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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
What must employers do when an authorized service agent is no longer conducting business for the employer’s company? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.711-FAQ002 Guidance on requirement the employer update Clearinghouse registration to reflect service agent changes
Are Canadian and Mexican employers required to report drug and alcohol program violations to the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.103-FAQ002 Guidance on Canadian and Mexican Employer Reporting Clearinghouse Requirements
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 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 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provide a sample of a limited consent request? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.703-FAQ005 Guidance on using Sample General Consent Form Provided by FMCSA
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
Is a social security number (SSN) or employee identification number (EIN) required to enter a driver’s violation in the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ003 Clearinghouse FAQ
Should an employer report to the Clearinghouse the results of a test conducted under the authority of another U.S. Department of Transpiration (DOT) agency? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ009 Guidance clarifying that only part 382 violations are reported to the Clearinghouse
How is driver violation and return-to-duty (RTD) information recorded in the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.705-FAQ012 Guidance on Violation and RTD Reporting 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