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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
Question 26: Is the motor carrier official or agent who certifies that defects or deficiencies have been corrected or that correction was unnecessary required to be a mechanic or have training concerning commercial motor vehicle maintenance? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q026 Driver vehicle inspection reports
Question 1: Does a CDL with an airbrake endorsement qualify a person as a brake inspector under § 396.25? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q01.cm CDL air brake endorsement as qualification for brake inspector
Question 2: May a driver who does not have the necessary experience perform the adjustment under directions issued by telephone by a qualified inspector? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q02.cm May driver adjust brakes under hone directions from qualified inspector?
Question 3: May a driver or other motor carrier employee be qualified as a brake inspector under § 396.25 by way of experience or training to perform brake adjustments without being qualified to perform other brake-related tasks such as the repair or repl FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q03.cm May a driver be qualified to perform brake adjustments, but not other tasks?
Question 4: Would a mechanic who is employed by a leasing company and only works on CMVs that the leasing company leases to other motor carriers be required to meet the brake inspector certification requirements? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q04.cm Must a leasing company mechanic meet the brake inspector requirements?