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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
Part 390 § 390.23 Relief from regulations Is the time spent driving to pick up a truck regulated as on duty time? FMCSA-RG-390.23-FAQ024 Emergency Declarations
§380.600 – Compliance date for training requirements for entry-level drivers FMCSA-ELDT-380.600-Q007 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
Part 387 Section § 387.39: Forms. FMCSA-INS-387.39-Q001 Aggregation of insurance to meet financial responsibility requirements
Actual Knowledge – traffic citation: Would a document, other than a traffic citation, charging an employee-driver with operating a CMV while under the influence of drugs or alcohol provide a sufficient basis for the employer’s actual knowledge, as defined FMCSA-D&A-382.107-FAQ002 Guidance on what charging documents provide a sufficient basis for the employer’s actual knowledge.
What is the applicability of the FMCSRs to school bus operations performed by Indian Tribal Governments? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q012 Applicability of FMCSRs to Indian school bus operations
Does the emergency conditions exception in 49 CFR 395.1(b)(2) apply to a driver who planned on arriving at a specific rest area to complete his 11 hours driving and found the rest area full, forcing the driver to continue past the 11 hours driving looking FMCSA-HOS-395.1-FAQ28 Hours of Service Exceptions
Are volunteer drivers subject to alcohol and drug testing? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-FAQ007 Applicability of drug and alcohol testing requirements to volunteer drivers
If a motor carriers sends a potential interstate driver to a medical examiner to have both a pre-employment medical examination and a pre-employment controlled substances test performed, how must the medical examiner conduct the medical examination ... FMCSA-MED-391.43-Q7 Drug Testing and Driver Physical Qualification Examination
Section § 382.103: Applicability FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q002 Applicability of part 382 to driver training schools and student drivers
May an employer notify a driver of his/her selection for a random controlled substances test while the driver is in an off-duty status? FMCSA-D&A-382.305-FAQ011 Notifying a driver of his/her selection for a random test while the driver is in an off-duty status