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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 an inspector certify a CMV as meeting the periodic inspection standards of § 396.17 if he/she cannot see all components required to be inspected under appendix G? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q12.cm Inspection certification requires examining all components
Question 1: Can a violation-free CVSA Level I or Level V inspection be used to satisfy the periodic inspection requirements of § 396.17? FMCSA-VM-396.23-Q01.cm Does CVSA Level I or V inspection satisfy the periodic inspection requirement?
Question 2: § 396.3(b)(4) refers to a record of tests. What tests are required of push-out windows and emergency door lamps on buses? FMCSA-VM-396.3Q002 Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance
Does the definition of a ‘‘commercial motor vehicle’’ in § 390.5T of the FMCSRs include parking lot and/or street sweeping vehicles? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q015 Street-sweeping machines as CMVs
Applicability of FMCSRs when CMVs are off the road FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q016 Applicability of FMCSRs when CMVs are off the road
Are Alaskan drivers with a CDL who operate Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)s and have been waived from certain CDL requirements subject to controlled substances and alcohol testing? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q05 Applicability of part 382 to Alaskan Drivers
May an automatic on-board recording device use an algorithm to identify the location of each change in duty status relative to the nearest city, town, or village? FMCSA-ELD-HOS-395.15-Q03 AOBRD use of algorithm
If an interstate driver gets stopped by a State enforcement officer for an inspection, would the inspecting officer be enforcing the Federal regulations or State regulations? FMCSA-RG-390.9-Q001 Regulations enforced by State officers
How must a driver record time spent on-call awaiting dispatch? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q20 Hours of Service Definitions
§ 393.42(b)(3) of the FMCSRs states that any full trailer, any semitrailer, or any pole trailer having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less must be equipped with brakes FMCSA-VEH-393.42-Q03 Must manufacturer install brakes on certain lightweight trailers?