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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
What is the applicability of the FMCSRs to motor carriers owning and operating school buses that contract with a municipality to provide pupil transportation services? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q014 Applicability of FMCSRs to school bus contractors
Do the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) alcohol and controlled substances testing regulations apply to employers and drivers in U.S. territories or possessions such as Puerto Rico and Guam? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q06 Applicability of drug and alcohol testing requirements to employers and drivers domiciled in the U.S. territories or possessions such as Puerto Rico and Guam
Guidance on whether an employee who holds a CDL and may drive occasionally must be in a random testing pool FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q02 Guidance on whether an employee who holds a CDL and may drive occasionally must be in a random testing pool
Are automatic on-board recorders (AOBRDs) required to be designed and maintained to prevent team drivers in a non-driving duty status from making updates to their electronic record of duty status while the vehicle is in motion? FMCSA-ELD-HOS-395.15-Q04 When a non-driver may update their eROD
May a driver record sleeper berth time as off-duty time on line one of the record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q26 Hours of Service Exceptions
Does the term ‘‘rear wheels’’ include the tag axle on a bus/motorcoach? FMCSA-VEH-393.44-Q01 Does “rear wheels” include bus tag axles?
Do the FMCSRs specify a particular pressure relief system? FMCSA-VEH-393.67-Q02 Pressure relief systems
Are pressure gauges the only acceptable means for a visual determination that a fire extinguisher is fully charged? FMCSA-VEH-393.95-Q01 Visual determination that fire extinguisher is charged
What is the liability of a motor carrier for hours of service violations? FMCSA-HOS-395.3-Q07 Hours of Service Maximum Driving Time
Is a driver who works for a motor carrier on an occasional basis and who is regularly employed by a non-motor carrier entity required to submit either records of duty status or a signed statement regarding the hours of service for all on-duty time? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q11 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status