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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
Does a driver leasing company that hires, assigns, trains, and/or supervises drivers for a private or for-hire motor carrier become a motor carrier as defined by 49 CFR 390.5T? FMCSA-RG-390.5T-Q016 Driver leasing company as “motor carrier”
What is the applicability of the FMCSRs to motor carriers owning and operating school buses that contract with a municipality to provide pupil transportation services? FMCSA-RG-390.3T-Q014 Applicability of FMCSRs to school bus contractors
Do the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) alcohol and controlled substances testing regulations apply to employers and drivers in U.S. territories or possessions such as Puerto Rico and Guam? FMCSA-D&A-382.103-Q06 Applicability of drug and alcohol testing requirements to employers and drivers domiciled in the U.S. territories or possessions such as Puerto Rico and Guam
Guidance on whether an employee who holds a CDL and may drive occasionally must be in a random testing pool FMCSA-D&A-382.305-Q02 Guidance on whether an employee who holds a CDL and may drive occasionally must be in a random testing pool
Are automatic on-board recorders (AOBRDs) required to be designed and maintained to prevent team drivers in a non-driving duty status from making updates to their electronic record of duty status while the vehicle is in motion? FMCSA-ELD-HOS-395.15-Q04 When a non-driver may update their eROD
May a driver record sleeper berth time as off-duty time on line one of the record of duty status? FMCSA-HOS-395.1-Q26 Hours of Service Exceptions
Must a motor vehicle that meets the definition of a "commercial motor vehicle" in § 390.5 because it transports hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR parts 171-180) comply with the fuel FMCSA-VEH-393.65-Q02 Must a vehicle with a GVWR under 10,001 pounds hauling hazmat comply with Subpart E of Part 393?
How does an existing pillow bearing (shaft support) on a multiple driveshaft system affect the requirement? FMCSA-VEH-393.89-Q03 Pillow bearings on multiple driveshaft systems
(395.8-Q20) FMCSA-HOS-395.8-Q20 RODS and the 100 air-mile radius exemption
How does a Mexican motor carrier demonstrate that its insurance company complies with §387.11? FMCSA-INS-387.11-Q001 Mexican carrier compliance with 387.11