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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| When will an employer be notified of changes to a driver’s Clearinghouse record? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.701-FAQ002-RESCINDED | Guidance on when an employer will be notified of changes to a driver’s Clearinghouse record | |
| What is the difference between a full and limited query? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.701-FAQ003 | Guidance on the difference between limited and full Clearinghouse queries | |
| Can Canadian and Mexican medical review officers (MROs) report verified positive test results and refusals to test to the Clearinghouse? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-40.121-FAQ001 | Guidance on Canadian and Mexican MRO Reporting to the Clearinghouse | |
| Can Canadian and Mexican substance abuse professionals (SAPs) report the date of initial SAP assessment and date the driver is eligible for return-to-duty (RTD) testing? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-40.281-FAQ001 | Guidance on Canadian and Mexican SAP Reporting to the Clearinghouse | |
| Does an owner-operator have to conduct queries on himself/herself? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.701-FAQ005 | Guidance on Owner Operator Self Queries | |
| How do owner-operators meet their Clearinghouse obligations? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ010 | Guidance on how owner-operators meet their Clearinghouse obligations | |
| How does the Clearinghouse impact employers of commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ021 | Guidance on how the Clearinghouse impacts employers | |
| Will a driver’s follow-up testing plan be available in the Clearinghouse? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ020 | Guidance clarifying that follow testing plans are not available in the Clearinghouse | |
| Is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) subject to the obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for the Clearinghouse? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382-FAQ018 | Guidance on the applicability of the Fair Credit Reporting Act [FCRA] to the Clearinghouse | |
| What identifying number should be documented for drivers in the Clearinghouse? | FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ005 | Guidance for using a driver’s CDL number and state of issuance in the Clearinghouse |