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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
Are Canadian and Mexican CDL drivers conducting operations in the United States subject to the Clearinghouse requirements? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.103-FAQ001 Guidance on Clearinghouse applicability to Canadian and Mexican Drivers and Carriers
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 FMCSA-CDL-383.75-Q01-RESCINDED Commercial Driver License Standards; Third Party Testing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
§380.719 – Requirements for continued listing on the training provider registry Guidance Q&A Question 12: Is there a fee associated with registering on the Training Provider Registry? FMCSA-ELDT-380.719-Q012 380.719, Entry Level Driver Training,, Training Provider Registry
May a State require persons operating recreational vehicles or other CMVs used by groups of people, including family members, for non-business purposes to have a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q6 Commercial Driver License Standards; Recreational Drivers
On May 9, 2011, FMCSA revised the definition of “tank vehicle” to include any CMV that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons or more that is either perm FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q8 Commercial Driver License Standards; Tank Vehicle
Does a driver who operates a straight truck equipped with a pintle hook towing a full trailer (a semitrailer equipped with a converter dolly) need a doubles/triples endorsement on his or her CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q09 Commercial Driver License Standards; Towing; Emergency and First Moves