republic-os/legal/us/code/title-49/chapter-143/section-14303.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	corpus	kind	title_number	title_name	chapter_number	chapter_name	section	citation	status	release_point	release_date	source	source_url	source_identifier	source_file	source_hash	raw_snapshot_hash	text_hash	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
LegalText	49 U.S.C. § 14303	Consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control of motor carriers of passengers	us	united_states_code	code_section	49	TRANSPORTATION	143	FINANCE	14303	49 U.S.C. § 14303	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc49@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t49/s14303	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml	3ba7cef8be48a3140eabf0923dacc82490f2b95c1684d0d7f7c95e50117de318	0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb	fdeea958ae413ed3ec7b38d4bdefd4dcd644ed4da3fb343966b91b3ef180f591	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

49 U.S.C. § 14303 - Consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control of motor carriers of passengers

Text

(a) Approval Required.— The following transactions involving motor carriers of passengers subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135 may be carried out only with the approval of the Board:

(1) Consolidation or merger of the properties or franchises of at least 2 carriers into one operation for the ownership, management, and operation of the previously separately owned properties.

(2) A purchase, lease, or contract to operate property of another carrier by any number of carriers.

(3) Acquisition of control of a carrier by any number of carriers.

(4) Acquisition of control of at least 2 carriers by a person that is not a carrier.

(5) Acquisition of control of a carrier by a person that is not a carrier but that controls any number of carriers.

(b) Standard for Approval.— The Board shall approve and authorize a transaction under this section when it finds the transaction is consistent with the public interest. The Board shall consider at least the following:

(1) The effect of the proposed transaction on the adequacy of transportation to the public.

(2) The total fixed charges that result from the proposed transaction.

(3) The interest of carrier employees affected by the proposed transaction.

The Board may impose conditions governing the transaction.

(c) Determination of Completeness of Application.— Within 30 days after the date on which an application is filed under this section, the Board shall either publish a notice of the application in the Federal Register or reject the application if it is incomplete.

(d) Comments.— Written comments about an application may be filed with the Board within 45 days after the date on which notice of the application is published under subsection (c).

(e) Deadlines.— The Board shall conclude evidentiary proceedings by the 240th day after the date on which notice of the application is published under subsection (c). The Board shall issue a final decision by the 180th day after the conclusion of the evidentiary proceedings. The Board may extend a time period under this subsection; except that the total of all such extensions with respect to any application shall not exceed 90 days.

(f) Effect of Approval.— A carrier or corporation participating in or resulting from a transaction approved by the Board under this section, or exempted by the Board from the application of this section pursuant to section 13541, may carry out the transaction, own and operate property, and exercise control or franchises acquired through the transaction without the approval of a State authority. A carrier, corporation, or person participating in the approved or exempted transaction is exempt from the antitrust laws and from all other law, including State and municipal law, as necessary to let that person carry out the transaction, hold, maintain, and operate property, and exercise control or franchises acquired through the transaction.

(g) Limitation on Applicability.— This section shall not apply to transactions involving carriers whose aggregate gross operating revenues were not more than $2,000,000 during a period of 12 consecutive months ending not more than 6 months before the date of the agreement of the parties.

(h) Applicability of Certain Provisions.— When the Board approves and authorizes a transaction under this section in which a person not a carrier providing transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135 acquires control of at least 1 carrier subject to such jurisdiction, the person is subject, as a carrier, to the following provisions of this title that apply to the carrier being acquired by that person, to the extent specified by the Board: sections 504(f), 14121–14123, 14901(a), and 14907.

(i) Interim Approval.— Pending determination of an application filed under this section, the Board may approve, for a period of not more than 180 days, the operation of the properties sought to be acquired by the person proposing in the application to acquire those properties, when it appears that failure to do so may result in destruction of or injury to those properties or substantially interfere with their future usefulness in providing adequate and continuous service to the public. Transportation provided by a motor carrier under a grant of approval under this subsection is subject to this part.

(j) Supplemental Orders.— When cause exists, the Board may issue appropriate orders supplemental to an order made in a proceeding under this section.

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 897.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsProvisions similar to those in this section were contained in sections 11341, 11343, 11344, 11345a, 11348, 11349, and 11351 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection 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.