Commercial driver abstract

Overview

The commercial driver abstract (CDA) provides the commercial carrier industry with accurate information on new and current commercial drivers.

Types of driver abstracts

A standard driver abstract provides information from an individual’s driving record, including:

• driver information (name, address, licence number and issue date)
• driver’s appearance (height, weight, sex)
• current status of the driver's licence
• conviction information for moving violations, with demerit points assigned by regulation
• demerit points
• suspensions
• administrative penalties for impaired driving

A commercial driver abstract (CDA) is compiled of all the same driving information that is listed on the standard driver abstract, but also includes:

• convictions for non-moving commercial violations (overload, hours of service, cargo securement, dangerous goods, mechanical)
• Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection results obtained while the driver was operating a commercial vehicle

Collisions are not shown on the CDA.

CDA violations

• “Offence Date” does not appear on driver abstracts. Instead, the term “Occurrence Date” is used for both a conviction and an administrative penalty for impaired driving.
• “Conviction Date” is used for a conviction record, while the term “Issuance Date” is used for an administrative penalty for impaired driving.

Users can request a 3-year, 5-year or 10-year CDA. The CDA includes all moving convictions, non-moving convictions and administrative penalties for impaired driving offences, as well as CVSA inspection results from the date the CDA is requested, going back 3, 5 or 10 years.

View a CDA sample report.

Demerit points

Demerit points are assessed only for specific moving violations. Read Demerit Point Program and Service of Documents Regulation for full details.

Although demerit points drop off a driver abstract after 2 years, the events themselves will continue to appear on the driver abstract for up to 10 years.

Request a CDA

You will need to have held an operator’s licence in Alberta at some point in the last 10 years to request a CDA.

If you have not been a commercial driver in the last 3 years, the standard driver abstract would be adequate for an employer.

If you are currently a commercial driver or have been a commercial driver in the past, an employer should request a CDA to give them the most accurate information about your driving history.

You can order a CDA through a registry agent or online. A verified Alberta.ca Account is required for online orders. 

Your CDA can also be requested by:

• your employer or prospective employer, who can ask you to sign a waiver allowing them to request your CDA on your behalf
• a police officer
• government employees to perform their duties, such as driver assessments

Fees

Note: You will not be able to renew your operator’s licence or request a driver abstract if you have unpaid fines.

It costs $15 for each requested abstract. Registry agents will also add a service charge.

If a commercial carrier has an “Excellent” safety fitness rating (as part of the Alberta Carrier Excellent Safety Program), they do not have to pay the $15 fee. Registry agent service charges still apply though.

There is no fee for requesting corrections to your CDA. A corrected copy can be mailed within 3 to 5 business days at no charge. However, if you require an immediate copy of your CDA once we have confirmed the corrections have been made, you will need to pay the $15 fee to receive an updated copy from a registry agent or online.

For moving violation errors on a standard driver abstract or a commercial driver abstract, contact:

Driver Fitness and Monitoring
Phone: 780-427-8230
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

For non-moving convictions and inspection errors on a commercial driver abstract, contact:

Carrier Compliance
Phone: 403-755-6111
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)