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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 is the focus of the HMSP Program Improvement Policy change? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ013 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
For purposes of suspension or revocation of a carrier’s HMSP under 385.421(a)(5), what is the definition of “serious instances of non-compliance?” FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ021 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
Once identified for enhanced oversight, how long does FMCSA have to perform the comprehensive investigation? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ022 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
How do motor carriers benefit from the HMSP Program Improvement policy change? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ024 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
How does the HMSP Program Improvement Implementation policy affect new HMSP applicants or holders of Temporary HMSPs? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ025 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
How does the HMSP Program Improvement policy affect current HMSP holders who are submitting renewal applications? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ027 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
May HMSP carriers request a review of their crash data? FMCSA-HM-385-FAQ026 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
What if the carrier gets a satisfactory rating from the investigation, but continues to have high SMS scores? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ019 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
Is the motor carrier’s HMSP suspended or revoked immediately upon being identified for enhanced oversight? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ020 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
Must the carrier be reviewed, even if during the 6-month timeframe it does not meet the conditions for enhanced oversight? FMCSA-HM-HMSP-385-FAQ023 Hazardous Materials Safety Permits