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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
Question 3: How may the motor carrier determine safe loading when a shipper has loaded and sealed the trailer? FMCSA-DRV-392.9-Q003 Inspection of cargo and cargo securement
An employer or State government agency requires CDLs for drivers of motor vehicles: (1) with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less; (2) with a GCWR of 26,000 pounds or less inclusive of a towed unit with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less; (3) designed to transpor FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q04 Applicability of part 382 to CMVs below 26,001 pounds
Since 49 CFR 391.49 does not mandate a Skill Performance Evaluation, does the term “performance standard” mean that the State must give a driving test or other Skill Performance Evaluation to the driver for every waiver issued or does this term mean that, FMCSA-MED-391.49-Q1 Skill Performance Evaluation
May the time a driver spends attending safety meetings, ceremonies, celebrations, or other company-sponsored safety events be recorded as off-duty time? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q19 Hours of Service Definitions
Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q016 Driver vehicle inspection reports
Question 3: Must each vehicle in a combination carry separate periodic inspection documentation? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q03.cm Separate periodic inspection documents for each unit in combination vehicle
When are tow trucks subject to financial responsibility coverage? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q003 Applicability of Financial Responsibility Requirements to Towing
May the motor carrier meet the financial responsibility requirements by aggregating insurance in layers? FMCSA-INS-387.15-Q001 Aggregation of insurance to meet financial responsibility requirements
Are the FMCSRs applicable to the rail movement of trailers and intermodal container chassis that previously or subsequently were moved by highway by a motor carrier in interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q004 Applicability of FMCSRs to rail movements of intermodal chassis
§391.2 General exemptions FMCSA-DQ-391.2-Q001 Driver qualification exemptions