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Regulatory Guidance

Welcome to the FMCSA Guidance Portal. This web portal is a searchable, indexed database that contains and links to all guidance documents in effect from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, unless expressly authorized by statute or incorporated into a contract.

To comment on any guidance document, or to request issuance, reconsideration, modification, or rescission of any guidance document, please identify the guidance document in your request and send it to: FMCSAguidance@dot.gov. NOTE: The FMCSAguidance mailbox is not intended to serve as a mailbox for general inquiries. For inquiries that go beyond the limited purpose of the FMCSAguidance mailbox, please call FMCSA's Information Line (800-832-5660) or visit FMCSA's "Contact Us" page to send your inquiry to the appropriate mailbox.

Subject Agency Identifier Sort ascending Topic Issued Date
Question 2: Is it the intent of § 396.9 to allow "out of service" vehicles to be towed? FMCSA-VM-396.9-Q002 Vehicle inspections
Question 1: Under what conditions may a vehicle that has been placed ‘‘out of service’’ under § 396.3 be moved? FMCSA-VM-396.9-Q001 Vehicle inspections
Question 2: § 396.3(b)(4) refers to a record of tests. What tests are required of push-out windows and emergency door lamps on buses? FMCSA-VM-396.3Q002 Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance
Question 5: Where must vehicle inspection and maintenance records be retained if a vehicle is not housed or maintained at a single location? FMCSA-VM-396.3-Q005 Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance
Question 4: Is computerized recordkeeping of CMV inspection and maintenance information permissible under § 396.3 of the FMCSRs? FMCSA-VM-396.3-Q004 Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance
Question 3: Who has the responsibility of inspecting and maintaining leased vehicles and their maintenance records? FMCSA-VM-396.3-Q003 Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance
Question 4: Would a mechanic who is employed by a leasing company and only works on CMVs that the leasing company leases to other motor carriers be required to meet the brake inspector certification requirements? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q04.cm Must a leasing company mechanic meet the brake inspector requirements?
Question 3: May a driver or other motor carrier employee be qualified as a brake inspector under § 396.25 by way of experience or training to perform brake adjustments without being qualified to perform other brake-related tasks such as the repair or repl FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q03.cm May a driver be qualified to perform brake adjustments, but not other tasks?
Question 2: May a driver who does not have the necessary experience perform the adjustment under directions issued by telephone by a qualified inspector? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q02.cm May driver adjust brakes under hone directions from qualified inspector?
Question 1: Does a CDL with an airbrake endorsement qualify a person as a brake inspector under § 396.25? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q01.cm CDL air brake endorsement as qualification for brake inspector