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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
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
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
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
Are police officers who operate buses and vans which are designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, and are used to transport police officers during demonstrations and other crowd control activities required to obtain a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q13 Commercial Driver License Standards - Police Officers Driving Buses and Vans
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
Would the driver in the following scenarios be required to have a CDL with an HM endorsement? FMCSA-CDL-383.93-Q02 Commercial Driver License Standards; HM Endorsement Requirements
§380.603 – Applicability (ELDT) Guidance Q&A Question 1: Who is subject to entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements? FMCSA-ELDT-380.603-Q001 Commercial Driver License; Entry level Driver Training
Do active duty military personnel, not wearing military uniforms, qualify for a waiver from the CDL requirements if the CMVs are rental trucks or leased buses from the General Services Administration? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q15 Commercial Driver License Standards; Active Duty Military – Rental Trucks
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