Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A communication device, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE), may identify a default modulation and coding scheme table and a preconfigured modulation and coding scheme table associated with a resource pool. The UE may receive, from a transmitting communication device, an indication of the preconfigured modulation and coding scheme table to use for upcoming sidelink communications. The UE may then communicate based on the preconfigured modulation and coding scheme table.