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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
To what extent would the windshield and/or mirrors of a vehicle have to be damaged in order for it to be considered ‘‘disabling damage’’ as used in the definition of an accident in § 390.5T? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q013 Extent of definition of “disabling damage”
Does §391.43 of the FMCSRs require that physical examinations of applicants for employment be conducted by medical examiners employed by or designated by the carrier? FMCSA-MED-391.43-Q4 Driver Physical Qualification Examination
Why does §382.307(b) allow an employer to use indicators of chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances in the observations to conduct a controlled substances reasonable suspicion test, but does not allow similar effects of alcohol use to be u FMCSA-D&A-382.307-Q02 Drug & Alcohol Testing – Reasonable Suspicion
Is it permissible to make random selections by terminals? FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q07 Guidance on making random selection be terminals
Is the exemption contained in §395.1(f) concerning department store deliveries during the period from December 10 to December 25 limited to only drivers employed by department stores? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q23 Hours of Service Exceptions
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-382.413-Q04 Drug & Alcohol Testing – Third-Party Administrator’s Request for Testing Information from Previous Employer
How must the time spent operating a motor vehicle on the rails (roadrailers) be recorded? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q15 Hours of Service Definitions
Does a driver, employed full time by one motor carrier using the 60-hours in 7-days rule, and part-time by another motor carrier using the 70-hours in 8-days rule, have the option of using either rule in computing his hours of service? FMCSA-HOS-395.3-Q02 Hours of Service Maximum Driving Time
Driver vehicle inspection report FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q013 Driver vehicle inspection report
Question 1: Some of a motor carrier’s vehicles are registered in a State with a mandated inspection program which has been determined to be as effective as the Federal periodic inspection program, but these vehicles are not used in that State. Is the mot FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q01.cm Mandatory periodic inspection under State program for vehicles domiciled elsewhere?