1. U.S. Code
  2. title 49
  3. subtitle IV
  4. part B
  5. chapter 135
  6. subchapter I
  7. § 13501

Collapse to view only § 13501. General jurisdiction

§ 13501. General jurisdictionThe Secretary and the Board have jurisdiction, as specified in this part, over transportation by motor carrier and the procurement of that transportation, to the extent that passengers, property, or both, are transported by motor carrier—
(1) between a place in—
(A) a State and a place in another State;
(B) a State and another place in the same State through another State;
(C) the United States and a place in a territory or possession of the United States to the extent the transportation is in the United States;
(D) the United States and another place in the United States through a foreign country to the extent the transportation is in the United States; or
(E) the United States and a place in a foreign country to the extent the transportation is in the United States; and
(2) in a reservation under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States or on a public highway.
(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 859.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13501

§ 13502. Exempt transportation between Alaska and other States
To the extent that transportation by a motor carrier between a place in Alaska and a place in another State under section 13501 is provided in a foreign country—
(1) neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction to impose a requirement over conduct of the motor carrier in the foreign country conflicting with a requirement of that country; but
(2) the motor carrier, as a condition of providing transportation in the United States, shall comply, with respect to all transportation provided between Alaska and the other State, with the requirements of this part related to rates and practices applicable to the transportation.
(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 859.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13502

§ 13503. Exempt motor vehicle transportation in terminal areas
(a)Transportation by Carriers.—
(1)In general.—Neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this subchapter over transportation by motor vehicle provided in a terminal area when the transportation—
(A) is a transfer, collection, or delivery;
(B) is provided by—
(i) a rail carrier subject to jurisdiction under chapter 105;
(ii) a water carrier subject to jurisdiction under subchapter II of this chapter; or
(iii) a freight forwarder subject to jurisdiction under subchapter III of this chapter; and
(C) is incidental to transportation or service provided by the carrier or freight forwarder that is subject to jurisdiction under chapter 105 of this title or under subchapter II or III of this chapter.
(2)Applicability of other provisions.—Transportation exempt from jurisdiction under paragraph (1) of this subsection is subject to jurisdiction under chapter 105 when provided by such a rail carrier, under subchapter II of this chapter when provided by such a water carrier, and under subchapter III of this chapter when provided by such a freight forwarder.
(b)Transportation by Agent.—
(1)In general.—Except to the extent provided by paragraph (2) of this subsection, neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this subchapter over transportation by motor vehicle provided in a terminal area when the transportation—
(A) is a transfer, collection, or delivery; and
(B) is provided by a person as an agent or under other arrangement for—
(i) a rail carrier subject to jurisdiction under chapter 105 of this title;
(ii) a motor carrier subject to jurisdiction under this subchapter;
(iii) a water carrier subject to jurisdiction under subchapter II of this chapter; or
(iv) a freight forwarder subject to jurisdiction under subchapter III of this chapter.
(2)Treatment of transportation by principal.—Transportation exempt from jurisdiction under paragraph (1) of this subsection is considered transportation provided by the carrier or service provided by the freight forwarder for whom the transportation was provided and is subject to jurisdiction under chapter 105 of this title when provided for such a rail carrier, under this subchapter when provided for such a motor carrier, under subchapter II of this chapter when provided for such a water carrier, and under subchapter III of this chapter when provided for such a freight forwarder.
(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 860.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13503

§ 13504. Exempt motor carrier transportation entirely in one State

Neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this subchapter over transportation, except transportation of household goods, by a motor carrier operating solely within the State of Hawaii. The State of Hawaii may regulate transportation exempt from jurisdiction under this section and, to the extent provided by a motor carrier operating solely within the State of Hawaii, transportation exempt under section 13503 of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 860.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13504

§ 13505. Transportation furthering a primary business
(a)In General.—Neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this part over the transportation of property by motor vehicle when—
(1) the property is transported by a person engaged in a business other than transportation; and
(2) the transportation is within the scope of, and furthers a primary business (other than transportation) of the person.
(b)Corporate Families.—
(1)In general.—Neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this part over transportation of property by motor vehicle for compensation provided by a person who is a member of a corporate family for other members of such corporate family.
(2)Definition.—In this section, “corporate family” means a group of corporations consisting of a parent corporation and all subsidiaries in which the parent corporation owns directly or indirectly a 100 percent interest.
(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 861.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13505

