Vertical Identity vs. Core Compliance
Core Compliance sells driver file software. Vertical Identity's DQF Pro does the same job inside one portal that also runs your DOT random program, orders drug tests nationwide 24/7, and runs MVRs, PSP, CDLIS and criminal background checks as our own screening company, every price published.
Everything a carrier must do to hire and keep a CDL driver. Item by item.
Each row is a federal requirement or a recommended check, with the regulation that creates it. Our column shows how Vertical Identity delivers it: included in the membership (DQF Pro included) or ordered in the same portal at a published price. The Core Compliance column shows what we found on corecompliance.io, checked October 14, 2026.
| What a carrier needs | Vertical Identity | Core Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring a driver | ||
| Online employment application49 CFR § 391.21 | IncludedDQF Pro application link, on a phone or computer; VID Intelligence reads the CDL and medical card | — Tracked as an uploaded document; an online application was not found |
| Previous-employer safety history, including drug and alcohol history49 CFR § 391.23(a)(2), (d), (e) | IncludedRequests sent and followed up in DQF Pro; employers answer online | — Tracked as an uploaded document; sending requests was not found |
| MVR from every state that licensed the driver49 CFR § 391.23(a)(1) | Published priceMember rate from $14.25 by state, all 50 states | — Tracked as an uploaded document; you order the MVR elsewhere |
| Clearinghouse pre-employment full query49 CFR § 382.701(a) | Published price$12 per query (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate) | — Tracked as an uploaded document; you run the query yourself |
| Pre-employment drug test49 CFR § 382.301 | Published price$69 member rate, collection and MRO review included | — Tracked as an uploaded document; ordering tests was not found |
| Medical certificate on file49 CFR § 391.41, § 391.51(b)(6) | IncludedFiled in DQF Pro; DOT physicals ordered at $129 | Medical certificate tracked with expiration alerts (from $15/mo) |
| Road test, or a CDL accepted in its place49 CFR § 391.31, § 391.33 | IncludedTracked and filed in DQF Pro | Road test certificate tracked |
| CDLIS reportRecommended | Published price$10 | — Not found |
| PSP reportRecommended · FMCSA program | Published price$20 | — Not found |
| Criminal background checkRecommended · FCRA, 15 U.S.C. § 1681b | Published price$39, run by Vertical Identity's own screening company | — Tracked as an uploaded document; ordering was not found |
| The testing program | ||
| Random testing pool and Certificate of Enrollment49 CFR § 382.305 | IncludedIncluded, with selection notices and DER reminders until the test is done | — Not found |
| Written drug and alcohol policy49 CFR § 382.601 | IncludedStandard policy included | — Safety policy acknowledgment tracked; the policy itself was not found |
| Supervisor reasonable-suspicion training49 CFR § 382.603 | Published price$55 per seat | — Not found |
| C/TPA designation in the Clearinghouse49 CFR § 382.705(c), § 382.711 | IncludedIncluded at no charge | — Not found |
| Every year | ||
| Annual Clearinghouse limited query49 CFR § 382.701(b) | Published price$12 per driver (our fee) | — Tracked as an uploaded document; you run the query yourself |
| Annual MVR and your signed review49 CFR § 391.25, § 391.51(b)(4)–(5) | Published priceReview signed and filed in DQF Pro; MVR at the member rate | Annual review tracked; the MVR comes from another provider |
| Medical card renewal tracking49 CFR § 391.45 | IncludedExpiration reminders in DQF Pro | Expiration alerts |
| The driver file | ||
| A driver qualification file for every driver49 CFR § 391.51 | IncludedDQF Pro, organized to the DOT checklist | 14 FMCSA document types, from $15/mo |
| Reminders before anything expiresAudit readiness | IncludedIncluded in DQF Pro | Weekly digest; alerts 10, 5 and 1 days before |
| Auditor export and access logAudit readiness | IncludedIncluded in DQF Pro | — Not found |
| Testing when it happens | ||
| Post-accident testing49 CFR § 382.303 | Published price$69 member rate, ordered any time from the portal | — Not found |
| Reasonable-suspicion testing49 CFR § 382.307 | Published price$69 member rate | — Not found |
| Return-to-duty and follow-up testing49 CFR § 382.309, § 382.311 | Published pricePost-SAP program; return-to-duty $119, follow-up $119 | — Not found |
| Covered (included or published price) | 23 of 23 | 5 of 23 |
All 23 with Vertical Identity: $85/year, driver files included. Switch from Core Compliance online in about five minutes.
How much does driver file software cost: Vertical Identity or Core Compliance?
DQF Pro alone is $48 per driver per year, or $199 a year for unlimited drivers. Core Compliance charges by tier: $15 a month for up to 5 drivers, $49 for up to 25, $149 for up to 100. Core Compliance's Tiny plan is lower than DQF Pro alone at 4 and 5 drivers, and than the full membership at 5 drivers. Above 5 drivers, DQF Pro costs less at every size, and the full Vertical Identity membership, random program included, tops out at $295 a year.
