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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
A person is transported to a hospital from the scene of a commercial motor vehicle traffic accident. FMCSA-RG-390.5T-FAQ027-RESCINDED “Medical treatment” that triggers “accident” classification
If an employee admits to alcohol misuse or drug use, when is it appropriate for the employer to apply the exception in §382.121? FMCSA-D&A-382.121-FAQ002 Employee admission of alcohol and controlled substances use
If (1) a driver has a verified positive test result for controlled substances or an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater and (2) the driver subsequently obtains a verified negative result for controlled substances or a test result of less than 0.04 al FMCSA-D&A-382.503-FAQ001 Guidance on whether employer may accept subsequent test results
Does a foreign-based motor carrier’s accident register have to include accidents that occur in Canada or Mexico? FMCSA-RG-390.15-FAQ004 Canadian/Mexican motor carrier accident reports for accidents in Canada/Mexico
Section § 385.415: What operational requirements apply to the transportation of a hazardous material for which a permit is required? FMCSA-HMSP-385.415-Q001 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
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
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
Is a driver training school required to keep a driver qualification file on each student? FMCSA-DQ-391.51-Q002 Driver qualification files
A motor carrier uses a consortium/third party administrator (C/TPA) to conduct its random selection of driver names. The C/TPA has many motor carriers in its random selection pool. The C/TPA has set up its random selection program to pick driver names and FMCSA-D&A-382.305-FAQ013 Applicability of Section § 382.305
Are motor vehicles being transported considered to be HM for purposes of the financial responsibility requirements, thus requiring the higher limits set forth in the regulations? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q008 Whether motor vehicles being transported are considered hazardous materials for purposes of the financial responsibility requirements