USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

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
If a driver is transported by automobile from the point of a breakdown to a terminal, and then dispatched on another run, how is the time spent in the automobile entered on the record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q24 Hours of Service Definitions
If a truck or truck tractor manufactured prior to July 25, 1980, and having 3 or more axles, has inoperable brakes on the front axle or some of the brake components are missing, would the vehicle be in violation of § 393.48? FMCSA-VEH-393.48-Q02 Is a pre-1980 CMV with inoperable front brakes in violation?
May a fifth wheel be considered as a coupling device when towing a semi-trailer in a driveaway-towaway operation? FMCSA-VEH-393.71-Q01 Use of fifth wheel when towing a trailer in driveaway-towaway operation
Does § 393.104(e) prohibit the use of securement devices for which manufacturing standards have not been incorporated by reference? FMCSA-RG-393.104Q01 Must carriers use only securement devices for which manufacturing standards have been incorporated by reference?
How will the SAP evaluation process differ if the employee is discharged by the employer rather than retained following a rule violation? FMCSA-D&A-382.605-Q5 Treatment of Discharged Employee
uestion 21: Is a DVIR required by a motor carrier operating only one tractor trailer combination? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q021 Driver vehicle inspection reports
Is a travel trailer or motor home that has propane cylinders attached subject to part 387 of the FMCSRs? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q009 Applicability of Part 387 to travel trailer or motor home with propane cylinders attached
Question 3: May a driver or other motor carrier employee be qualified as a brake inspector under § 396.25 by way of experience or training to perform brake adjustments without being qualified to perform other brake-related tasks such as the repair or repl FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q03.cm May a driver be qualified to perform brake adjustments, but not other tasks?
A motor carrier dispatches an empty CMV from State A into adjoining State B in order to transport cargo or passengers between two points in State B, and then to return empty to State A. Does the transportation of cargo or passengers within State B constit FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q013 Interstate commerce involving transportation within a single State
Can a truck tractor drawing a trailer be a driveaway-towaway operation? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q023 Trailers in driveaway-towaway operations