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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: 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
How does a Mexican motor carrier demonstrate that its insurance company complies with §387.11? FMCSA-INS-387.11-Q001 Mexican carrier compliance with 387.11
May the motor carrier meet the financial responsibility requirements by aggregating insurance in layers? FMCSA-INS-387.15-Q001 Aggregation of insurance to meet financial responsibility requirements
Question 2: May a driver who does not have the necessary experience perform the adjustment under directions issued by telephone by a qualified inspector? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q02.cm May driver adjust brakes under hone directions from qualified inspector?
May the Form MCS-90 required by part 387 for proof of minimum financial responsibility be modified? FMCSA-INS-387.15-Q002 Modification of Form MCS-90
If a company owns more than one motor carrier subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, may the company use logs listing the names of all such motor carrier employers and require the driver to identify the carrier for which he or she drives FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q18 Hours of Service Records of Duty Status