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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
May a truck tractor (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5) be driven on public roads by a driver with a Class B CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.91-Q06 Commercial Driver License Standards; Class B Truck Tractor CDL Requirements
Must a civilian operator of a CMV, as defined in § 383.5, who operates wholly within a military facility open to public travel, have a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q12 Commercial Driver License Standards – Civilian CMV Operators Within Military Facility
Does the definition of a CMV in § 383.5 of the CDL requirements include parking lot and/or street sweeping vehicles and is a driver of such a vehicle required to have a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q3 Commercial Driver License Standards; State Contracts
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
May a foreign driver with an employment authorization document obtain a CDL to operate a CMV in the United States? FMCSA-CDL-383.23-Q1 Commercial Driver License Standards; Foreign Driver Employment
Section 383.51 of the FMCSRs disqualifies a driver if certain offenses were committed while operating a CMV. Will the States be required to identify on the motor vehicle driver’s record the class of vehicle being operated when a violation occurs? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q03 Commercial Driver License Standards; Driver Disqualifications
Must operators of motor graders or motor scrapers obtain CDLs and be subject to controlled substances and alcohol testing if they operate the equipment on public roads? FMCSA-CDL-383.5-Q5 Commercial Driver License Standards; Motor Graders, Scrapers
May a State issue a “conditional,” “occupational” or “hardship” license that includes CDL driving privileges when a CDL holder loses driving privileges to operate a private passenger vehicle (non-CMV)? FMCSA-CDL-383.51-Gen-Q07 Commercial Driver License Standards; Hardship License CDL Privileges
§380.603 – Applicability Guidance Q&A Question 4: If an applicant held a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before February 7, 2022, and obtains his or her commercial driver’s license (CDL) before the CLP expires, will he or she be exempt from the ELDT re FMCSA-ELDT-380.603-Q004 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
Do mechanics, shop help, and other occasional drivers need a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q2 Commercial Driver License Standards; Mechanics Drivers