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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: 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
What does “servicing” of the field operations of the natural gas and oil industry cover? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q06 Hours of Service
Question 3: How may the motor carrier determine safe loading when a shipper has loaded and sealed the trailer? FMCSA-DRV-392.9-Q003 Inspection of cargo and cargo securement
Question 4: Is there a requirement that a driver must personally load, block, brace, and tie down the cargo on the property carrying CMV he/she drives? FMCSA-DRV-392.9-Q004 inspection, cargo, securement
If a motor carrier maintains complete driver qualification files but cannot produce them at the time of the review or within two business days, is it in violation of §391.51? FMCSA-DQ-391.51-Q004 Driver qualification files
Is a person employed by a nonmotor carrier in his normal duties considered an intermittent, casual, or occasional driver when employed by a motor carrier as a driver on apart-time basis? FMCSA-DQ-391.63-Q001 Multiple-employer drivers
How does §391.63 apply when motor carriers obtain, from a driver leasing service, intermittent, casual, or occasional drivers who are on temporary assignments to multiple motor carriers? FMCSA-DQ-391.63-Q002 Multiple-employer drivers
Must a motor carrier that employs an intermittent, casual, or occasional driver to operate a CMV, as defined in §383.5, (1) require the driver to prepare and submit an employment application in accordance with §391.21 and (2) conduct the background invest FMCSA-DQ-391.63-Q003 Multiple-employer drivers
Is transportation within the boundaries of a State between a place in an Indian Reservation and a place outside such reservation interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q023 Whether boundary of an Indian reservation is equivalent to a State boundary
Are intrastate drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)s, who are required to obtain CDLs, required to be alcohol and drug tested by their employer? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q01 Applicability of part 382 to intrastate drivers