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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
If an individual driver had two convictions for serious traffic violations while driving a CMV, and neither the FMCSA nor his/her State licensing agency took any disqualification action, does the motor carrier have any obligation under FMCSA regulations t FMCSA-CDL-383.37-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Employer Notification Requirements
Is a driver who has a CDL and has been convicted of a felony disqualified from operating a CMV under the FMCSRs? FMCSA-CDL-383.37-Q2 Commercial Driver License Standards; Felony Conviction
Are custom harvesters who harvest trees for tree farmers eligible to be considered “custom harvesters” for purposes of the FRSI waiver from selected CDL requirements? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q19 Commercial Driver License Standards; Custom Harvesting Activity
If a CDL holder was convicted of one “excessive speeding” (15 or more miles over the speed limit) violation in a CMV and the same violation in his/her personal vehicle, would the driver be disqualified? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards; Driver Disqualification
What is meant by leaving the scene of an accident involving a CMV? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q04 Commercial Driver License Standards; Leaving the Scene of an Accident
One definition of CMV is a vehicle “designed to transport” 16 or more passengers, including the driver. Does that include standing passengers if the vehicle was specifically designed to accommodate standees? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q4 Commercial Driver License Standards; Designed to Transport
Must all drivers of vehicles required to be placarded have CDLs containing the HM endorsement? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q03 Commercial Driver License Standards; HM Endorsement Requirements
On May 9, 2011, FMCSA revised the definition of “tank vehicle” to include any CMV that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons or more that is either perm FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q8 Commercial Driver License Standards; Tank Vehicle
Is the transportation of seed-cotton modules from the cotton field to the gin by a module transport vehicle considered a form of custom harvesting activity that may be included under the FRSI waiver (§ 383.3(f))? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q17 Commercial Driver License Standards; Custom Harvesting Activity
§380.721 – Removal from training provider registry: factors considered Guidance Q&A Question 14: Can training providers be removed from the listing on the Training Provider Registry? FMCSA-ELDT-380.721-Q014 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training