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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
Driver vehicle inspection report FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q010 Driver vehicle inspection report
When the driver’s duty status changes, do §§395.8(c) or 395.8(h)(5) require a description of on-duty not driving activities in the remarks section in addition to the name of the nearest city, town or village followed by the State abbreviation? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q23 Requirements for on-duty not driving descriptions
Is transporting an empty CMV across State lines for purposes of repair and maintenance considered interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q006 Applicability of FMCSRs to empty CMVs
What constitutes a “serious pattern” of violations? FMCSA-RG-390-SPECIALTOPICS-Q01 What is a “serious pattern” of violations?
A CMV becomes stuck in a median or on a shoulder, and has had no contact with another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a fixed object prior to becoming stuck. If a tow truck is used to pull the CMV back onto the traveled portion of the road, would this be consid FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q012 Applicability of “accident” definition to stuck CMV
Is transportation within the boundaries of a State between a place in an Indian Reservation and a place outside such reservation interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q023 Whether boundary of an Indian reservation is equivalent to a State boundary
Is a chest x-ray required under the minimum medical requirements of the FMCSRs? FMCSA-MED-391.43-Q3 Driver Physical Qualification Examination
May a reasonable suspicion alcohol test be based upon any information or observations of alcohol use or possession, other than a supervisor’s actual knowledge? FMCSA-D&A-382.307-Q01 Drug & Alcohol Testing - Reasonable Suspicion
A commercial motor vehicle operator is involved in an accident in which an individual is injured but does not die from the injuries until a later date. The commercial motor vehicle driver does not receive a citation under State or local law for a moving t FMCSA-D&A-382.303-Q03 Guidance on whether an employer is required to conduct a post-accident test for accidents in which the fatality occurs outside of the 8 and 32 hour time limits
How may a driver utilize the adverse driving conditions exception or the emergency conditions exception as found in §395.1(b), to preclude an hours of service violation? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q05 Hours of Service Exemptions