diff --git a/build/Dockerfile b/build/Dockerfile
index ebf41a3b..6c8f8a5a 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile
+++ b/build/Dockerfile
@@ -33,13 +33,14 @@ ENV CC=musl-gcc
 
 ARG GIT_VERSION=dev
 ARG GIT_COMMIT=unknown
+ARG BUILD_TIME=unknown
 
 RUN go build \
   -mod vendor \
   -tags musl \
   -trimpath \
   -installsuffix cgo \
-  -ldflags "-s -w -linkmode external -extldflags '-static -Wl,--as-needed -Wl,--gc-sections -Wl,-O1' -X main.version=${GIT_VERSION} -X main.gitCommit=${GIT_COMMIT}" \
+  -ldflags "-s -w -linkmode external -extldflags '-static -Wl,--as-needed -Wl,--gc-sections -Wl,-O1' -X queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build.version=${GIT_VERSION} -X queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build.gitCommit=${GIT_COMMIT} -X queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build.buildTime=${BUILD_TIME}" \
   -o bin/ ./cmd/...
 
 FROM scratch AS final
diff --git a/cmd/clientSyncRunner/main.go b/cmd/clientSyncRunner/main.go
index fdd20e59..1e0a3b9c 100644
--- a/cmd/clientSyncRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/clientSyncRunner/main.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	clientsyncrunner "queryorchestration/api/clientSyncRunner"
 	clientsync "queryorchestration/internal/client/sync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/documentsync"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -24,6 +25,9 @@ type ClientSyncConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("clientSyncRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &ClientSyncConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/docCleanRunner/main.go b/cmd/docCleanRunner/main.go
index b358d9fd..5b602f75 100644
--- a/cmd/docCleanRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/docCleanRunner/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	doccleanrunner "queryorchestration/api/docCleanRunner"
 	documentclean "queryorchestration/internal/document/clean"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/objectstore"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/documenttext"
 
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ type DocCleanConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("docCleanRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &DocCleanConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/docInitRunner/main.go b/cmd/docInitRunner/main.go
index 2dcc8ff4..92e64a70 100644
--- a/cmd/docInitRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/docInitRunner/main.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	docinitrunner "queryorchestration/api/docInitRunner"
 	documentinit "queryorchestration/internal/document/init"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	documentsyncc "queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/documentsync"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ type DocInitConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("docInitRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &DocInitConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/docSyncRunner/main.go b/cmd/docSyncRunner/main.go
index 3cdff8f3..8540ceb5 100644
--- a/cmd/docSyncRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/docSyncRunner/main.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"queryorchestration/internal/document"
 	documentsync "queryorchestration/internal/document/sync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	documentcleanc "queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/documentclean"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -30,6 +31,9 @@ type DocSyncConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("docSyncRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &DocSyncConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/docTextRunner/main.go b/cmd/docTextRunner/main.go
index 0538bf40..3891959d 100644
--- a/cmd/docTextRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/docTextRunner/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	doctextrunner "queryorchestration/api/docTextRunner"
 	documenttext "queryorchestration/internal/document/text"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/objectstore"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/querysync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/textract"
@@ -30,6 +31,9 @@ type DocTextConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("docTextRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &DocTextConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/healthcheck/main.go b/cmd/healthcheck/main.go
index 6bddea8f..85fcfed9 100644
--- a/cmd/healthcheck/main.go
+++ b/cmd/healthcheck/main.go
@@ -5,9 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
+
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 )
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("healthcheck")
+
 	err := check()
 	if err != nil {
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/cmd/queryAPI/main.go b/cmd/queryAPI/main.go
index c9930ce8..ea61c112 100644
--- a/cmd/queryAPI/main.go
+++ b/cmd/queryAPI/main.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"queryorchestration/internal/query/result"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/api"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/objectstore"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/clientsync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/queryversionsync"
@@ -57,6 +58,9 @@ type QueryAPIConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("queryAPI")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &QueryAPIConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/queryRunner/main.go b/cmd/queryRunner/main.go
index 8d610ccd..d48c166d 100644
--- a/cmd/queryRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/queryRunner/main.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	resultset "queryorchestration/internal/query/result/set"
 	resultsync "queryorchestration/internal/query/result/sync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	queryc "queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/query"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ type QueryConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("queryRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &QueryConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/querySyncRunner/main.go b/cmd/querySyncRunner/main.go
index 67d2dae9..1dfe3983 100644
--- a/cmd/querySyncRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/querySyncRunner/main.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	resultsync "queryorchestration/internal/query/result/sync"
 	querysync "queryorchestration/internal/query/sync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	queryc "queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/query"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ type QuerySyncConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("querySyncRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &QuerySyncConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/queryVersionSyncRunner/main.go b/cmd/queryVersionSyncRunner/main.go
index c4c2c8f4..0dbe19d9 100644
--- a/cmd/queryVersionSyncRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/queryVersionSyncRunner/main.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	queryversionsyncrunner "queryorchestration/api/queryVersionSyncRunner"
 	queryversionsync "queryorchestration/internal/query/versionsync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/clientsync"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -24,6 +25,9 @@ type QueryVersionSyncConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("queryVersionSyncRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &QueryVersionSyncConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/storeEventRunner/main.go b/cmd/storeEventRunner/main.go
index db29fb41..e6665298 100644
--- a/cmd/storeEventRunner/main.go
+++ b/cmd/storeEventRunner/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	storeeventrunner "queryorchestration/api/storeEventRunner"
 	documentstore "queryorchestration/internal/document/store"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/server/runner"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/documentinit"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
@@ -26,6 +27,9 @@ type StoreEventConfig struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("storeEventRunner")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	cfg := &StoreEventConfig{}
diff --git a/cmd/textExtractor/main.go b/cmd/textExtractor/main.go
index b3b649ca..797c3cb5 100644
--- a/cmd/textExtractor/main.go
+++ b/cmd/textExtractor/main.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/aws"
+	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/build"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/objectstore"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/queue/querysync"
 	"queryorchestration/internal/serviceconfig/textract"
@@ -27,6 +28,9 @@ type Config struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// Print version information before any environment checks
+	build.PrintVersionInfo("textExtractor")
+
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	directory := "files/"
diff --git a/internal/server/server.go b/internal/server/server.go
index f64c7d4a..95de8963 100644
--- a/internal/server/server.go
+++ b/internal/server/server.go
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (func() error, error) {
 
