Driver files, owner-operator leases and broker agreements, signed from the cab
Drivers are rarely near a printer. The application, the drug and alcohol policy receipt and the owner-operator lease all need a signature, and the safety manager needs them in the file before the first dispatch. FMCSA rules allow electronic signatures on the records they require, so SignMaster sends each document to the driver's phone and keeps a signed copy with a certificate of who signed, when and from where.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
On this page
What a carrier gets signed
| Document | Who signs | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Application for employment | The driver | Part of the driver qualification file; the applicant must sign it |
| Drug and alcohol policy receipt | Each driver | The carrier needs a signed receipt for its policy materials |
| Owner-operator lease agreement | The owner-operator and the carrier | Truth-in-leasing rules require a written lease signed by both |
| Broker-carrier agreement | The broker and the carrier | Sets rates, payment terms, liability and claims handling |
| Annual review acknowledgment | The driver | Documents the yearly review of the driving record |
| Company policies and handbook | Every driver | Equipment use, cell phones, passengers and pets |
49 CFR 390.32 lets carriers use electronic documents and signatures for the records FMCSA requires, as long as the signature identifies the signer and shows they approved what the record says. SignMaster records each signer's consent, email, time and IP address on the certificate of completion, and the signed PDF carries a SHA-256 fingerprint that shows any later change.
Hiring a driver from the road
- 1
Send the application
Turn your employment application into a template with the fields the regulation asks for: addresses for the past three years, licenses, the employment history, and the driving record. Send it to the candidate's email.
- 2
Collect the uploads
Attachment fields take a photo of the CDL, the medical examiner's certificate and any endorsements, straight from the driver's phone.
- 3
Add the policy receipt
Put the drug and alcohol policy receipt and your company policies in the same envelope, SignMaster's word for one send, so the driver signs everything in one sitting.
- 4
File it
When the driver signs, the safety manager gets the sealed PDF by email and the uploads stay with the envelope for the qualification file.
Clearinghouse queries have their own consent steps inside the FMCSA Clearinghouse, so handle those there. Background checks need a standalone disclosure; keep it as its own document.
Owner-operator leases
Truth-in-leasing rules in 49 CFR 376.12 spell out what an owner-operator lease must say, including the duration, compensation, chargebacks and escrow terms, and require it to be signed by both parties. Keep your lease as a template with the truck, the pay rate and the escrow amount as fields, and send it with signing in order: the owner-operator first, then your company. Each side gets the same signed copy.
Policy updates for the whole fleet
When a policy changes, export your driver list to a CSV and bulk send the acknowledgment, one envelope per driver. Solo sends up to 250 rows at a time, Crew 500 and Company 1000.
Brokers and shippers
Broker-carrier agreements and carrier packets move faster by link than by fax. Send your packet with the W-9, the insurance certificate as an upload and the agreement, and let the broker's contracts team sign from their computer. Rate confirmations and bills of lading usually live in the TMS or the broker's portal, so keep them there.
Drivers can read the signing page, emails and e-signature consent in 6 languages, including Spanish and Vietnamese. Your policies stay in the language you wrote them.
Pricing for a carrier
Crew is $49 a month for 5 people, so the safety manager, recruiting and dispatch can send, and it adds webhooks for your TMS. Company covers 15 people for $99 a month. A small fleet can use Solo at $15. New workspaces get 14 days of Crew free. See every plan.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It isn't a TMS or an ELD, and it doesn't handle bills of lading or proof of delivery.
- It doesn't run MVRs, background checks or Clearinghouse queries.
- It emails signing links. Recruiters can copy a driver's link and text it.
Questions? Answers.
Can a driver application be signed electronically?
Yes. FMCSA's rule at 49 CFR 390.32 allows electronic signatures on required records. The driver signs from a link on their phone, and the certificate records who signed and when.
Can owner-operators sign a lease agreement online?
Yes. Send the lease with signing in order so the owner-operator signs first and your company countersigns. Both get the same sealed PDF.
Can drivers upload their CDL and medical card?
Yes. Add Attachment fields, and the driver takes a photo or picks a file on their phone while signing.
Does it work without signal?
No. The phone needs a connection while the driver signs. A truck stop's Wi-Fi is enough.