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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 1: If a DVIR does not indicate that certain defects have been repaired, and the motor carrier has not certified in writing that such repairs were considered unnecessary, may the driver refuse to operate the motor vehicle? FMCSA-VM-396.13-Q1.cm Prohibition to operate vehicle without certification of repairs
How should a change of duty status for a short period of time be shown on the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q01 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
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?
May a rubber stamp signature be used on a driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q02 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
If a driver’s record of duty status is not signed, may enforcement action be taken on the current day’s record if it contains false information? FMCSA-HOS-395.3-Q03 Hours of Service Maximum Driving Time
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