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
Do telephone calls to or from the motor carrier that momentarily interrupt a driver’s rest period constitute a change of the driver’s duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.2-Q05 Hours of Service Definitions
How should I secure the accessories for an item of construction equipment which weighs 4,536 kg (10,000 lb.) or more, if the accessory devices would extend beyond the width of the trailer if they are lowered to the deck for transport? FMCSA-RG-393.130Q02 How should the overwidth accessories of construction equipment be secured?
Driver vehicle inspection reports FMCSA-VM-396.11-Q004 Driver vehicle inspection reports
Question 5: Is new equipment required to pass a periodic inspection under § 396.17? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q05.cm Periodic inspection requirements for new equipment
Can a CMV with tires marked “Not for Highway Use” meet the periodic inspection requirements? FMCSA-VM-396.17-Q07.cm
Question 1: May an entity other than a motor carrier maintain the evidence of inspector qualifications required by § 396.19(b)? FMCSA-VM-396.19-Q01 May a garage maintain evidence of inspector qualifications
Do the definitions of "farm", "farmer" and "agricultural crops" apply to greenhouse operations? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q001 Applicability of farm-related definitions to greenhouse operations
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”
If a high-profile COE truck or truck-tractor is equipped with a seat on the passenger’s side, must steps and handholds be provided for any person entering or exiting on that side of the vehicle? FMCSA-RG-399.207-FAQ01 Access requirements for truck and truck-tractor cabs
Once an employee is randomly tested during a calendar year, is his/her name removed from the pool of names for the calendar year? FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q06 Guidance that the names of drivers tested earlier in the year must be returned to the pool for each new selection