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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
When are drivers subject to the DOT Drug and Alcohol testing requirements? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-FAQ003 Guidance on when a driver is subject to the FMCSA drug and alcohol testing requirements.
ELD Training Checklist for Motor Carriers: Understanding Your Device FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TRAINING-395-FAQ1 ELD Guidance
Brochure provides overview of the hours-of-service rules for drivers of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA-HOS-PASS-395-PASSENGER CARRIER HOURS OF SERVICE BROCHURE Passenger Carrier Hours of Service
May the CDL knowledge test be administered by a third party? FMCSA-CDL-383.75-Q01-RESCINDED Commercial Driver License Standards; Third Party Testing
Commercial Driver's License Standards, Requirements and Penalties; Notification of Updated Regulatory Guidance; Request for Comments, 84 Fed. Reg. 8464 FMCSA-FR-84FR8464-2019-03-08 Guidance for Commercial Drivers Licenses
When a driver (a) receives an Administrative Order of Suspension due to a blood alcohol reading in excess of the legal limit with notice that the suspension is not to be effective until 45 days after the notice or after an administrative hearing, and (b) FMCSA-CDL-383.33-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Administrative Order of Suspension
Do tow truck operators need CDLs? If so, in what vehicle group(s)? FMCSA-CDL-383.91-Q05 Commercial Driver License Standards; Tow Truck class
Part 380 Appendix – Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Guidance Q&A (Q024) FMCSA-ELDT-380-Appendix-Q024 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
Do the regulations require that a person driving an empty school bus from the manufacturer to the local distributor obtain a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q9 Commercial Driver License Standards; Empty School Bus
Is a driver disqualified for driving a CMV while off-duty with a blood alcohol concentration over 0.04 percent? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Alc-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards; Alcohol-Related Disqualification