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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 an automatic on-board recording device use an algorithm to identify the location of each change in duty status relative to the nearest city, town, or village? FMCSA-ELD-HOS-395.15-Q03 AOBRD use of algorithm
Is the exemption contained in §395.1(f) concerning department store deliveries during the period from December 10 to December 25 limited to only drivers employed by department stores? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q23 Hours of Service Exceptions
How should time spent in transit on a ferry boat be recorded? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q12
When the driver’s duty status changes, do §§395.8(c) or 395.8(h)(5) require a description of on-duty not driving activities in the remarks section in addition to the name of the nearest city, town or village followed by the State abbreviation? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q23 Requirements for on-duty not driving descriptions
How must the time spent operating a motor vehicle on the rails (roadrailers) be recorded? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q15 Hours of Service Definitions
May a driver change to and from a driver-salesman status at any time? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q18 Hours of Service Definitions
(395.8-Q12) FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q12 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
May a driver operate any motor vehicle, at the direction of the motor carrier, after being placed out of service for an hours of service violation? FMCSA-HOS-395.13-Q01 operation of motor vehicles when declared Out-of-Service
What hours-of-service regulations apply to drivers operating between the United States and Mexico or between the United States and Canada? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q01 Hours of Service
How does a driver record the hours spent driving in a school bus operation when he/she also drives a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for a company subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q21 Hours of Service Definitions