DQF Pro included with your random program
- $85/year first driver
- $25/year each additional driver
- $295/year flat, unlimited drivers
Random pool, Certificate of Enrollment, C/TPA designation and written policy, plus DQF Pro for every driver.
DQF Pro alone
- $48 per driver per year
- $199/year unlimited drivers
For carriers that already have a random program. About DQF Pro →
Published plans
- Tiny: $15/month, up to 5 drivers.
- Starter: $49/month, up to 25 drivers. Professional: $149/month, up to 100 drivers.
- Enterprise: "starting at" $349/month, unlimited drivers. An annual billing option is shown without its prices; 14-day trial.
| Drivers | DQF Pro alone | Membership: random program + DQF Pro | Core Compliance software | Software vs software |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 driver | $48/yr (1 × $48) | $85/yr (first driver) | $180/yr (Tiny, up to 5 drivers, 12 × $15/mo) | $132 less with DQF Pro alone |
| 5 drivers | $199/yr ($199 unlimited plan) | $185/yr ($85 + 4 × $25) | $180/yr (Tiny, up to 5 drivers, 12 × $15/mo) | Core Compliance is $19 lower |
| 10 drivers | $199/yr ($199 unlimited plan) | $295/yr (flat fleet plan, unlimited drivers) | $588/yr (Starter, up to 25 drivers, 12 × $49/mo) | $389 less with DQF Pro alone |
| 25 drivers | $199/yr ($199 unlimited plan) | $295/yr (flat fleet plan, unlimited drivers) | $588/yr (Starter, up to 25 drivers, 12 × $49/mo) | $389 less with DQF Pro alone |
Annual software cost only; reports and tests are extra on both sides. Core Compliance's Tiny plan is lower than DQF Pro alone at 4 and 5 drivers, and than the full membership at 5 drivers. Per driver, a full Core Compliance tier is lower than DQF Pro's per-driver rate ($23.52 a driver at 25 drivers on Starter, $17.88 at 100 on Professional), but DQF Pro's unlimited plan caps the year at $199, below a year of Starter ($588).
What does a carrier still need after buying DQF software? A random program, tests and screening.
Driver files are one part of compliance. The random program, the tests and the background reports still have to come from somewhere. At Vertical Identity they come from the same portal, at published prices.
Run your DOT random testing program
Vertical Identity: A spot in our random pool, a new Certificate of Enrollment every year, selection notices and DER reminders until the test is done (49 CFR § 382.305). Included in the membership: $85/year first driver, $25 each additional, $295/year unlimited, DQF Pro included.
Core Compliance: No random program, consortium or C/TPA service found on corecompliance.io.
Order drug and alcohol tests 24/7
Vertical Identity: Pre-employment, random, post-accident and reasonable-suspicion drug tests at $69, breath alcohol $59, drug and alcohol together $128, member rates. Collection and MRO review included; the driver takes a pre-paid electronic pass to one of 20,000+ collection sites.
Core Compliance: The pre-employment drug test is a document type you upload. Ordering tests was not found.
MVR, PSP, CDLIS and criminal background checks, by our own screening company
Vertical Identity: Vertical Identity is a background screening company too, so we run these ourselves: MVR member rate from $14.25 by state, PSP $20, CDLIS $10, criminal background check $39. CDLIS, PSP and criminal checks are recommended, not required.
Core Compliance: MVRs and criminal background checks are document types you upload after ordering them elsewhere; its FAQ says direct MVR integration is on its roadmap. PSP and CDLIS not found.
Be your C/TPA in the Clearinghouse
Vertical Identity: C/TPA designation at no charge for members; queries $12 per driver (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate). White-glove setup on a shared screen $199.
Core Compliance: Clearinghouse query results are a document type you upload; its FAQ says running queries is on its roadmap.
Policy and supervisor training
Vertical Identity: Standard written drug and alcohol policy included (§ 382.601); supervisor reasonable-suspicion training $55 a seat (§ 382.603).
Core Compliance: Tracks a signed safety policy acknowledgment; the policy and training were not found.
Testing when it happens
Vertical Identity: Post-accident and reasonable-suspicion tests at $69; Post-SAP return-to-duty $119 and follow-up $119, observed as the rules require.
Core Compliance: Not found.
Compliance is 23 line items, not one software plan. Vertical Identity covers all 23 in one portal; Core Compliance includes or publishes a price for 5.
Everything a compliance program should do, done in one place.
Driver qualification files, included.
DQF Pro comes with the $85/year membership, no add-on fee: a file for every driver organized to the DOT checklist, reminders before a medical card or CDL lapses, previous-employer requests tracked, and a complete file to hand an auditor any time.
