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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
Would server‐based events (e.g., edits and assignment of unassigned events) generate a different sequence ID than that generated by the ELD? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ27 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
How should the Time Zone Offset from UTC handle daylight savings time? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ26-RESCINDED ELD Guidance
If the vehicle does not track engine hours, can the record begin with “0?” FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ25 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
ELD FAQ 57: Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ57-RESCINDED ELD Guidance
Can the partial VIN value obtained from the controller area network bus be used for reporting? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ22 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
Can the driver’s license information be omitted or redacted from the printed logs? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ58(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
Is the ELD required to retrieve the CMV position from the device connected to the port, or can this be retrieved by using a smartphone or tablet? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ21
Section 4.8.1.3 of 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, Appendix A indicates that location needs to be displayed for login/logout events. However, section 4.5.1.5 lists required data elements for login/logout events and does not indicate that latitude and... FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ59(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
ELD FAQ 56: Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ56-RESCINDED ELD Guidance
Section 4.8.1.2 of 49 CFR part 395 subpart B, Appendix A requires that an electronic logging device (ELD) without a printer be designed so that “the display may be reasonably viewed by an authorized safety official without entering the commercial motor... FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ55(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance