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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 387 Section § 387.9: Financial responsibility, minimum levels. FMCSA-INS-387.9-Q005 Insurance requirements for a motor carrier operating a tube trailer where the cylinders are manifolded together
May a motor carrier create an accident register of its own, or is there a specified form that must be used? FMCSA-RG-390.15-Q001 Format of accident register
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
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.
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
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
Section § 382.103: Applicability FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q002 Applicability of part 382 to driver training schools and student drivers