Your random program, run for you.
A spot in our DOT random testing pool, a new Certificate of Enrollment every year, selection notices, and reminders to your DER until the test is done. Your selections are visible in the member portal any time.
Order drug and alcohol tests 24/7.
Order any test from the member portal at any hour. The driver gets a pre-paid electronic pass to take to one of 20,000+ collection sites nationwide. DOT drug test $69 at the member rate, with collection and Medical Review Officer review included.
MVRs, PSP, CDLIS and criminal background checks in the same portal.
Vertical Identity is also a background screening company, so we run these ourselves at published prices: MVR from $14.25 by state, PSP $20, CDLIS $10, criminal background check $39. Results land in the driver's file.
Hire a driver in one place.
Send one application link. VID Intelligence reads the driver's license and medical card and fills in the paperwork. Order the pre-hire checks, make your decision, then order the pre-employment test and Clearinghouse query, and the driver file builds itself.
Every price is published, live.
$85/year for the first driver, $25/year for each additional driver, $295/year flat for unlimited drivers. Every price on this page is read from our live price list. No quote call, no "contact us for pricing".
Clearinghouse handled two ways.
We're your C/TPA in the Clearinghouse at no charge: register on the FMCSA portal with our instructions and designate us. Or book the white-glove Clearinghouse Enrollment Setup ($199) and we do it with you on a shared screen. Queries are $12 per driver (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate).
Your written policy is included.
A standard written drug and alcohol policy and DOT guidebook come with the membership, the § 382.601 paperwork an auditor asks for first. A version completed with your company name, DER and effective date is $39.
Post-SAP program for drivers returning to duty.
Return-to-duty and follow-up tests ordered from the same portal: return-to-duty $119, follow-up $119, observed as the rules require.
DOT physicals near any driver.
Order a DOT physical ($129) with a certified medical examiner near the driver. The medical certificate goes into the driver's file.
Enroll in about five minutes, online.
Type your USDOT number and we pull the carrier name, address and driver count from FMCSA records. Your Certificate of Enrollment is generated the same day.
Real people, Monday to Friday 6 AM to 5 PM Arizona.
Call or text (602) 899-1606 and reach the team that runs your program, not a call center. The member portal stays open around the clock.
What carriers ask before switching
Don't see yours? Call or text (602) 899-1606.
Hours: Mon–Fri 6 AM – 5 PM AZ
[email protected]
Does Core Compliance include a DOT random testing program?
No random testing program was found. We found no random pool, consortium or C/TPA service on corecompliance.io (checked October 14, 2026); it is software that tracks the driver file documents you upload, with expiration alerts. A carrier using it still needs a separate consortium for § 382.305 random testing. Vertical Identity's membership is the random program, with DQF Pro driver files included: $85/year for the first driver, $25/year for each additional driver, or $295/year flat for unlimited drivers.
Is Core Compliance cheaper than DQF Pro?
Sometimes, for very small fleets. Core Compliance's Tiny plan is $15 a month ($180 a year) for up to 5 drivers. Core Compliance's Tiny plan is lower than DQF Pro alone at 4 and 5 drivers, and than the full membership at 5 drivers. DQF Pro alone is $48 per driver per year, capped at $199 a year for unlimited drivers, so above 5 drivers it costs less than Core Compliance at every size: at 10 or 25 drivers, $199 against $588 for a year of Core Compliance Starter. Core Compliance's annual-billing prices were not shown on its page, so its yearly figures here are 12 × the monthly price.
Can I buy only the DQF software from Vertical Identity?
Yes. DQF Pro alone is $48 per driver per year, or $199 a year for unlimited drivers, for carriers that already have a random program. If you also need a random program, the membership includes DQF Pro at no add-on fee, so you do not pay for both.
Can Core Compliance order MVRs or Clearinghouse queries?
Not today, per its own FAQ: you add MVRs and Clearinghouse query results yourself after ordering them elsewhere, and direct integrations are on its roadmap. Vertical Identity is a background screening company too (verticalid.com): MVRs (member rate from $14.25 by state), PSP ($20), CDLIS ($10) and criminal background checks ($39) are run by our own screening company, and Clearinghouse queries are $12 per driver (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate). Results land in the driver's file. MVRs are required; CDLIS, PSP and criminal checks are recommended, not required.
How do I switch from Core Compliance to Vertical Identity?
Enroll at members.verticalidentity.com/enroll from your DOT number; it takes about five minutes and your Certificate of Enrollment is generated the same day, with DQF Pro included. Download your driver documents from Core Compliance before you cancel. Questions: call or text (602) 899-1606, Monday to Friday 6 AM to 5 PM Arizona time.
Driver files and your random program, one portal.
Enroll online from your DOT number, get your Certificate of Enrollment the same day, and price the entire year before you pay for it. DQF Pro included for every driver, every other service at a published rate.