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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
Does a periodic inspection decal exempt a CMV from roadside inspection? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q08.cm Does a periodic inspection decal exempt a CMV from roadside inspection?
Question 9: Is a State required to accept the periodic inspection program of another State having a periodic inspection program meeting minimum FMCSA standards as contained in appendix G to the FMCSRs? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q09.cm Federally-approved State inspections must be accepted by all other States
Do Canadian Provincial inspections meet FMCSA standards? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q10.cm Do Canadian Provincial inspections meet FMCSA standards?
Is there a required form for the periodic inspection? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q11.cm
May a State require a higher level of financial responsibility coverage than is required by part 387? FMCSA-INS-387.1-Q001 State financial responsibility requirements
May an inspector certify a CMV as meeting the periodic inspection standards of § 396.17 if he/she cannot see all components required to be inspected under appendix G? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q12.cm Inspection certification requires examining all components
At what GVWR, as assigned by a manufacturer, does the requirement to comply with the financial responsibility regulations begin? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q001 GVWR at which Financial Responsibility Requirements apply
Does the GVWR apply to the power unit only? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q002 Calculation of GVWR
If an inter modal container is attached to a chassis at the time of a periodic inspection, must the container also be inspected to comply with § 396.17 inspection requirements? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q13.cm Musts container on intermodal chassis be inspected during periodic inspection?
When are tow trucks subject to financial responsibility coverage? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q003 Applicability of Financial Responsibility Requirements to Towing