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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
Is a driver training school required to keep a driver qualification file on each student? FMCSA-DQ-391.51-Q002 Driver qualification files
Is transporting an empty CMV across State lines for purposes of repair and maintenance considered interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q006
§391.15 Disqualification of drivers. FMCSA-DQ-391.15-Q003 Driver disqualification
May a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) driving skills test examiner conduct a driving skills test administered in accordance with 49 CFR part 383 before a person subject to part 382 is tested for alcohol and controlled substances? FMCSA-D&A-382.301-Q06 Guidance on whether a CDL driving skills test examiner may administer a driving skills test to a person subject to part 382 without first testing him/her for alcohol and controlled substances
Is it necessary for an owner-operator, who is not leased to a motor carrier, to belong to a consortium for random testing purposes? FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q11 Guidance on owner-operator joining consortium
When a driver fails to meet the provisions of the 100 air-mile radius exemption (section 395.1(e)), is the driver required to have copies of his/her records of duty status for the previous seven days? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q21 Hours of Service
Must a motor carrier respond to a third-party administrator’s request (as directed by the specific, written consent of the driver authorizing release of the information on behalf of an entity such as a motor carrier) to release driver information that is FMCSA-D&A-382.405-Q02 Drug & Alcohol Testing Records - Access
Is a warning device required in a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) with a single hydraulic brake system which uses the driveline parking brake as the emergency brake system? FMCSA-VEH-393.51-Q04 Is a warning device required on a hydraulic brake system with driveline parking brake as emergency brake?
Do the FMCSRs specify what type of horn is to be used on a CMV? FMCSA-VEH-393.81-Q01 Type of horn on CMV
Driver vehicle inspection reports FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q007 Driver vehicle inspection reports