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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
Medical Qualification FAQ – FOREIGN Medical certificate – FAQ2 FMCSA-BOR-MED-Medical Certficate-FAQ002 : Medical qualifications requirement for foreign-domiciled motor carriers.
A driver with residence in Mexico drives for a U.S. company. Does that driver need a state-issued commercial driver’s license? FMCSA-BOR-CDL-383-FAQ002 Cross-border commercial and non-Commercial Driver License Requirements
Medical Qualification FAQ – Waivers – Q4 FMCSA-BOR-MED-DRV-WAIVER-FAQ004 Medical qualifications requirement for foreign-domiciled motor carriers.
ELD FAQ 71: ELDs Canada & Mexico FAQ – Technical Specifications – Q3 FMCSA-HOS-ELD-395-FAQ71-RESCINDED ELD requirements for foreign-domiciled motor carriers
Are Canadian Armed Forces exempt from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), including the ELD requirements, if they have proper documentation when operating in the United States? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-395-FAQ71 ELD requirements for foreign-domiciled motor carriers
Medical Qualification FAQ – Waivers – Q1 FMCSA-BOR-MED-DRV-WAIVER-FAQ001 Medical qualifications requirement for foreign-domiciled motor carriers.
Can a Canada/Mexico-domiciled motor carrier’s driver use a portable ELD unit, smartphone, or other wireless device as an ELD when operating in the United States (U.S.)? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ74(2018-03-05)-CORR1 ELD requirements for foreign-domiciled motor carriers
Can a Canada/Mexico-domiciled motor carrier’s driver manually enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) for the power unit if the ELD is unable to automatically retrieve the VIN from the engine? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ73(2018-03-05)-CORR1 ELD requirements for foreign-domiciled motor carriers
ELD FAQ 72: Canada & Mexico FAQ – Canada- US – Q2 FMCSA-HOS-ELD-395-FAQ72 ELD requirements for foreign-domiciled motor carriers
How long does it take to get an MX number, Certificate of Registration and USDOT Number? FMCSA-BOR-REG-FAQ003 Registration requirement for Mexico-domiciled motor carriers