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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
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
Are motor carriers transporting HM that are covered under exceptions to the HMRs subject to financial responsibility regulations? FMCSA-INS-387.3-Q007 Applicability of Financial Responsibility Regulations to motor carrier transporting hazardous materials under exceptions to the HMRs
Part 387 Section § 387.27: Applicability. FMCSA-INS-387.27-Q006 Applicability of Financial Responsibility regulations to school buses used by the federal government of Mexico
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
If a driver was grandfathered from the skills test when he or she obtained a CDL, may an employer forego the administration of a road test as required by §391.31? FMCSA-DQ-391.33-Q001 Road test equivalent
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