USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Portions of the Department of Transportation are currently in shutdown/furlough status due to a lapse in appropriations. Please continue to monitor this page for updates on DOT’s operating status.
U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

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 a driver who works for a motor carrier on an occasional basis and who is regularly employed by a non-motor carrier entity required to submit either records of duty status or a signed statement regarding the hours of service for all on-duty time? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q11 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Is a motor carrier transporting mail under contract for the U.S. Postal Service wholly within the boundaries of a single State subject to the minimum levels of financial responsibility requirements of part 387? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q006 Applicability of Financial Responsibility Regulations to Single State Mail transport
Is a travel trailer or motor home that has propane cylinders attached subject to part 387 of the FMCSRs? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q009 Applicability of Part 387 to travel trailer or motor home with propane cylinders attached
Does the definition of the term "in bulk" include solids as well as liquids even though the definition refers to containment systems with capacities in excess of 3,500 water gallons? FMCSA-INS-387.5-Q001 Definition of “in bulk”
Question 14: Is it acceptable for the proof of periodic inspection to be written in Spanish? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q14.cm May proof of periodic inspection be written in Spanish?
May a large corporation which has many wholly owned subsidiaries have one policy for the parent corporation and maintain the policy and the Form MCS-90 at the corporate headquarters? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q001 Need for large corporation with many subsidiaries to have more than one insurance policy
Are drivers required to draw continuous lines between the off-duty, sleeper berth, driving, and on-duty (not driving) lines on a record of duty status when changing their duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q13 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
What is the definition of "Certificate of Registration" in §387.7(b)(3)? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q002 Definition of “Certificate of Registration” in 49 CFR 387.7(b)(3)
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
What documents satisfy the requirement to show a shipping document number on a record of duty status as found in §395.8(d)(11)? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q14 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status