WASHINGTON — U.S. trucking regulators want to ensure that carriers’ registered "principal place of business" is exactly just that.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says it’s concerned with how the definition is being interpreted and as a result has issued a regulatory guidance, effective August 12, 2009.

The document (which can be accessed by clicking here) is meant to provide enforcement officials with uniform information for use in determining which locations may be designated by a motor carrier as its principal place of business, which is the location where carriers are required to keep compliance records and make them available for review.

The FMCSA plainly defines principle place of business as "the single location designated by the motor carrier, normally its headquarters" and also the "physical location where the motor carrier conducts a significant portion of its business and maintains company records and where (senior-most) management … responsible for the administration, management and oversight of safety operations and compliance … reports to work."

Confusion seems to have risen because over the years FMCSA made provisions to the regulations permitting certain driver and vehicle records to be maintained at other terminals.