republic-os/legal/us/code/title-49/chapter-131/section-13101.md

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LegalText	49 U.S.C. § 13101	Transportation policy	us	united_states_code	code_section	49	TRANSPORTATION	131	GENERAL PROVISIONS	13101	49 U.S.C. § 13101	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/s13101	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml	a291af0bfc2db5a4b1a787dde2ec36a148661c896858eaf344b15ee5ce30bec9	0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb	6a3f554e7bc86d6f9288740e0bea19ca2122ec0c8dab16723aeff32b62fd3dcd	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

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

Text

(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.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

References in TextThe 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 ProvisionsProvisions 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 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.