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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
Documents required for accident register FMCSA-RG-390.15-Q003 Documents required for accident register
What is the definition of ‘‘body’’ with respect to trucks and trailers? FMCSA-VEH-393.11-Q01
Footnote 5, requires that each converter dolly be equipped with turn signals at the rear FMCSA-VEH-393.11-Q03 Turn signals at the rear of converter dolly
Section 390.23 provides that parts 390 through 399 do not apply to any motor carrier or driver operating a CMV to provide direct assistance in an emergency. Is a motor carrier or driver required to keep a record of the driver’s on-duty or driving time whi FMCSA-RG-390.23-Q002 Emergency, Recordkeeping, Direct Assistance, 390.23
What are the lighting requirements when a tow truck is pulling a wrecked or disabled vehicle? FMCSA-VEH-393.17-Q01
Must additional lamps that are not required be operative if all required lamps are operative? FMCSA-VEH-393.24-Q01 Operation of additional lamps
Are lighting devices on mobile homes/house trailers required to be permanently mounted? FMCSA-VEH-393.25-Q01
What constitutes a “serious pattern” of violations? FMCSA-RG-390-SPECIALTOPICS-Q01 What is a “serious pattern” of violations?
Are there any special lighting requirements for large containers? FMCSA-VEH-393.25-Q02 Lighting requirements for large containers
What are the lighting requirements when a container assumes the structural requirements of a trailer? FMCSA-VEH-393.25-Q03 Lighting requirements for containers as structural trailers