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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
Can an employee who has violated the rules return to safety-sensitive functions prior to receiving an SAP evaluation? FMCSA-D&A-382.605-Q7 Returning to Duty Before SAP Evaluation
May a large corporation which has many wholly-owned subsidiaries have one policy of insurance for the parent corporation and maintain the policy and Form MCS-90B at the corporate headquarters? FMCSA-INS-387.31-Q001 Need for large corporation with many subsidiaries to have more than one insurance policy
How would the DVIR requirements apply to a driver who works two or more shifts in a single calendar day? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q024 Driver vehicle inspection reports
May the step be a rung? If so, what minimum diameter must the rung be? FMCSA-RG-399.207-FAQ04 Access requirements for truck and truck-tractor cabs
What documentation must a driver claiming the 100-air-mile radius exemption (§395.1(e)) have in his/her possession? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q13 Hours of Service Exceptions
A driver returns to his/her normal work reporting location from a location beyond the 100-air-mile radius and goes off duty for 7 hours. May the driver return to duty after being off-duty for 7 hours and utilize the 100-air-mile radius exemption? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q22 Hours of Service Exceptions
Are there any special lighting requirements for large containers? FMCSA-VEH-393.25-Q02 Lighting requirements for large containers
May an employer or consortium include non-U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-covered employees in a random pool with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-covered employees? FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q15 Employers placing non-DOT -covered employees in a random pool
If a “driver trainer” occasionally drives a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), thereby becoming a “driver” (regardless of whether he/she is paid for driving), must the driver record all non driving (training) time as on-duty (not driving)? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q08 Hours of Service Definitions
May a fuel fill pipe opening be placed above the passenger floor level if it is not physically within the passenger compartment? FMCSA-VEH--393.65Q01 Placement of fuel pipe opening relative to passenger compartment