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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 2: May the due date for the next inspection satisfy the requirements for the inspection date on the sticker or decal? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q02.cm Inspection date on decal vs. next periodic inspection date
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
Must drivers, alternating between interstate and intrastate commerce, record their intrastate driving time on their record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q04 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
How should multiple short stops in a town or city be recorded on a record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q06 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Is the Canadian bilingual or any other record of duty status form acceptable in the U.S.? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q07 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
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 sticker have to be located in a specific location on the vehicle? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q04.cm Location of inspection sticker
Question 5: Is new equipment required to pass a periodic inspection under § 396.17? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q05.cm Periodic inspection requirements for new equipment
Are Government-owned trailers operated by private carriers subject to periodic inspection? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q06.cm Are Government-owned trailers operated by private carriers subject to period inspection?
Can a CMV with tires marked “Not for Highway Use” meet the periodic inspection requirements? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q07.cm