Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 480 / Act 181 of 1963
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 480.11a (2026)

Adoption of federal regulations; exceptions; definitions; applicability of act to bus operated by transit agency; applicability of subsection (1)(b) and sections 5(8) and 6(1); definitions.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ACT OF 1963


Act 181 of 1963


480.11a Adoption of federal regulations; exceptions; definitions; applicability of act to bus operated by transit agency; applicability of subsection (1)(b) and sections 5(8) and 6(1); definitions.

Sec. 1a.

    (1) This state adopts the following provisions of title 49 of the code of federal regulations on file with the office of the secretary of state, except where modified by this act:

    (a) Hazardous materials regulations under 49 CFR parts 105 through 180 except for the transportation of agricultural products for which an exception from the application of subchapter C of chapter I of subtitle B of title 49 of the code of federal regulations and 49 CFR part 172, subparts G and H, is provided under 49 CFR 173.5, is specifically authorized if the transportation is in compliance with this act and other state law.

    (b) Motor carrier safety regulations under 49 CFR parts 40, 356, 365, 368, 371 through 373, 375, 376, 379, 382, 383, 385, 387, 390 through 393, 395 through 399 including the appendices of each part, except for the following:

    (i) Except as provided in this subparagraph, where the term "United States department of transportation", "federal motor carrier safety administration", "federal motor carrier safety administrator", "director", "bureau of motor carrier safety", "pipeline and hazardous materials administration", or "associate administrator for hazardous materials safety" appears, it refers to the department of state police. If the term is being used for the purposes of 49 CFR part 397 as it relates to routing and movement of hazardous materials, it refers to the Michigan state transportation department.

    (ii) Where "interstate" appears, it means intrastate or interstate, or both, as applicable, except as specifically provided in this act.

    (iii) Where "special agent of the federal motor carrier safety administration", "administration personnel", or "hazardous materials enforcement specialist" appears, it either means a peace officer or an enforcement member of the motor carrier division of the department of state police.

    (iv) Where MCS 63 appears, it means MC 9 and MC 9b.

    (v) Where MCS 64 appears, it means UD-70.

    (vi) Exempt intracity zones and the regulations applicable to exempt intracity zones do not apply to this act.

    (2) This act does not apply to a bus operated by a public transit agency operating under any of the following:

    (a) A county, city, township, or village as provided by law, or other authority incorporated under 1963 PA 55, MCL 124.351 to 124.359. Each authority and governmental agency incorporated under 1963 PA 55, MCL 124.351 to 124.359, has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine its own contemplated routes, hours of service, estimated transit vehicle miles, costs of public transportation services, and projected capital improvements or projects within its service area.

    (b) An authority incorporated under the metropolitan transportation authorities act of 1967, 1967 PA 204, MCL 124.401 to 124.426, or that operates a transportation service under an interlocal agreement as that term is defined in section 2 of the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.502.

    (c) A contract entered into under 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 8, MCL 124.531 to 124.536, or 1951 PA 35, MCL 124.1 to 124.13.

    (d) An authority incorporated under the public transportation authority act, 1986 PA 196, MCL 124.451 to 124.479, or a nonprofit corporation organized under the nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192, that provides transportation services.

    (e) An authority financing public improvements to transportation systems under the revenue bond act of 1933, 1933 PA 94, MCL 141.101 to 141.140.

    (3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, subsection (1)(b) and sections 5(8) and 6(1) do not apply to a vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR 383.5 and that is operated in intrastate commerce as defined in 49 CFR 390.5. A vehicle to which subsection (1)(b) does not apply under this subsection remains subject to 49 CFR parts 391 through 393.

    (4) As used in this act:

    (a) "Hazardous material vehicle inspection or repair facility" means a commercial enterprise that performs inspections, certification, testing, or repairs to commercial motor vehicles transporting hazardous materials as required by 49 CFR parts 105 to 180 and includes motor carriers that perform the inspections, certification, testing, or repairs to vehicles owned or leased by the motor carrier.

    (b) "Medical examiner" means that term as defined in 49 CFR 390.5.

    (c) "State civil infraction" means that term as defined in section 113 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.113.

History: Add. 1973, Act 171, Eff. Mar. 29, 1974 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 23, Imd. Eff. Mar. 8, 1984 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 339, Eff. Apr. 2, 1991 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 265, Imd. Eff. Jan. 8, 1996 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 177, Imd. Eff. Oct. 20, 2005 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 50, Imd. Eff. Mar. 9, 2006 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 160, Imd. Eff. Sept. 30, 2011 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 231, Imd. Eff. June 29, 2012 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 559, Eff. Mar. 28, 2019

Compiler's Notes:

