N.J.A.C. 13:60-1.2
Even single-town work is covered
New Jersey's rule reaches interstate and intrastate carriers, and vehicles operated wholly within one municipality or its commercial zone. A truck that never leaves Newark is still subject to it.
New Jersey driver qualification file requirements
The New Jersey State Police adopt the federal motor carrier safety regulations for carriers in the state, down to trucks that never leave one town. New Jersey changes the vehicle definition, registration and hours-of-service rules for in-state work, but its rule makes no changes to the federal driver qualification rules.
- New Jersey-based motor carriers with an active USDOT number
- 49,762
- operate intrastate only, under a state rule that adopts Part 391 without changes
- 48%
Source: FMCSA Company Census File, September 2026
State rules
Where New Jersey differs from the federal baseline
N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1(d)(1)
10,001 lbs, by rating or registered weight
For in-state work, a commercial motor vehicle starts at 10,001 lbs by weight rating or registered weight, whichever is greater. A truck registered heavier than its rating counts at the registered weight, and a vehicle displaying a hazmat placard is covered even when it is empty.
N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1(d)
No changes to the driver file contents
The state rule's list of changes to the federal rules covers the vehicle definition, USDOT registration and hours of service. None of them touches Part 391, so under N.J.A.C. 13:60 an in-state driver's qualification file has the same contents as an interstate driver's. Licensing rules such as CDL age limits come from the MVC, not this rule.
N.J.A.C. 13:60-1.4
Every day can be a new violation
Penalties are enforced under N.J.S.A. 39:5B-29. Each violation is treated separately, and when a violation continues, each day counts as a separate offense. A missing medical certificate left unfixed adds up.
The checklist
What a New Jersey driver qualification file must contain
| Document | Rule | When | New Jersey note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment application | §391.21 | At hire | Same as the federal rule |
| Driving record from each licensing state | §391.23 | Within 30 days of hire | New Jersey MVC driver abstract, plus New York, Pennsylvania or any other state that licensed the driver in the past three years |
| Previous employers' safety history | §391.23 | Within 30 days of hire | Same as the federal rule |
| Road test certificate, or a CDL in its place | §391.31 · §391.33 | At hire | Same as the federal rule |
| Medical examiner's certificate | §391.43 | Up to every 24 months | Required for in-state drivers too; N.J.A.C. 13:60 makes no Part 391 exceptions |
| Annual driving record review | §391.25 | Every 12 months | Pull a fresh New Jersey MVC abstract each year |
Keep each file for as long as the driver works for you, plus three years (§391.51).
Questions
New Jersey driver files: FAQ
Does New Jersey relax any driver qualification rules for in-state carriers?
Not in its motor carrier rule. N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1(d) lists every change the rule makes to the federal regulations it adopts: the commercial vehicle definition, USDOT registration and hours of service. Part 391 is not on that list, so the in-state driver file has the same contents as the federal one. Check licensing questions, such as CDL age limits, with the New Jersey MVC.
Do trucks that only work inside one New Jersey town need driver files?
Yes. N.J.A.C. 13:60-1.2 applies to commercial vehicles operated wholly within a municipality or a municipality's commercial zone, as well as to intrastate and interstate work.
Are New Jersey farm vehicles exempt from the motor carrier rules?
Only narrowly. A farm vehicle registered in New Jersey is exempt from N.J.A.C. 13:60 when it is operating in intrastate commerce, used wholly within one municipality or its commercial zone, and neither carrying nor displaying hazmat placards (N.J.A.C. 13:60-1.2(c)). A farm truck running between towns does not meet those conditions.
How are motor carrier violations penalized in New Jersey?
Under N.J.S.A. 39:5B-29. N.J.A.C. 13:60-1.4 treats each violation separately and makes each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Check your New Jersey driver files
Bring one real driver file to a 20-minute walkthrough. You'll leave with its score and the exact list of what's missing, whether you sign up or not.