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. FMCSA may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on this Guidance Portal, except to establish historical facts.

This Guidance Portal represents the exclusive source of guidance that the FMCSA has determined is in effect. In accordance with Executive Order 13891 and OMB Memorandum M-20-02, any previously issued guidance that does not appear in the Guidance Portal is considered rescinded and of no legal effect.

For more information regarding the procedures associated with the development and issuance of DOT guidance documents, please see the Department’s regulations on “Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures” (December 27, 2019). To comment on any guidance document, or to request issuance, reconsideration, modification, or rescission of any guidance document in accordance with 49 CFR 5.41, send your request to: FMCSAguidance@dot.gov. Please identify the guidance document in your request.