USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

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
How must a driver record time spent on-call awaiting dispatch? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q20 Hours of Service Definitions
§ 393.42(b)(3) of the FMCSRs states that any full trailer, any semitrailer, or any pole trailer having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less must be equipped with brakes FMCSA-VEH-393.42-Q03 Must manufacturer install brakes on certain lightweight trailers?
A driver drives on streets and highways during the week and jockeys commercial motor vehicles in the yard (private property) on weekends. How is the yard time to be recorded? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q09 Hours of Service
On multiple drive shaft buses, does § 393.89 require that all segments of the drive shaft be protected no matter the segments’ length? FMCSA-VEH-393.89-Q02 Protection for multiple drive shafts on buses
Question 2: May the due date for the next inspection satisfy the requirements for the inspection date on the sticker or decal? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q02.cm Inspection date on decal vs. next periodic inspection date
If an inter modal container is attached to a chassis at the time of a periodic inspection, must the container also be inspected to comply with § 396.17 inspection requirements? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q13.cm Musts container on intermodal chassis be inspected during periodic inspection?
Question 2: May a driver who does not have the necessary experience perform the adjustment under directions issued by telephone by a qualified inspector? FMCSA-VM-396.25-Q02.cm May driver adjust brakes under hone directions from qualified inspector?
May a driver operating a CMV under a lease arrangement with a motor carrier, after being placed out of service for an hours of service violation, cancel the lease and continue to operate the vehicle as a private personal conveyance? FMCSA-HOS-395.13-Q02 Lease arrangements and out of service declarations
Are personnel involved in road testing CMVs across a State line subject to the FMCSRs? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q005 Applicability of FMCSRs to persons road testing CMVs
May a motor carrier that employs owner-operators who have their own operating authority issued by the ICC or the Surface Transportation Board transfer the responsibility for compliance with the FMCSRs to the owner-operators? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q017 Carrier responsibility for owner-operator compliance with FMCSRs T