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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
When a motor carrier purchases another motor carrier, must the drivers of the acquired motor carrier be requalified by the purchasing motor carrier? FMCSA-DQ-391.51-Q001 Driver qualification files
If a vehicle’s GVWR plate and/or VIN number are missing but its actual gross weight is 10,001 pounds or more, may an enforcement officer use the latter instead of GVWR to determine the applicability of the FMCSRs? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q003 Use of actual GVW when GVWR and/or VIN plate missing
§391.15 Disqualification of drivers. FMCSA-DQ-391.15-Q003 Driver disqualification
May a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) driving skills test examiner conduct a driving skills test administered in accordance with 49 CFR part 383 before a person subject to part 382 is tested for alcohol and controlled substances? FMCSA-D&A-382.301-Q06 Guidance on whether a CDL driving skills test examiner may administer a driving skills test to a person subject to part 382 without first testing him/her for alcohol and controlled substances
Is it necessary for an owner-operator, who is not leased to a motor carrier, to belong to a consortium for random testing purposes? FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q11 Guidance on owner-operator joining consortium
What is considered a ‘‘public road?’’ FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q026 What is a “public road?”
What are the lighting requirements when a tow truck is pulling a wrecked or disabled vehicle? FMCSA-VEH-393.17-Q01
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