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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
The definition of a passenger CMV is a vehicle ‘‘designed to transport’’ more than 15 passengers, including the driver. Does that include standing passengers if the vehicle was specifically designed to accommodate standees? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q025 Does passenger capacity include standing passengers
Footnote 5, requires that each converter dolly be equipped with turn signals at the rear FMCSA-VEH-393.11-Q03 Turn signals at the rear of converter dolly
Are the reasonable suspicion testing and training requirements of §§382.307 and 382.603 applicable to an owner-operator who is both an employer and the only employee? FMCSA-D&A-382.307-Q04 Drug & Alcohol Testing – Reasonable Suspicion
Is the driver allowed to record his stops during a tour of duty as off-duty time when the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is laden with HM and the CMV is parked in a truck stop parking lot? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q04 Hours of Service Definitions
May a vehicle transport HM when equipped with retreaded tires? FMCSA-VEH-393.75-Q02 Retreaded tires to transport hazardous material
If an item of construction equipment which weighs less than 4,536 kg (10,000 lb.) is transported on a flatbed or drop-deck trailer, must the accessory equipment be lowered to the deck of the trailer? FMCSA-VEH-393.130-Q01 Must cargo weighing less than 10,000 pounds be transported on the deck of a trailer?
Does § 396.11 require a separate DVIR for each vehicle in a combination of vehicles or is one report adequate to cover the entire combination? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q005 Driver vehicle inspection reports
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
Are Government-owned trailers operated by private carriers subject to periodic inspection? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q06.cm Are Government-owned trailers operated by private carriers subject to period inspection?
How does a Mexican motor carrier prove that it is complying with §387.7? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q003 Proof of required financial responsibility by Mexican motor carrier