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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
Does the word “issuing” as used in § 383.73(b) include both temporary 60-day CDLs and permanent CDLs? FMCSA-CDL-383.73-Q03 Commercial Driver License Standards; CDL Issuance
§380.707 – Entry-level training provider Guidance Q&A Question 8: Who can provide entry-level driver training (ELDT)? FMCSA-ELDT-380.707-Q008 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
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
§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 exempt CMV drivers employed by farm cooperatives from the CDL requirements under the farmer waiver (§ 383.3(d))? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q22 Commercial Driver License Standards; Farm Cooperatives
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
When accepting an applicant transferring from another State whose record reveals a disqualifying conviction for which the originating State did not take a disqualifying action, is the transferee State required to take the disqualifying action? FMCSA-STCDL-384.231-Q01 Guidance on the requirement for transferee start to take disqualification action for conviction for which originating state did not disqualify driver
§380.721 – Removal from training provider registry: factors considered Guidance Q&A Question 16: What steps will the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) take if a training provider fails to meet or falsely certifies that they meet State-b FMCSA-ELDT-380.721-Q016 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training