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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
May a motor carrier switch from a 60-hour/7-day limit to a 70-hour/8-day limit or vice versa? FMCSA-HOS-395.3-Q01 Hours of Service Maximum Driving Time
May the information in the stopping distance table be used to determine the stopping distances at speeds greater than 20 mph? FMCSA-VEH-393.52-Q01 Can the stopping-distance table be used for speeds above 20 mph?
Driver vehicle inspection report FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q010 Driver vehicle inspection report
When the driver’s duty status changes, do §§395.8(c) or 395.8(h)(5) require a description of on-duty not driving activities in the remarks section in addition to the name of the nearest city, town or village followed by the State abbreviation? FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q23 Requirements for on-duty not driving descriptions
Is transporting an empty CMV across State lines for purposes of repair and maintenance considered interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q006 Applicability of FMCSRs to empty CMVs
What constitutes a “serious pattern” of violations? FMCSA-RG-390-SPECIALTOPICS-Q01 What is a “serious pattern” of violations?
Are notifications to a motor carrier by a driver convicted of a driver violation as required by §383.31 to be maintained in the driver’s qualification file as part of the supporting documentation or certifications noted in the requirements listed in §391 FMCSA-DQ-391.27-Q001-RESCINDED Record of violations
Question 1: Is a vehicle’s cargo compartment considered sealed according to the terms of §392.9(b)(4) when it is secured with a padlock, to which the driver holds a key? FMCSA-DRV-392.9-Q001 Inspection of cargo and cargo securement
May a motor carrier that employs owner-operators who have their own operating authority issued by the ICC or the Surface Transportation Board transfer the responsibility for compliance with the FMCSRs to the owner-operators? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q017 Carrier responsibility for owner-operator compliance with FMCSRs
The driver’s medical exam is part of the Mexican Licencia Federal. If a roadside inspection reveals that a Mexico-based driver has not had the medical portion of the Licencia Federal re-validated, is the driver considered to be without a valid medical cer FMCSA-MED-391.43-Q6 Medical Examinations and the Mexican Licencia Federal