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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: May an entity other than a motor carrier maintain the evidence of inspector qualifications required by § 396.19(b)? FMCSA-VM-396.19-Q01 May a garage maintain evidence of inspector qualifications
If a driver from a foreign country only operates in the U.S. one day a week, is he required to keep a record of duty status for every day? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q15 FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q15
Is the financial responsibility requirement met when an owner-operator (lessor) provides the motor carrier (lessee) a copy of the policy and Form MCS-90 where the carrier is named as an additional insured to the policy (Form MCS-90)? FMCSA-INS-387.7-Q004 Compliance with financial responsibility requirements where carrier leases vehicle from owner operator
Question 2: Is there a specific form or format to be used in ensuring that inspectors are qualified in accordance with § 396.19? FMCSA-VM-396.19-Q02.cm Is there an inspector qualification form?
Are drivers required to include their total on-duty time for the previous 7 to 8 days (as applicable) on the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q16 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Question 1: What recordkeeping requirements under § 396.21 is a carrier subject to when it utilizes an FMCSA-approved State inspection program? FMCSA-VM-396.21-Q01.cm Recordkeeping requirements when using approved State inspection program
What is the definition of a "hopper type" vehicle as indicated in §387.9? FMCSA-INS-387.9-Q003 Definition of “hopper type” vehicle in 49 CFR 387.9
Question 1: Can a violation-free CVSA Level I or Level V inspection be used to satisfy the periodic inspection requirements of § 396.17? FMCSA-VM-396.23-Q01.cm Does CVSA Level I or V inspection satisfy the periodic inspection requirement?
Can military time be used on the grid portion of the driver’s record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q17 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status
Question 1: Does a CDL with an airbrake endorsement qualify a person as a brake inspector under § 396.25? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q01.cm CDL air brake endorsement as qualification for brake inspector