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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
When a driver experiences a delay on an impassable highway, should the time he/she is delayed be entered on the record of duty status as driving time or on-duty (not driving)? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q25 Hours of Service Definitions
Are the brakes on a vehicle towed in a driveaway-towaway operation or towed disabled vehicle required to be operable at all times? FMCSA-VEH-393.48-Q03 Are operable brakes required on disabled or driveaway-towaway vehicles?
When calculating the minimum emergency exit space required on school buses used in non-school bus operations, should two or three passengers per bench seat be used in determining the adult seating capacity? FMCSA-VEH-393.62-Q02 Seating capacity of school buses used for adults
Does § 393.104(b) require that securement devices be marked or labeled with their working load limit or any other information? FMCSA-VEH-393.104-Q02 Marking of securement devices with working load limits
Do community lectures and self-help groups qualify as education and/or treatment? FMCSA-D&A-382.605-Q6 Community Groups and Self-Help as Treatment
May a duplicate copy of a record of duty status be submitted if an original was seized by an enforcement official? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q09 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Does the definition of the term "in bulk" include solids as well as liquids even though the definition refers to containment systems with capacities in excess of 3,500 water gallons? FMCSA-INS-387.5-Q001 Definition of “in bulk”
Is a nonprofit corporation, providing for-hire interstate transportation of passengers, subject to the minimum levels of financial responsibility for motor carriers of passengers? FMCSA-INS-387.27-Q001 Applicability of financial responsibility requirements to nonprofit corporation providing for-hire interstate transportation of passengers
Can a for-hire motor carrier located in Canada transport farm supplies and/or equipment for agricultural purposes to a location in the U.S. without having to comply with Part 395? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.1-FAQ32 Hours of Service Agricultural Commodities
What constitutes a “serious pattern” of violations? FMCSA-RG-390-SPECIALTOPICS-Q01 What is a “serious pattern” of violations?