§ 13506. Miscellaneous motor carrier transportation exemptions
(a)In General.—Neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this part over—
(1) a motor vehicle transporting only school children and teachers to or from school;
(2) a motor vehicle providing taxicab service;
(3) a motor vehicle owned or operated by or for a hotel and only transporting hotel patrons between the hotel and the local station of a carrier;
(4) a motor vehicle controlled and operated by a farmer and transporting—
(A) the farmer’s agricultural or horticultural commodities and products; or
(B) supplies to the farm of the farmer;
(5) a motor vehicle controlled and operated by a cooperative association (as defined by section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j(a))) or by a federation of cooperative associations if the federation has no greater power or purposes than a cooperative association, except that if the cooperative association or federation provides transportation for compensation between a place in a State and a place in another State, or between a place in a State and another place in the same State through another State—
(A) for a nonmember that is not a farmer, cooperative association, federation, or the United States Government, the transportation (except for transportation otherwise exempt under this subchapter)—
(i) shall be limited to transportation incidental to the primary transportation operation of the cooperative association or federation and necessary for its effective performance; and
(ii) may not exceed in each fiscal year 25 percent of the total transportation of the cooperative association or federation between those places, measured by tonnage; and
(B) the transportation for all nonmembers may not exceed in each fiscal year, measured by tonnage, the total transportation between those places for the cooperative association or federation and its members during that fiscal year;
(6) transportation by motor vehicle of—
(A) ordinary livestock;
(B) agricultural or horticultural commodities (other than manufactured products thereof);
(C) commodities listed as exempt in the Commodity List incorporated in ruling numbered 107, March 19, 1958, Bureau of Motor Carriers, Interstate Commerce Commission, other than frozen fruits, frozen berries, frozen vegetables, cocoa beans, coffee beans, tea, bananas, or hemp, or wool imported from a foreign country, wool tops and noils, or wool waste (carded, spun, woven, or knitted);
(D) cooked or uncooked fish, whether breaded or not, or frozen or fresh shellfish, or byproducts thereof not intended for human consumption, other than fish or shellfish that have been treated for preserving, such as canned, smoked, pickled, spiced, corned, or kippered products; and
(E) livestock and poultry feed and agricultural seeds and plants, if such products (excluding products otherwise exempt under this paragraph) are transported to a site of agricultural production or to a business enterprise engaged in the sale to agricultural producers of goods used in agricultural production;
(7) a motor vehicle used only to distribute newspapers;
(8)
(A) transportation of passengers by motor vehicle incidental to transportation by aircraft;
(B) transportation of property (including baggage) by motor vehicle as part of a continuous movement which, prior or subsequent to such part of the continuous movement, has been or will be transported by an air carrier or (to the extent so agreed by the United States and approved by the Secretary) by a foreign air carrier; or
(C) transportation of property by motor vehicle in lieu of transportation by aircraft because of adverse weather conditions or mechanical failure of the aircraft or other causes due to circumstances beyond the control of the carrier or shipper;
(9) the operation of a motor vehicle in a national park or national monument;
(10) a motor vehicle carrying not more than 15 individuals in a single, daily roundtrip to commute to and from work;
(11) transportation of used pallets and used empty shipping containers (including intermodal cargo containers), and other used shipping devices (other than containers or devices used in the transportation of motor vehicles or parts of motor vehicles);
(12) transportation of natural, crushed, vesicular rock to be used for decorative purposes;
(13) transportation of wood chips;
(14) brokers for motor carriers of passengers, except as provided in section 13904(d); 1
1 See References in Text note below.
(15) transportation of broken, crushed, or powdered glass; or
(16) the transportation of passengers by 9 to 15 passenger motor vehicles operated by youth or family camps that provide recreational or educational activities.
(b)Exempt Unless Otherwise Necessary.—Except to the extent the Secretary or Board, as applicable, finds it necessary to exercise jurisdiction to carry out the transportation policy of section 13101, neither the Secretary nor the Board has jurisdiction under this part over—
(1) transportation provided entirely in a municipality, in contiguous municipalities, or in a zone that is adjacent to, and commercially a part of, the municipality or municipalities, except—
(A) when the transportation is under common control, management, or arrangement for a continuous carriage or shipment to or from a place outside the municipality, municipalities, or zone; or
(B) that in transporting passengers over a route between a place in a State and a place in another State, or between a place in a State and another place in the same State through another State, the transportation is exempt from jurisdiction under this part only if the motor carrier operating the motor vehicle also is lawfully providing intrastate transportation of passengers over the entire route under the laws of each State through which the route runs;
(2) transportation by motor vehicle provided casually, occasionally, or reciprocally but not as a regular occupation or business, except when a broker or other person sells or offers for sale passenger transportation provided by a person authorized to transport passengers by motor vehicle under an application pending, or registration issued, under this part;
(3) the emergency towing of an accidentally wrecked or disabled motor vehicle; or
(4) transportation by a motor vehicle designed or used to transport not fewer than 9, and not more than 15, passengers (including the driver), whether operated alone or with a trailer attached for the transport of recreational equipment, if—
(A) the motor vehicle is operated by a person that provides recreational activities;
(B) the transportation is provided within a 150 air-mile radius of the location at which passengers initially boarded the motor vehicle at the outset of the trip; and
(C) in the case of a motor vehicle transporting passengers over a route between a place in a State and a place in another State, the person operating the motor vehicle is lawfully providing transportation of passengers over the entire route in accordance with applicable State law.
(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 861; amended Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(8), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2204; Pub. L. 107–298, § 3(b)(1), Nov. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 2343; Pub. L. 114–113, div. L, title I, § 136, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2851; Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title III, § 23012, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 771.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13506