 	version := build.GetVersion()
 	if cfg.GetLogger() != nil {
-		cfg.GetLogger().Info("Starting", "version", version)
+		cfg.GetLogger().Info("Starting",
+			"version", version,
+			"buildTime", build.GetBuildTime(),
+			"commit", build.GetGitCommit())
 	}
 
 	err := database.RunMigrations(ctx, cfg)
diff --git a/internal/serviceconfig/build/build.go b/internal/serviceconfig/build/build.go
index e9f5175a..fcf8e61a 100644
--- a/internal/serviceconfig/build/build.go
+++ b/internal/serviceconfig/build/build.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package build
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -11,6 +12,13 @@ const (
 	SystemName = "doczy"
 )
 
+// These variables will be set via ldflags during build
+var (
+	version   = "(devel)"
+	gitCommit = "unknown"
+	buildTime = "unknown"
+)
+
 func IsValidUnixVersion(v int64) error {
 	currentVersion := GetVersionUnixTimestamp()
 
@@ -60,8 +68,9 @@ func GetVersionUnixTimestamp() int64 {
 	return GetVersionTimestamp().UnixMilli()
 }
 
-// GetVersion returns the version of the application in the Golang build info format.
-// This is a raw format and will change depending on the build environment and the git tags.
+// GetVersion returns the version of the application.
+// It first checks if a version was set via ldflags during build.
+// If not set via ldflags, it falls back to the Golang build info format.
 // When building from a commit with an associated Git tag (e.g., v1.2.3),
 //
 //	the runtime version uses the tag name without a timestamp.
@@ -72,9 +81,44 @@ func GetVersionUnixTimestamp() int64 {
 //
 // An example of a version v0.0.2-0.20250310175756-a91372dc0602+dirty.
 func GetVersion() string {
+	// Check if version was set via ldflags
+	if version != "" && version != "(devel)" {
+		return version
+	}
+
+	// Fall back to debug.ReadBuildInfo
 	info, ok := debug.ReadBuildInfo()
 	if !ok {
 		return "unknown"
 	}
 	return info.Main.Version
 }
+
+// GetGitCommit returns the git commit hash set during build.
+// Returns "unknown" if not set via ldflags.
+func GetGitCommit() string {
+	return gitCommit
+}
+
+// GetBuildTime returns the build time set during build.
+// Returns "unknown" if not set via ldflags.
+func GetBuildTime() string {
+	return buildTime
+}
+
+// PrintVersionInfo prints version information to stderr.
+// This should be called at the very beginning of main() before any environment checks.
+// It prints to stderr to ensure output even if stdout is redirected or logging isn't initialized.
+// Format: Starting <service> version=<version> buildTime=<buildTime> commit=<commit>
+func PrintVersionInfo(serviceName string) {
+	// If version already contains timestamp and commit (format: YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS-commit),
+	// just use that. Otherwise, construct from parts.
+	if version != "(devel)" && version != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Starting %s version=%s buildTime=%s commit=%s\n",
+			serviceName, version, buildTime, gitCommit)
+	} else {
+		// Fallback format when not built via Docker
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Starting %s version=%s commit=%s\n",
+			serviceName, GetVersion(), GetGitCommit())
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/serviceconfig/build/build_test.go b/internal/serviceconfig/build/build_test.go
index 79eccf6b..3bdc99da 100644
--- a/internal/serviceconfig/build/build_test.go
+++ b/internal/serviceconfig/build/build_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 package build
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"os"
 	"runtime/debug"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -129,3 +132,125 @@ func TestGetVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Version not consistent between calls: '%s' != '%s'", version, version2)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGetGitCommit(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test that GetGitCommit returns a non-empty string
+	commit := GetGitCommit()
+	if commit == "" {
+		t.Error("Git commit should not be empty")
+	}
+
+	// In test environment, it should return the default value
+	if commit != "unknown" && commit != gitCommit {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected commit value: %s", commit)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGetBuildTime(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test that GetBuildTime returns a non-empty string
