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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
The Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA)regulations are written on an annual calendar year basis. Will foreign motor carriers, using this system, work from July 1 to June 30, or is everything to be managed on a six-month basis for the first year a FMCSA-D&A-382.403-Q01 Drug & Alcohol Test Results Reporting
Is the vacuum portion of vacuum-assisted hydraulic brake systems required to have a warning device? FMCSA-VEH-393.51-Q02 Does vacuum assist on hydraulic brakes need a warning device?
Do tires marked ‘‘NHS’’ (not for highway service) mean that highway use is prohibited by § 393.75? FMCSA-VEH-393.75-Q04 Use of tires not for highway service on the highway
Does § 396.11 require a separate DVIR for each vehicle in a combination of vehicles or is one report adequate to cover the entire combination? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q005 Driver vehicle inspection reports
Question 26: Is the motor carrier official or agent who certifies that defects or deficiencies have been corrected or that correction was unnecessary required to be a mechanic or have training concerning commercial motor vehicle maintenance? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q026 Driver vehicle inspection reports
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?
How does a Mexican motor carrier prove that it is complying with §387.7? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q003 Proof of required financial responsibility by Mexican motor carrier
Does the exemption for the transportation of school children end at the high school level or does it extend to educational institutions beyond high school, for example junior college or college? FMCSA-INS-387.27-Q005 Extension of school transportation exemption beyond high school
Does § 396.11 require the DVIR to be turned in each day by a driver dispatched on a trip of more than one day’s duration? FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q001 Driver vehicle inspection reports
Is a driver service or leasing company that is not a motor carrier permitted to perform annual reviews of driving records (§391.25) on the drivers it furnishes to motor carriers? FMCSA-DQ-391.25-Q002 Driving record annual inquiry