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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
Are drivers required to have both the “P” passenger and “S” school bus endorsement if they are not transporting students when operating a “school bus,” as defined in § 383.5? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q10 Commercial Driver License Standards; Passenger and School Bus Endorsements
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
Are State, county and municipal workers operating CMVs required to obtain CDLs? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q8 Commercial Driver License Standards; Municipal Workers
Is a person who operates a custom motorcoach in commerce with a GVWR or GVW greater than 26,001 pounds required to have a passenger endorsement for his or her CDL if the vehicle is designed or used to transport fewer than 16 passengers, including the dr FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q11 Commercial Driver License Standards; Heavy Straight Vehicles
May a driver with an air brake restriction on his or her CDL operate a CMV equipped with a hydraulic braking system that has an air-assisted parking brake release? FMCSA-CDL-383.95-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards; Air Brake Restrictions
Does part 383 apply to drivers of vehicles used in “van pools”? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q3 Commercial Driver License Standards; Van Pool Drivers
Do mechanics, shop help, and other occasional drivers need a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q2 Commercial Driver License Standards; Mechanics Drivers
Is a school or church bus driver required to obtain a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q01 Commercial Driver License Standards – School and Church Bus Drivers
Does off-road motorized construction equipment meet the definitions of “motor vehicle” and “commercial motor vehicle” as used in § 383.5 and 49 CFR 390.5? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q4 Commercial Driver License Standards; Off Road Construction Equipment Drivers
Is a person who operates a custom motorcoach in commerce with a GVWR or GVW greater than 26,001 pounds required to have a passenger endorsement for his or her CDL if the vehicle is designed or used to transport fewer than 16 passengers, including the driv FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q12 Commercial Driver License Standards; Empty Tank Vehicle