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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 employers report the results of drug or alcohol tests not required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ027 Guidance clarifying that non-DOT rest results may not be reported to the Clearinghouse
When are drivers subject to the DOT Drug and Alcohol testing requirements? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-FAQ003 Guidance on when a driver is subject to the FMCSA drug and alcohol testing requirements.
ELD Training Checklist for Motor Carriers: Understanding Your Device FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TRAINING-395-FAQ1 ELD Guidance
Brochure provides overview of the hours-of-service rules for drivers of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA-HOS-PASS-395-PASSENGER CARRIER HOURS OF SERVICE BROCHURE Passenger Carrier Hours of Service
May the CDL knowledge test be administered by a third party? FMCSA-CDL-383.75-Q01-RESCINDED Commercial Driver License Standards; Third Party Testing
Commercial Driver's License Standards, Requirements and Penalties; Notification of Updated Regulatory Guidance; Request for Comments, 84 Fed. Reg. 8464 FMCSA-FR-84FR8464-2019-03-08 Guidance for Commercial Drivers Licenses
Does a driver of either a tractor trailer or a straight truck that is converted into a mobile office need a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q7 Commercial Driver License Standards; Converted Mobile Offices
Part 380 Appendix – Entry level Driver Training (ELDT) Guidance Q&A Question 20: Are there specific hours of training mandated for the theory curricula? FMCSA-ELDT-380-Appendix-Q020 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
Does “designed to transport” as used in the definition of a CMV in § 383.5 mean original design or current design when a number of seats are removed? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Original Design
Must an operator of a CMV (as defined in § 383.5), who holds a CDL, notify his/her current employer of a conviction for violating a State or local (non-parking) traffic law in any type of motor vehicle, as required by § 383.31(b), even though the convicti FMCSA-CDL-383.31-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Notification of Convictions