49 U.S.C. § 13101 — Transportation policy

submitted 31 years ago by Pub. L. 104-88 to r/title-49-TRANSPORTATION · 434 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

This law sets the U.S. government's overall policy for overseeing transportation. It aims for safe, efficient, fair-priced transportation across all modes, including trucking. It also sets special goals for motor carriers, buses, and water carriers.

(a) In general: To help build, coordinate, and protect a transportation system that meets the country's needs (including the Postal Service and national defense), it's U.S. policy to oversee transportation in these ways: In overseeing all modes of transportation, the government aims to: recognize and protect what each mode of transportation does best; promote transportation that is safe, adequate, economical, and efficient; encourage sound economic conditions in transportation, including among carriers; encourage reasonable rates, without unfair discrimination or destructive competition; work with states and their officials on transportation matters; and encourage fair wages and working conditions in the industry. In overseeing motor carriers specifically, the goal is competitive, efficient service that: encourages fair competition and reasonable rates for carriers moving property; promotes efficiency and quick decisions when needed; meets the needs of shippers, receivers, passengers, and consumers; offers a range of quality and price choices for changing markets; makes the best use of equipment and energy; lets well-run carriers earn fair profits, raise money, and pay fair wages; keeps service available to small communities, small shippers, and intrastate bus routes; keeps commuter bus service running; improves and protects a sound, safe, competitive, privately-owned motor carrier system; increases minority participation in the motor carrier industry; and promotes transportation that combines different modes. In overseeing bus transportation of passengers, the goal is to: work with states to encourage them to regulate intrastate service in line with this law's goals; set federal procedures ensuring states regulate consistently with this law; and make sure federal reforms under section 31138 and the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 aren't undone by state regulation. In overseeing water carriers, the goal is to encourage service and price competition in noncontiguous domestic trade — routes not connected by land, such as to Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. (b) Administration to carry out policy: This part must be run and enforced to achieve this policy and serve the public interest.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a)In General.—

To ensure the development, coordination, and preservation of a transportation system that meets the transportation needs of the United States, including the United States Postal Service and national defense, it is the policy of the United States Government to oversee the modes of transportation and—

(1)

in overseeing those modes—

(A)

to recognize and preserve the inherent advantage of each mode of transportation;

(B)

to promote safe, adequate, economical, and efficient transportation;

(C)

to encourage sound economic conditions in transportation, including sound economic conditions among carriers;

(D)

to encourage the establishment and maintenance of reasonable rates for transportation, without unreasonable discrimination or unfair or destructive competitive practices;

(E)

to cooperate with each State and the officials of each State on transportation matters; and

(F)

to encourage fair wages and working conditions in the transportation industry;

(2)

in overseeing transportation by motor carrier, to promote competitive and efficient transportation services in order to—

(A)

encourage fair competition, and reasonable rates for transportation by motor carriers of property;

(B)

promote efficiency in the motor carrier transportation system and to require fair and expeditious decisions when required;

(C)

meet the needs of shippers, receivers, passengers, and consumers;

(D)

allow a variety of quality and price options to meet changing market demands and the diverse requirements of the shipping and traveling public;

(E)

allow the most productive use of equipment and energy resources;

(F)

enable efficient and well-managed carriers to earn adequate profits, attract capital, and maintain fair wages and working conditions;

(G)

provide and maintain service to small communities and small shippers and intrastate bus services;

(H)

provide and maintain commuter bus operations;

(I)

improve and maintain a sound, safe, and competitive privately owned motor carrier system;

(J)

promote greater participation by minorities in the motor carrier system;

(K)

promote intermodal transportation;

(3)

in overseeing transportation by motor carrier of passengers—

(A)

to cooperate with the States on transportation matters for the purpose of encouraging the States to exercise intrastate regulatory jurisdiction in accordance with the objectives of this part;

(B)

to provide Federal procedures which ensure that intrastate regulation is exercised in accordance with this part; and

(C)

to ensure that Federal reform initiatives enacted by section 31138 and the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 are not nullified by State regulatory actions; and

(4)

in overseeing transportation by water carrier, to encourage and promote service and price competition in the noncontiguous domestic trade.

(b)Administration To Carry Out Policy.—

This part shall be administered and enforced to carry out the policy of this section and to promote the public interest.

Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 853.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1995Enacted · Pub. L. 104-88 · 109 Stat. 853

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 104-88 on 1995-12-29.

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