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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 Topic Issued Date
May the adverse driving conditions exception be used in concert with the revised short-haul provisions? FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ21 Hours of Service
May a driver use yard moves to satisfy the 30-minute break requirement? FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ20 Hours of Service
May a driver use on-duty not driving time during a roadside inspection to satisfy the 30-minute break? FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ19 Hours of Service
Does the 30-minute break have to be consecutive? FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ17 Hours of Service
Does the 30-minute break count against the 14-hour “driving window”? FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ18 Hours of Service
May a driver use the adverse driving conditions provision even if the adverse conditions have cleared when the driver arrives at the location where the condition occurred? FMCSA-HOS-2020-395-FAQ14 Hours of Service
Emergency Conditions Exceptions –Applicability to Civil Disturbance FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q28 HOS Emergency Conditions Exception -- Applicability to Civil Disturbance
Part 390 § 390.23 Relief from regulationsIs the driver required to use a paper logbook or ELD when providing direct assistance under an emergency declaration? FMCSA-RG-390.23-FAQ019 Emergency Declarations
Part 390 § 390.23 Relief from regulations Is the time spent driving to pick up a truck regulated as on duty time? FMCSA-RG-390.23-FAQ024 Emergency Declarations
If a driver is required repeatedly to respond to satellite or similar communications received during a 10-hour off-duty period (8-hour off-duty period for passenger transportation), does this activity affect a driver’s duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q31 Hours of Service Definitions