+	bt := GetBuildTime()
+	if bt == "" {
+		t.Error("Build time should not be empty")
+	}
+
+	// In test environment, it should return the default value
+	if bt != "unknown" && bt != buildTime {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected build time value: %s", bt)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrintVersionInfo(t *testing.T) {
+	// Save original stderr
+	oldStderr := os.Stderr
+	defer func() { os.Stderr = oldStderr }()
+
+	// Create a pipe to capture stderr
+	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
+	os.Stderr = w
+
+	// Test 1: PrintVersionInfo with default values (devel)
+	t.Run("with devel version", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Save original values
+		originalVersion := version
+		originalCommit := gitCommit
+		originalBuildTime := buildTime
+
+		// Set test values
+		version = "(devel)"
+		gitCommit = "testcommit"
+		buildTime = "testtime"
+
+		// Call PrintVersionInfo
+		PrintVersionInfo("testService")
+
+		// Close writer and read output
+		w.Close()
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		_, err := buf.ReadFrom(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to read from pipe: %v", err)
+		}
+		output := buf.String()
+
+		// Check output contains expected parts
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "Starting testService") {
+			t.Errorf("Output should contain service name, got: %s", output)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "version=") {
+			t.Errorf("Output should contain version, got: %s", output)
+		}
+
+		// Restore original values
+		version = originalVersion
+		gitCommit = originalCommit
+		buildTime = originalBuildTime
+	})
+
+	// Create new pipe for second test
+	r2, w2, _ := os.Pipe()
+	os.Stderr = w2
+
+	// Test 2: PrintVersionInfo with custom values
+	t.Run("with custom version", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Save original values
+		originalVersion := version
+		originalCommit := gitCommit
+		originalBuildTime := buildTime
+
+		// Set test values
+		version = "20231201.123456-abc123"
+		gitCommit = "abc123def456"
+		buildTime = "2023-12-01T12:34:56Z"
+
+		// Call PrintVersionInfo
+		PrintVersionInfo("customService")
+
+		// Close writer and read output
+		w2.Close()
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		_, err := buf.ReadFrom(r2)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to read from pipe: %v", err)
+		}
+		output := buf.String()
+
+		// Check output contains all expected parts
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "Starting customService") {
+			t.Errorf("Output should contain service name, got: %s", output)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "version=20231201.123456-abc123") {
+			t.Errorf("Output should contain version, got: %s", output)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "buildTime=2023-12-01T12:34:56Z") {
+			t.Errorf("Output should contain build time, got: %s", output)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(output, "commit=abc123def456") {
+			t.Errorf("Output should contain commit, got: %s", output)
+		}
+
+		// Restore original values
+		version = originalVersion
+		gitCommit = originalCommit
+		buildTime = originalBuildTime
+	})
+}
diff --git a/scripts/docker.yml b/scripts/docker.yml
index 4c84411b..830061b9 100644
--- a/scripts/docker.yml
+++ b/scripts/docker.yml
@@ -5,8 +5,12 @@ version: "3"
 
 vars:
   DOCKERFILE: "build/Dockerfile"
+  BUILD_TIME:
+    sh: date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"
+  GIT_SHORT_COMMIT:
+    sh: git rev-parse --short HEAD
   GIT_VERSION:
-    sh: git describe --tags --always
+    sh: echo "$(date -u +"%Y%m%d.%H%M%S")-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)"
   GIT_COMMIT:
     sh: git rev-parse HEAD
 
@@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ tasks:
       docker build \
         --build-arg "GIT_VERSION={{.GIT_VERSION}}" \
         --build-arg "GIT_COMMIT={{.GIT_COMMIT}}" \
+        --build-arg "BUILD_TIME={{.BUILD_TIME}}" \
         --build-arg BUILDKIT_INLINE_CACHE=1 \
         -t {{.IMAGE_NAME}}:latest \
         -t {{.IMAGE_NAME}}:{{.GIT_VERSION}} \
@@ -32,5 +37,6 @@ tasks:
       docker build \
         --build-arg "GIT_VERSION={{.GIT_VERSION}}" \
         --build-arg "GIT_COMMIT={{.GIT_COMMIT}}" \
+        --build-arg "BUILD_TIME={{.BUILD_TIME}}" \
         -t {{.IMAGE_NAME}}:debug \
         -f build/Dockerfile.debug .