The difference between MVR vs. CDR
MVR - Motor Vehicle Driving Records are reported by each State’s Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”, or similar State agency), and there is no National Database storing driver records.
MVR provide the Driver’s:
Driving history as reported by a given State’s DMV
Citations, warnings, and tickets settled in the Courts.
CDR - Commercial Driver Reports are generated by different sources including State and Local Agencies, DOT and the FMCSA. Which DOT and FMCSA data is stored on the national database?
CDR provides the Driver’s information in Real Time:
- Hours of Service (H.O.S.): Limits how long a Commercial Driver can operate a CMV; however, this information is not shared with the State's DMV nor Local Agencies.
- Driver Out of Service (O.O.S.): This violation will take a Driver off the Road immediately, however; it is not required that the information be sent to the DMV, nor to any Local Data Base; therefore this prevents any updates on their Local Data Base; preventing MVR from reporting accurate information, which allows the Driver’s License to reflect valid, when in actuality it is not.
- Accident History: A driver's history of accidents for the last 6 years with fatalities and injuries.
- Suspended License: This is reported regardless of Court Settlement.
- Citations, Violations, DUI and Accidents: which are reported immediately; prior to Court settlements and remain on the CDR regardless of the outcome.
- Carriers Employment History: This allows Brokers and Logistic Companies the opportunity to screen the Driver for better decision making.
Monitoring and Managing Risk Factors will provide Legal Liability Protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a national database of driver MVRs?
No. Each state's DMV (or similar agency) keeps its own motor vehicle records, so an MVR only reflects what one state has on file.
Why can an MVR show a license as valid when the driver is out of service?
Out-of-service orders do not have to be sent to the DMV or local databases, so the MVR may not be updated. A CDR reports out-of-service violations in real time.
Do citations stay on a CDR if they are dismissed in court?
Citations, violations, DUIs and accidents are reported on the CDR as soon as they happen, before court settlement, and remain on the CDR regardless of the outcome. Drivers can dispute inaccurate items for free through Driver's Karma.
How far back does CDR accident history go?
A CDR includes the driver's accident history for the last 6 years, including crashes with fatalities and injuries.
Who should order a CDR instead of an MVR?
Brokers, shippers and logistics companies that need to screen drivers before tendering freight, because a CDR also shows HOS and out-of-service violations and carrier employment history. Order a CDR from OrderCDR for $12.00.