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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
What information should be displayed on the header for co-driver operations? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ65(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
When creating an ELD file as specified in Section 4.9.2, when a field specifies activities on a per‐CMV basis (such as engine power‐up and shut‐down activities), which records should be included? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ30 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
In Section 4.6.1.7, the rule requires that “an ELD must verify [data transfer] functionality every seven days.” What does this mean? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ31 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
Would it be acceptable for the data transfer to be initiated by the electronic logging device (ELD) but relayed through and communicated to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Service from the provider’s backend? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ66(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
How should an ELD respond to battery issues, such as an ELD battery dying due to high temperatures or when charge power runs out? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ32 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
How will FMCSA ensure that the ELD data is transferred securely? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ33 Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service – Technical Specifications
If a multi-function portable device is used for the front end of the electronic logging device (ELD) (i.e., user may be in a global positioning system [GPS] application and need to switch back to the ELD application), does this count as a click in the... FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ67(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
For telematics data transfer, which email address should be used in the recipient field? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ78(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
Is the electronic logging device (ELD) required to encrypt files during a USB electronic data transfer? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ80(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance
Why is there a reference to the internet in Bluetooth® transfer when it is part of the local transfer option? FMCSA-HOS-ELD-TECH-395-FAQ79(2017-09-01)-CORR1 ELD Guidance