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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
How should the time spent when drivers volunteer as firefighters be logged on the record of duty status when the drivers return to work? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q27 Hours of Service Definitions
How should time spent at National Guard meetings and training sessions be recorded for the hours of service requirements? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q28 Hours of Service Definitions
Does § 393.41 prohibit air brake systems from being equipped with a means to release the spring brakes for purposes of towing disabled vehicles in emergency situations? FMCSA-VEH-393.41-Q02 Releasing spring brakes for towing
May a motor carrier switch from a 60-hour/7-day limit to a 70-hour/8-day limit or vice versa? FMCSA-HOS-395.3-Q01 Hours of Service Maximum Driving Time
Do retractable or lift axles have to be equipped with brakes? FMCSA-VEH-393.42-Q01 Must lift axles have brakes?
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
Are unladen converter dollies covered by the exemption in § 393.42(b)(2)? FMCSA-VEH-393.42-Q02 Are unladen converter dollies covered by brake exception for driveaway-towaway operations?
§ 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?
Are tractor protection valves required by § 393.43(b), or may similar devices be used? FMCSA-VEH-393.43-Q01 Are tractor protection valves required?
Does the term ‘‘rear wheels’’ include the tag axle on a bus/motorcoach? FMCSA-VEH-393.44-Q01 Does “rear wheels” include bus tag axles?