DOT/FMCSA Commercial Motor Vehicle Regulations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, are administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Their stated mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The rules require commercial drivers to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) under 49 CFR Part 383, limit driving and on-duty time under the Hours of Service rules in 49 CFR Part 395, and impose vehicle inspection, maintenance, and motor carrier registration requirements (including USDOT numbers). Contractors and trades businesses that operate qualifying commercial vehicles to haul equipment or materials across state lines may fall under these requirements.
Key features
- Commercial driver's license (CDL) standards (49 CFR Part 383)
- Hours of Service driving and on-duty time limits (49 CFR Part 395)
- Motor carrier registration and USDOT number requirements
- Vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance rules
- Driver qualification and drug/alcohol testing requirements