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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
One definition of CMV is a vehicle “designed to transport” 16 or more passengers, including the driver. Does that include standing passengers if the vehicle was specifically designed to accommodate standees? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q4 Commercial Driver License Standards; Designed to Transport
If a CDL holder was convicted of one “excessive speeding” (15 or more miles over the speed limit) violation in a CMV and the same violation in his/her personal vehicle, would the driver be disqualified? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards; Driver Disqualification
On May 9, 2011, FMCSA revised the definition of “tank vehicle.” Does the new definition cover the transportation of empty Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) or other tanks, or empty storage tanks? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q9 Commercial Driver License Standards; Tank Vehicle
Is a person from Puerto Rico required to surrender his or her driver’s license in order to obtain a non-domiciled CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.21-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Puerto Rico CDL
Must operators of motor graders or motor scrapers obtain CDLs and be subject to controlled substances and alcohol testing if they operate the equipment on public roads? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q5 Commercial Driver License Standards; Motor Graders, Scrapers
When a State agency contracts with private parties for services involving the operation of CMVs, is the State agency or contractor considered the employer? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q2 Commercial Driver License Standards; State Contracts
§383.133 – Test Methods Guidance Q&A Question 1: May a sign language interpreter be used for the commercial driver’s license (CDL) general knowledge test? FMCSA-CDL-383.133-Q001 Commercial Driver License Standards; General Knowledge Test
§380.603 – Applicability (ELDT) Guidance Q&A Question 1: Who is subject to entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements? FMCSA-ELDT-380.603-Q001 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
When a driver (a) receives an Administrative Order of Suspension due to a blood alcohol reading in excess of the legal limit with notice that the suspension is not to be effective until 45 days after the notice or after an administrative hearing, and (b) FMCSA-CDL-383.33-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Administrative Order of Suspension
Must an operator of a CMV (as defined in § 383.5), who holds a CDL, notify his/her current employer of a conviction for violating a State or local (non-parking) traffic law in any type of motor vehicle, as required by § 383.31(b), even though the convicti FMCSA-CDL-383.31-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Notification of Convictions