§ 13507. Mixed loads of regulated and unregulated property

A motor carrier of property providing transportation exempt from jurisdiction under paragraph (6), (8), (11), (12), or (13) of section 13506(a) may transport property under such paragraph in the same vehicle and at the same time as property which the carrier is authorized to transport under a registration issued under section 13902(a). Such transportation shall not affect the unregulated status of such exempt property or the regulated status of the property which the carrier is authorized to transport under such registration.

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 863.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13507

§ 13508. Limited authority over cooperative associations
(a)In General.—Notwithstanding section 13506(a)(5), any cooperative association (as defined by section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j(a))) or a federation of cooperative associations shall prepare and maintain such records relating to transportation provided by such association or federation, in such form as the Secretary or the Board may require by regulation to carry out the provisions of such section 13506(a)(5). The Secretary or the Board, or an employee designated by the Secretary or the Board, may on demand and display of proper credentials—
(1) inspect and examine the lands, buildings, and equipment of such association or federation; and
(2) inspect and copy any record of such association or federation.
(b)Reports.—Notwithstanding section 13506(a)(5), the Secretary or the Board may require a cooperative association or federation of cooperative associations described in subsection (a) of this section to file reports with the Secretary or the Board containing answers to questions about transportation provided by such association or federation.
(c)Enforcement.—The Secretary or the Board may bring a civil action to enforce subsections (a) and (b) of this section or a regulation or order of the Secretary or the Board issued under this section, when violated by a cooperative association or federation of cooperative associations described in subsection (a).
(d)Reporting Penalties.—
(1)In general.—A person required to make a report to the Secretary or the Board, answer a question, or maintain a record under this section, or an officer, agent, or employee of that person, that—
(A) does not make the report;
(B) does not specifically, completely, and truthfully answer the question; or
(C) does not maintain the record in the form and manner prescribed under this section;
is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation and for not more than $250 for each additional day the violation continues.
(2)Venue.—Trial in a civil action under paragraph (1) shall be in the judicial district in which—
(A) the cooperative association or federation of cooperative associations has its principal office;
(B) the violation occurred; or
(C) the offender is found.
Process in the action may be served in the judicial district of which the offender is an inhabitant or in which the offender may be found.
(e)Evasion Penalties.—A person, or an officer, employee, or agent of that person, that by any means knowingly and willfully tries to evade compliance with the provisions of this section shall be fined at least $200 but not more than $500 for the first violation and at least $250 but not more than $2,000 for a subsequent violation.
(f)Recordkeeping Penalties.—A person required to make a report, answer a question, or maintain a record under this section, or an officer, agent, or employee of that person, that—
(1) willfully does not make that report;
(2) willfully does not specifically, completely, and truthfully answer that question in 30 days from the date that the question is required to be answered;
(3) willfully does not maintain that record in the form and manner prescribed;
(4) knowingly and willfully falsifies, destroys, mutilates, or changes that report or record;
(5) knowingly and willfully files a false report or record under this section;
(6) knowingly and willfully makes a false or incomplete entry in that record about a business-related fact or transaction; or
(7) knowingly and willfully maintains a record in violation of a regulation or order issued under this section;
shall be fined not more than $5,000.
(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 863.)

CITE AS: 49 USC 13508