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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
When an interstate tow truck operator responds to a request for assistance from a Federal, State or local police officer to move wrecked or disabled motor vehicles, what should the Record of Duty Status (RODS) required by Section 395.8 reflect for the tim FMCSA-RG-390.23-Q005 RODS entry for tow trucks responding to police call
Does the exception in §395.1(k) for “drivers transporting agricultural commodities or farm supplies for agricultural purposes” cover the transportation of poultry or poultry feed? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.1-FAQ30 Hours of Service Agricultural Commodities
If a driver drives in a non-commercial vehicle to take a physical examination, should the duty status be recorded as on-duty not driving, or as off-duty? Would the answer change if the motor carrier directs the driver to go for the examination? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q32 Hours of Service Definitions
Must a motor carrier that uses a 100-air-mile radius driver write zero (0) hours on the time record for each day the driver is off duty (not working for the motor carrier)? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-FAQ29 Hours of Service
When can a movement of a CMV during an off-duty period be considered personal conveyance? FMCSA-HOS-PC-395.8-FAQ12 Personal Conveyance guidance
Does fuel used in the production of agricultural commodities qualify as “farm supplies” under 49 CFR 395.1(k)? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.1-FAQ31 Hours of Service Agricultural Commodities
FAQ 1: Does the definition of “livestock” in § 395.2 include llamas, alpacas, live fish, and crawfish, as added by the 2018 amendment to the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.2-FAQ001 Hours of Service Exceptions
Does § 390.23 create an exemption from the FMCSRs each and every time the delivery of electricity is interrupted, no matter how isolated or minor the occurrence? FMCSA-RG.390.23-Q001 Applicability of emergency exception to electrical outages
Would a driver delivering an empty commercial motor vehicle designed or used to carry passengers, from the manufacturer or distributor to a dealer be required to comply with the hours-of-service regulations for passenger-carrying drivers? FMCSA-HOS-395.5-Q01 Hours of Service Maximum Driving Time
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