each State agency, showing the driver's driving record or certifying that no driving record exists for that driver, shall be retained in the carrier's files as part of the driver's qualification file.

(c) The investigation of the driver's employment record required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section must be made within 30 days of the date his/her employment begins. The investigation may consist of personal interviews, telephone interviews, letters, or any other method of obtaining information that the carrier deems appropriate. Each motor carrier must make a written record with respect to each past employer who was contacted. The record must include the past employer's name and address, the date he/she was contacted, and his/her comments with respect to the driver. The record shall be retained in the motor carrier's files as part of the driver's qualification file.

[35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970]

Amendment history

18 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. July 21, 2026 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970]
  2. Nov. 17, 2023 → July 21, 2026eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970]
  3. Sept. 29, 2022 → Nov. 17, 2023eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970]
  4. May 9, 2022 → Sept. 29, 2022eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 87730, Dec. 5, 2016; 83 FR 28782, June 21, 2018; 83 FR 48726, Sept. 27, 2018; 86 FR 32650, June 22, 2021; 87 FR 13209, Mar. 9, 2022]
  5. March 9, 2022 → May 9, 2022eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 87730, Dec. 5, 2016; 83 FR 28782, June 21, 2018; 83 FR 48726, Sept. 27, 2018; 86 FR 32650, June 22, 2021]
  6. June 22, 2021 → March 9, 2022eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 87730, Dec. 5, 2016; 83 FR 28782, June 21, 2018; 83 FR 48726, Sept. 27, 2018; 86 FR 32650, June 22, 2021]
  7. Sept. 28, 2018 → June 22, 2021eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 87730, Dec. 5, 2016; 83 FR 28782, June 21, 2018; 83 FR 48726, Sept. 27, 2018]
  8. June 21, 2018 → Sept. 28, 2018eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 87730, Dec. 5, 2016; 83 FR 28782, June 21, 2018]
  9. Jan. 17, 2017 → June 21, 2018eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015; 81 FR 87730, Dec. 5, 2016]
  10. Jan. 1, 2017 → Jan. 17, 2017eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015]
  11. Oct. 1, 2015 → Jan. 1, 2017annual editions 2015–2016diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014; 80 FR 22812, Apr. 23, 2015; 80 FR 35578, June 22, 2015; 80 FR 59074, Oct. 1, 2015]
  12. Oct. 1, 2014 → Oct. 1, 2015annual edition 2014diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012; 79 FR 2379, Jan. 14, 2014]
  13. Oct. 1, 2012 → Oct. 1, 2014annual editions 2012–2013diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010; 76 FR 70663, Nov. 15, 2011; 77 FR 24130, Apr. 20, 2012]
  14. Oct. 1, 2010 → Oct. 1, 2012annual editions 2010–2011diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008; 75 FR 28502, May 21, 2010]
  15. Oct. 1, 2009 → Oct. 1, 2010annual edition 2009diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 73126, Dec. 1, 2008]
  16. Oct. 1, 2007 → Oct. 1, 2009annual editions 2007–2008diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004; 72 FR 55703, Oct. 1, 2007]
  17. Oct. 1, 2004 → Oct. 1, 2007annual editions 2004–2006diff vs. previous
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970; 69 FR 16720, Mar. 30, 2004]
  18. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2004annual editions 1996–2003viewing
    [35 FR 6460, Apr. 22, 1970, as amended at 35 FR 17420, Nov. 13, 1970]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.