    For transfer of powers and duties of public service commission, department of licensing and regulatory affairs, under motor carrier safety act, 1963 PA 181, to Michigan state police, see E.R.O. No. 2015-3, compiled at MCL 460.21.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2007–2026 · leading case: Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp. Inc., 740 N.W.2d 720 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).
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Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp. Inc., 740 N.W.2d 720 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 16× “Effective January 8, 1996, Michigan adopted portions of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and the federal motor carrier safety regulations by enacting the MCSA and, more specifically, MCL 480.11a, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: (1) This state adopts the…”
Dep't of Transp. v. North Cent. Coop. LLC, 750 N.W.2d 234 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “11, incorporated into the MCSA, MCL 480.11a(1)(b), requires insurers who furnish the necessary insurance policies to be legally authorized to be "willing to designate a person upon whom process, issued by or under the authority of any court having jurisdiction of the subject…”
Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Co. (Mich. 2022). · cites it 9× “339271) (McMaster II), this time reasoning that Michigan’s adoption of federal motor carrier safety regulations at MCL 480.11a of the Motor Carrier Safety Act (the MCSA), MCL 480.”
Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Co. (Mich. 2022). · cites it 9× “339271) (McMaster II), this time reasoning that Michigan’s adoption of federal motor carrier safety regulations at MCL 480.11a of the Motor Carrier Safety Act (the MCSA), MCL 480.”
Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Co. (Mich. 2022). · cites it 9× “339271) (McMaster II), this time reasoning that Michigan’s adoption of federal motor carrier safety regulations at MCL 480.11a of the Motor Carrier Safety Act (the MCSA), MCL 480.”
Est. of Jason Allen v. Arbor Springs Water Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 6× “MCL 480.11a, by adopting 49 CFR 392.7(a) and 49 CFR 393.”
Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp., Inc., 748 N.W.2d 239 (Mich. 2008). “The Motor Carrier Safety Act at MCL 480.11a did not create an exception to the $1 million cap on property damages established by the Michigan no-fault act in MCL 500.”
James R Bradley Jr v. Prudential Sec. Inc (Mich. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “13; Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1963, 1963 PA 181 ; MCL 480.11a; MCL 480.17b; MCL 480.17d; Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300 ; MCL 257.”
Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 4× “The defendant argues that the common law duty which was owed to plaintiff under the common law was abrogated by the passage of MCL 480.11a. Under MCL 480.11a, Michigan adopted the federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations as provided by 49 CFR 392.”
Savoy Energy Lp v. Leon Beasinger (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “5 and MCL 480.11a(1)(b)] on Birch Valley Trail” and restricted any traffic to the hours of 10:00 a.”
Savoy Energy Lp v. Leon Beasinger (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “5 and MCL 480.11a(1)(b)] on Birch Valley Trail” and restricted any traffic to the hours of 10:00 a.”
Dean McMaster v. Dte Energy Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “We are aware that DTE argues that they owed no duty to this plaintiff because of MCL 480.11a, under which Michigan adopted the federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations as provided by 49 CFR 392.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 480.11a(1) — 1 case
Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp. Inc., 740 N.W.2d 720 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “Effective January 8, 1996, Michigan adopted portions of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and the federal motor carrier safety regulations by enacting the MCSA and, more specifically, MCL 480.11a, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: (1) This state adopts the…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 480.11a(1)(b) — 9 cases
Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp. Inc., 740 N.W.2d 720 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “Effective January 8, 1996, Michigan adopted portions of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and the federal motor carrier safety regulations by enacting the MCSA and, more specifically, MCL 480.11a, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: (1) This state adopts the…”
Dep't of Transp. v. North Cent. Coop. LLC, 750 N.W.2d 234 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). “11, incorporated into the MCSA, MCL 480.11a(1)(b), requires insurers who furnish the necessary insurance policies to be legally authorized to be "willing to designate a person upon whom process, issued by or under the authority of any court having jurisdiction of the subject…”
Est. of Jason Allen v. Arbor Springs Water Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2026). “MCL 480.11a, by adopting 49 CFR 392.7(a) and 49 CFR 393.”
Savoy Energy Lp v. Leon Beasinger (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “5 and MCL 480.11a(1)(b)] on Birch Valley Trail” and restricted any traffic to the hours of 10:00 a.”
Savoy Energy Lp v. Leon Beasinger (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “5 and MCL 480.11a(1)(b)] on Birch Valley Trail” and restricted any traffic to the hours of 10:00 a.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 480.11a(3) — 1 case
Est. of Jason Allen v. Arbor Springs Water Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2026). “MCL 480.11a, by adopting 49 CFR 392.7(a) and 49 CFR 393.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 480.11a(l) — 1 case
Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp. Inc., 740 N.W.2d 720 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “Effective January 8, 1996, Michigan adopted portions of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and the federal motor carrier safety regulations by enacting the MCSA and, more specifically, MCL 480.11a, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: (1) This state adopts the…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 480.11a(l)(b) — 1 case
Dep't of Transp. v. Initial Transp. Inc., 740 N.W.2d 720 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “Effective January 8, 1996, Michigan adopted portions of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and the federal motor carrier safety regulations by enacting the MCSA and, more specifically, MCL 480.11a, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: (1) This state adopts the…”
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