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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
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
Does a frame channel of a CMV constitute a protective ‘‘sheath or tube’’ as specified in §393.28? FMCSA-VEH-393.28-Q01 Frame channel as protective “sheath or tube”
What is meant by the term "as required by law" in relation to State or local laws for disclosure of public records relating to a driver’s testing information and test results? FMCSA-D&A-382.405-Q05 Drug & Alcohol Testing Records - Access
How should time spent in transit on a ferry boat be recorded? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q12
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?
Question 1: What recordkeeping requirements under § 396.21 is a carrier subject to when it utilizes an FMCSA-approved State inspection program? FMCSA-VM-396.21-Q01.cm Recordkeeping requirements when using approved State inspection program
Question 5: Where must vehicle inspection and maintenance records be retained if a vehicle is not housed or maintained at a single location? FMCSA-VM-396.3-Q005 Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance