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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
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
A driver operates a combination vehicle with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more. The tractor is towing a semitrailer and a full trailer, each with a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds. Is this combination a Group A vehicle that requires a driver with a Class A FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q7 Commercial Driver License Standards; Bladder Bags
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
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 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
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
What is meant by leaving the scene of an accident involving a CMV? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q04 Commercial Driver License Standards; Leaving the Scene of an Accident
If a State disqualifies a driver for two convictions for serious traffic violations under § 383.51 and that driver is then reinstated and commits a third serious violation, what additional period of disqualification must be imposed on that driver? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q02 Commercial Driver License Standards; Driver Disqualification
Section 383.51 of the FMCSRs disqualifies a driver if certain offenses were committed while operating a CMV. Will the States be required to identify on the motor vehicle driver’s record the class of vehicle being operated when a violation occurs? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q03 Commercial Driver License Standards; Driver Disqualifications