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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
A driver used by a motor carrier operates a CMV to and from his/her residence out of State. Is this considered interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q005 Extent of “interstate commerce” when applied to personal conveyance
Is transporting an empty CMV across State lines for purposes of repair and maintenance considered interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q006 Applicability of FMCSRs to empty CMVs
Does off-road motorized construction equipment meet the definitions of "motor vehicle" and "commercial motor vehicle" as used in §§ 383.5 and 390.5T? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q007 Applicability of FMCSRs to off-road motorized construction equipment
What types of equipment are included in the category of off-road motorized construction equipment? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q008 Meaning of “off-road motorized construction equipment”
Are mobile cranes operating in interstate commerce considered CMVs, and are they subject to the FMCSRs? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q009 Are mobile cranes CMVs subject to the FMCSRs?
Does the FMCSA define for-hire transportation of passengers the same as the former ICC did? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q010 For-hire transportation of passengers
A company has a truck with a GVWR under 10,001 pounds towing a trailer with a GVWR under 10,001 pounds. However, the GVWR of the truck added to the GVWR of the trailer is greater than 10,001 pounds. Would the company operating this vehicle in interstate c FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q011 Applicability of FMCSRs to combination vehicles with individual GVWs under 10,001 pounds, but GCWRs above 10,001 pounds
A CMV becomes stuck in a median or on a shoulder, and has had no contact with another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a fixed object prior to becoming stuck. If a tow truck is used to pull the CMV back onto the traveled portion of the road, would this be consid FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q012 Applicability of “accident” definition to stuck CMV
To what extent would the windshield and/or mirrors of a vehicle have to be damaged in order for it to be considered ‘‘disabling damage’’ as used in the definition of an accident in § 390.5T? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q013 Extent of definition of “disabling damage”
Is the tillerman who controls the steerable rear axle of a vehicle so equipped a driver subject to the FMCSRs while operating in interstate commerce? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q014 Applicability of FMCSRs to tillermen