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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
Would server‐based events (e.g., edits and assignment of unassigned events) generate a different sequence ID than that generated by the ELD? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ27 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
Would it be acceptable for the data transfer to be initiated by the electronic logging device (ELD) but relayed through and communicated to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Service from the provider’s backend? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ66(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
Will the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) collect State enforcement agency data transfer capabilities/preferences? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ68(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
If a driver operates with multiple commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), which CMV’s records must be included in the ELD file? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ71(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
How should an ELD respond to battery issues, such as an ELD battery dying due to high temperatures or when charge power runs out? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ32 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
For ELD Event Annotations or Comments records in sections 4.8.2.1.5 (ELD Data File) of 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, Appendix A, what do the <{Event} Date> and <{Event} Time> refer to? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ75(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
For telematics data transfer, which email address should be used in the recipient field? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ78(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
Why does an ELD provider need to submit a public key? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ97 ELD Guidance
How will the ELD display screen or printout reflect special driving categories; yard moves and personal conveyance? FMCSA-ELD-395Q11 ELD Guidance
Can the electronic logging device (ELD) information packet be in electronic form? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-395-FAQ005(2017-07-12)-CORR1 ELD Guidance