U.S. Code » Title 49 » Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART B— MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › Chapter CHAPTER 131— GENERAL PROVISIONS

49 U.S.C. § 13101

Transportation policy

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(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.(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 853.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

The Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(C), is Pub. L. 97–261, Sept. 20, 1982, 96 Stat. 1102. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1982 Amendment note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10101 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 43 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass'n v. Supervalu, Inc., 651 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2011).
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Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass'n v. Supervalu, Inc., 651 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2011). · cites it 2× “803 [codified at 49 U.S.C. § 13101 et seq. ]. The ICC Termination Act included provisions for the newly revised MCA-II.”
DHX, INC. v. Surface Transp. Bd., 501 F.3d 1080 (9th Cir. 2007). · cites it 3× “” In addition, the STB stated that the anti-discrimination provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act had been repealed for water carriers by the ICCTA, and rejected DHX’s argument *1086 that a discrimination claim could instead be based upon the general statement of…”
Jackson v. Wise, 249 So. 3d 845 (La. Ct. App. 2018). “Congress dissolved the ICC when it passed the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995 and replaced it with, among other agencies, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA").”
S. Furniture Leasing v. YRC, 989 F.3d 1141 (10th Cir. 2021). “5 Similarly, § 14704(a)(2) states: “A carrier or broker providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 [ 49 U.”
Cent. Freight Lines, Inc. v. United States, 87 Fed. Cl. 104 (Fed. Cl. 2009). · cites it 2× “Similarly, this court also rejects the plaintiff's argument that 49 U.S.C. § 13101 (1995), which sets forth broad transportation policy goals, provides a basis for Tucker Act jurisdiction.”
Marrier v. New Penn Motor Express, Inc., 140 F. Supp. 2d 326 (D. Vt. 2001). · cites it 2× “Private right of action for personal injury The Marriers bring their first claim under the Interstate Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 13101 et seq. Specifically, they rely on 49 U.”
Tri-State Coach Lines, Inc. v. Metro. Pier & Exposition Auth., 732 N.E.2d 1137 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 2× “803 (codified at 49 U.S.C. § 13101 et seq. (Supp. 1997)), which became effective January 1, 1996.”
Certain Underwriter's at Lloyd's of London v. Transcarriers Inc., 107 S.W.3d 496 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). “or § 13531] shall issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it receives for transportation under this part [ 49 U.S.C.S. §§ 13101 et seq.]. That carrier and any other carrier that delivers the property and is providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under…”
Castro v. Budget Rent-A-Car Sys., Inc., 65 Cal. Rptr. 3d 430 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007). ““The Surface Transportation Board (formerly the Interstate Commerce Commission[ 5 ]) and the Secretary of Transportation enforce the United States Government’s transportation policy with regard to transportation by motor carrier ( 49 U.S.C. § 13101 (a)(2)), and the Board has…”
Stewart v. Mitchell Transp., 241 F. Supp. 2d 1216 (D. Kan. 2002). “at 329 (quoting 49 U.S.C. § 13101 (a)(1)(B)). Applying this language, the court reasoned that “at least one of the purposes of the ITA was to ensure safety in the operation of motor carriers.”
Lamm v. Bekins Van Lines Co., 139 F. Supp. 2d 1300 (M.D. Ala. 2001). “Further evidence of Congress’s intent to establish a system of joint and complementary state-federal authority is contained in the list of purposes in 49 U.S.C.A. § 13101 , entitled “Transportation policy”, including a statement in § 13101(3)(A) of an intent “to cooperate with…”
Harris Cnty. Wrecker Owners for Equal Opportunity v. City of Houston, 943 F. Supp. 711 (S.D. Tex. 1996). “§ 13506 (b) the Secretary of Transportation and the Surface Transportation Board may not exercise jurisdiction over intrastate towing unless they find it necessary to do so to carry out the interstate transportation policy of the United States Government as expressed in 49…”
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