Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 65-15-101 (2026)

Purpose - Participation in the unified carrier registration system

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) It is declared that the legislation contained in this part is enacted for the sole purpose of promoting and conserving the interest and convenience of the public by conferring upon the department of revenue and the department of safety the power and authority, and making it the duty of the department of revenue and the department of safety to supervise and regulate the transportation of persons and property by motor vehicle over or upon the public highways of this state, and to supervise and regulate certain businesses closely allied with such motor transportation, so as to:
- (1) Regulate, foster, promote and preserve proper and economically sound transportation and authorize and permit proper coordination of all transportation facilities;
- (2) Relieve existing and future undue burdens upon the highways arising by reason of their use by motor vehicles;
- (3) Protect the welfare and safety of the traveling and shipping public in their use of the highways, and in their contact with the agencies of motor transportation and allied occupations; and
- (4) Protect the property of the state and its highways from unreasonable, improper or excessive use.

(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that this state participate in the unified carrier registration system beginning with the date that it is established by the secretary of the United States department of transportation, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 13908. Pursuant to this intent, the commissioner of revenue is authorized to participate in the unified carrier registration plan and agreement established in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 14504a, and to file on behalf of this state the plan required by 49 U.S.C. § 14504a(e).

(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, on and after the date on which the secretary of the United States department of transportation establishes the unified carrier registration system in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 13908, no foreign or domestic motor carrier, motor private carrier, leasing company, broker or freight forwarder, as defined in title 49 of the United States Code, shall operate any motor vehicles on the highways of this state without first registering with a base state under the unified carrier registration system and paying all fees required under the federal Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005, compiled generally throughout title 49 of the United States Code.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, on and after the date on which the secretary of the United States department of transportation establishes the unified carrier registration system in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 13908, the commissioner of revenue shall follow rules governing the unified carrier registration agreement issued under the unified carrier registration plan by its board of directors. The commissioner shall follow rules and collect fee assessments set by the federal secretary of transportation from foreign and domestic motor carriers, motor private carriers, leasing companies, brokers, and freight forwarders, and do all things necessary to enable this state to participate in the federal unified carrier registration agreement pursuant to the federal Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005.

Acts 1933, ch. 119, § 21; C. Supp. 1950, § 5501.23 (Williams, § 5501.21); impl. am. Acts 1955, ch. 69, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 65-1501; Acts 1995, ch. 305, § 30; 2007, ch. 484, § 97.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2022 · leading case: Mason v. Seaton, 942 S.W.2d 470 (Tenn. 1997).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Mason v. Seaton, 942 S.W.2d 470 (Tenn. 1997). · cites it 2× “There the claim for retaliatory discharge was based upon a discharge caused by an employee’s refusal to violate the safety provisions of the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act, Tenn.Code Ann. § 65-15-101 (1993). The plaintiffs were discharged because they refused to violate…”

Jackson Express, Inc. v. Tennessee Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 679 S.W.2d 942 (Tenn. 1984). · cites it 4× “Entry by motor carriers into the state transportation system is governed by the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act, T.C.A. § 65-15-101 et seq. (1982 & Supp.1984).”

Reynolds v. Ozark Motor Lines, Inc., 887 S.W.2d 822 (Tenn. 1994). · cites it 2× “Section 65-15-101(3) declares that one of the purposes of the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act is to “[pjrotect the welfare and safety of the traveling and shipping public in their use of the highways, and in their contact with the agencies of motor transportation and allied…”

State v. McClure, 74 S.W.3d 362 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Tennessee Code Annotated section 65-15-101 grants the Tennessee Department of Safety the power and authority “to supervise and regulate the transportation of persons and property by motor vehicle over or upon the public highways of this state, and to supervise and regulate…”

United States v. Maldonado, 356 F.3d 130 (1st Cir. 2004). “Federal regulations alone cover such things as drivers’ qualifications, drivers’ hours of service, inspection, repair and maintenance of trucks, vehicle parts and accessories, reporting of accidents, recording of itineraries, safe handling of cargo, transportation of hazardous…”

United States v. Roberto Dominguez-Prieto, 923 F.2d 464 (6th Cir. 1991). “See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 65-15-101 through 65-15-126 (1982 and 1990 Supp.”

Fed. Express Corp. v. Tennessee Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 693 F. Supp. 598 (M.D. Tenn. 1988). · cites it 2× “In an administrative action, the Tennessee Public Service Commission [TPSC] has determined that Federal Express Corporation engages in intrastate motor carriage and is therefore subject to regulation as a motor carrier under the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §…”

England v. Fleetguard, Inc., 878 F. Supp. 1058 (M.D. Tenn. 1995). “§§ 65-15-101 et seq. The THRA also includes policies that warrant an exception from the employment-at-will doctrine.”

Ballentine Express Corp. v. EAN Holdings, LLC (W.D. Tenn. 2022). · cites it 2× “And its other provision states that “[n]o motor carrier subject to the provisions of T.C.A. §§ 65-15-101 et seq., shall engage in transportation of passengers or property for compensation” until that carrier files an insurance policy or surety bond in the right amount under Tenn.”

Sec'y of the Army ex rel. Dep't of Def. v. Tennessee Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 807 S.W.2d 282 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “T.C.A. § 65-15-101 declares the duties of the Commission to: (1) Regulate, foster, promote and preserve proper and economically sound transportation and authorize and permit proper coordination of all transportation facilities; (2) Relieve existing and future undue burdens upon…”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 65-15-101(3) — 1 case

Reynolds v. Ozark Motor Lines, Inc., 887 S.W.2d 822 (Tenn. 1994). “Section 65-15-101(3) declares that one of the purposes of the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act is to “[pjrotect the welfare and safety of the traveling and shipping public in their use of the highways, and in their contact with the agencies of motor transportation and allied…”

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