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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
May an automatic on-board recording device use an algorithm to identify the location of each change in duty status relative to the nearest city, town, or village? FMCSA-ELD-HOS-395.15-Q03 AOBRD use of algorithm
If an interstate driver gets stopped by a State enforcement officer for an inspection, would the inspecting officer be enforcing the Federal regulations or State regulations? FMCSA-RG-390.9-Q001 Regulations enforced by State officers
How must a driver record time spent on-call awaiting dispatch? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q20 Hours of Service Definitions
§ 393.42(b)(3) of the FMCSRs states that any full trailer, any semitrailer, or any pole trailer having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less must be equipped with brakes FMCSA-VEH-393.42-Q03 Must manufacturer install brakes on certain lightweight trailers?
A driver drives on streets and highways during the week and jockeys commercial motor vehicles in the yard (private property) on weekends. How is the yard time to be recorded? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q09 Hours of Service
If a CMV, other than a motor coach, is equipped with a passenger seat, is a seat belt required for the passenger seat? FMCSA-VEH-393.93-Q01 Seat belt for truck passenger seats
(395.8-Q12) FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q12 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q017 Driver vehicle inspection report
Question 2: May a driver who does not have the necessary experience perform the adjustment under directions issued by telephone by a qualified inspector? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q02.cm May driver adjust brakes under hone directions from qualified inspector?
May a driver operating a CMV under a lease arrangement with a motor carrier, after being placed out of service for an hours of service violation, cancel the lease and continue to operate the vehicle as a private personal conveyance? FMCSA-HOS-395.13-Q02 Lease arrangements and out of service declarations