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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
How are bulk queries processed? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ006 Guidance on Bulk Query Processing
Can an employer, consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA), or medical review officer (MRO) modify or delete violation information they have reported? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ006 Clearinghouse FAQ
How can I track the progress of my bulk queries? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ007 Guidance on Bulk Query Tracking
What actions should an employer take if unable to conduct required pre-employment queries? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.701-FAQ007 Guidance for employers unable to perform a preemployment query due to intermittent Clearinghouse outages on January 6, 2020.
What records should employers maintain in a driver qualification file to meet the requirements of section § 382.701(e)? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.701-FAQ004 Guidance on Maintaining Employer Records
Are there plans to support an employer interface allowing for automated uploads via a web service, or similar? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ033 Guidance on Clearinghouse Webservice interface
How will State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) use the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.725-FAQ001-RESCINDED Guidance on SDLA Use of the Clearinghouse
Can I initiate queries for a large number of drivers without having to enter them into the system one at a time? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ005 Guidance on how to enter a bulk query in the Clearinghouse
What is considered actual knowledge of a violation? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ002 Guidance on employer and C/TPA responsibility for reporting actual knowledge violations to the Clearinghouse
What is the timeframe in which an employer must submit a report of an employee’s drug and alcohol program violation to the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ017 Guidance on Employer Violation Reporting Timeframe