49 U.S.C. 13101, Transportation Policy

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[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]

[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between

January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]

[CITE: 49USC13101]

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION

PART B--MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS

CHAPTER 131--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 13101. Transportation policy

(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, Sec. 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 853.)

References 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, Sec. 102(a).

Effective Date

Chapter 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 701 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 302, 13506, 13541, 13703 of

this title; title 33 section 1803.