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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
Do third party skills test examiners have to be qualified to administer skills tests in all types of CMVs? FMCSA-CDL-383.75-Q03 Commercial Driver License Standards; Third Party Testing, type of CMV
Must the State use the date of conviction, rather than the offense date, to calculate the starting and ending dates for the driver disqualification period specified in § 383.51? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q08 Commercial Driver License Standards; Date of Conviction
Is a driver who operates a truck tractor pulling a heavy-haul trailer attached to the tractor by means of a “jeep,” that meets the definition of a CMV under part 383 required to have a CDL with a double/triple trailer endorsement? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q07 Commercial Driver License Standards; Double/Triple Trailer Endorsements; Fifth Wheel
Do tow truck operators who hold a CDL require endorsements to tow “endorsable” vehicles? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q08 Commercial Driver License Standards; Towing; Emergency and First Moves
Must the State use the offense date or the conviction date to determine if two or more serious traffic *8472 convictions occurred within a 3-year period? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-GenQ09 Commercial Driver License Standards; Offense Date vs Conviction Date
Is a person who operates a custom motorcoach in commerce with a GVWR or GVW greater than 26,001 pounds required to have a passenger endorsement for his or her CDL if the vehicle is designed or used to transport fewer than 16 passengers, including the driv FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q12 Commercial Driver License Standards; Empty Tank Vehicle
Are employees of a governmental agency who drive emergency response vehicles that transport HM in quantities requiring placarding subject to the CDL regulations? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards; Emergency Vehicle HM Requirements
May a CDL skills test examiner conduct a driving skills test administered in accordance with part 383 before a person subject to 49 CFR part 382 is tested for alcohol and controlled substances? FMCSA-CDL-383.71-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Driver Application, Skills Testing
Is a person who operates a custom motorcoach in commerce with a GVWR or GVW greater than 26,001 pounds required to have a passenger endorsement for his or her CDL if the vehicle is designed or used to transport fewer than 16 passengers, including the dr FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q11 Commercial Driver License Standards; Heavy Straight Vehicles
Must a new State of record accept the out-of-State driving record on CDL transfer applications and include this record as a permanent part of the new State’s file? FMCSA-CDL-383.73-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards; State of Record transfer