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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
Does a driver of either a tractor trailer or a straight truck that is converted into a mobile office need a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q7 Commercial Driver License Standards; Converted Mobile Offices
May a State require persons operating recreational vehicles or other CMVs used by groups of people, including family members, for non-business purposes to have a CDL? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q6 Commercial Driver License Standards; Recreational Drivers
Do operators of motorized cranes and vehicles used to pump cement at construction sites have to meet the testing and licensing requirements of the CDL program? FMCSA-CDL-383.3-Q5 Commercial Driver License Standards; Motorized Cranes
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
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
When accepting an applicant transferring from another State whose record reveals a disqualifying conviction for which the originating State did not take a disqualifying action, is the transferee State required to take the disqualifying action? FMCSA-STCDL-384.231-Q01 Guidance on the requirement for transferee start to take disqualification action for conviction for which originating state did not disqualify driver
Must the licensing agency establish a commercial driver record, including a CDLIS pointer record, for a person holding a non-commercial license issued by that jurisdiction upon receiving notification of a conviction of any offense committed while (illegal FMCSA-STCDL-384.209-Q01 Guidance for establishing commercial driver record for non-CDL drivers convicted of operating a CMV without a CDL
Are CDL drivers required to register for the Clearinghouse? FMCSA-D&A-CLEAR-382.703-FAQ003 Guidance on Clearinghouse registration requirements for drivers