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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 a large corporation which has many wholly owned subsidiaries have one policy for the parent corporation and maintain the policy and the Form MCS-90 at the corporate headquarters? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q001 Need for large corporation with many subsidiaries to have more than one insurance policy
Are drivers required to draw continuous lines between the off-duty, sleeper berth, driving, and on-duty (not driving) lines on a record of duty status when changing their duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q13 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
What is the definition of "Certificate of Registration" in §387.7(b)(3)? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q002 Definition of “Certificate of Registration” in 49 CFR 387.7(b)(3)
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
What documents satisfy the requirement to show a shipping document number on a record of duty status as found in §395.8(d)(11)? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q14 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Question 1: May an entity other than a motor carrier maintain the evidence of inspector qualifications required by § 396.19(b)? FMCSA-VM-396.19-Q01 May a garage maintain evidence of inspector qualifications
If a driver from a foreign country only operates in the U.S. one day a week, is he required to keep a record of duty status for every day? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q15 FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q15
Is the financial responsibility requirement met when an owner-operator (lessor) provides the motor carrier (lessee) a copy of the policy and Form MCS-90 where the carrier is named as an additional insured to the policy (Form MCS-90)? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q004 Compliance with financial responsibility requirements where carrier leases vehicle from owner operator
Question 2: Is there a specific form or format to be used in ensuring that inspectors are qualified in accordance with § 396.19? FMCSA-VM-396.19-Q02.cm Is there an inspector qualification form?
Are drivers required to include their total on-duty time for the previous 7 to 8 days (as applicable) on the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q16 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status