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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
Are drivers required to include their total on-duty time for the previous 7 to 8 days (as applicable) on the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q16 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Can military time be used on the grid portion of the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q17 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
If a company owns more than one motor carrier subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, may the company use logs listing the names of all such motor carrier employers and require the driver to identify the carrier for which he or she drives FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q18 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Is this “mandatory information” that required of a normal RODS under section 395.8(d) or that of the 100 air-mile radius exemption under section 395.1(e)(5)? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q19 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
What is the carrier’s liability when its drivers falsify records of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q21 liability for false records
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
When must a driver complete the signature/certification of the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q24 certification of RODS
Is a driver (United States or foreign) required to maintain a record of duty status (log book) in a foreign country before entering the U.S.? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q25 RODS requirement in foreign country prior to entering the US
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
May a driver operating a CMV under a lease arrangement with a motor carrier, after being placed out of service for an hours of service violation, cancel the lease and continue to operate the vehicle as a private personal conveyance? FMCSA-HOS-395.13-Q02 Lease arrangements and out of service declarations