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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
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
Do the FMCSRs apply to Indian Tribal Governments? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q020 Applicability of FMCSRs to Indian Tribal Governments
When can a movement of a CMV during an off-duty period be considered personal conveyance? FMCSA-HOS-PC-395.8-FAQ12 Personal Conveyance guidance
Many small school districts are affiliated through service units which are, in essence, a coalition of individual districts. Can these school districts have one common confidant for purposes of receiving results and keeping records? FMCSA-D&A -382.401-Q01 Drug & Alcohol Testing – Record Retention
Does a foreign-based motor carrier’s accident register have to include accidents that occur in Canada or Mexico? FMCSA-RG-390.15-FAQ004 Canadian/Mexican motor carrier accident reports for accidents in Canada/Mexico
Upon termination of direct assistance to a regional or local emergency relief effort, as specified in § 390.23(a), may utility company line crews return directly to the motor carrier’s terminal or the driver’s normal work reporting location without comply FMCSA-RG-390.23-FAQ004 Are utility service vehicles exempt while returning after emergency relief?
When an interstate tow truck operator responds to a request for assistance from a Federal, State or local police officer to move wrecked or disabled motor vehicles, what should the Record of Duty Status (RODS) required by Section 395.8 reflect for the tim FMCSA-RG-390.23-Q005 RODS entry for tow trucks responding to police call
Does the exception in §395.1(k) for “drivers transporting agricultural commodities or farm supplies for agricultural purposes” cover the transportation of poultry or poultry feed? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.1-FAQ30 Hours of Service Agricultural Commodities
Does fuel used in the production of agricultural commodities qualify as “farm supplies” under 49 CFR 395.1(k)? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.1-FAQ31 Hours of Service Agricultural Commodities
FAQ 1: Does the definition of “livestock” in § 395.2 include llamas, alpacas, live fish, and crawfish, as added by the 2018 amendment to the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988? FMCSA-HOS-AG-395.2-FAQ001 Hours of Service Exceptions