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Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73

§13901 Requirements for registration

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART B— - MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › Chapter CHAPTER 139— - REGISTRATION › § 13901

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You can only act as a motor carrier, freight forwarder, broker, or otherwise provide transportation under this chapter if you are registered to do that specific job. When the Secretary registers someone, the person gets a unique registration number for each type of authority. Each number will show what kind of service it covers (motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker). For every contract that needs registration, the registered person must say in writing which registration lets them provide the service.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §13901

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person may provide transportation as a motor carrier subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135 or service as a freight forwarder subject to jurisdiction under subchapter III of such chapter, or service as a broker for transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of such chapter only if the person is registered under this chapter to provide such transportation or service.
(b)(1)If the Secretary registers a person under this chapter to provide transportation or service, including as a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker, the Secretary shall issue a distinctive registration number to the person for each such authority to provide transportation or service for which the person is registered.
(2)A number issued under paragraph (1) shall include an indicator of the type of transportation or service for which the registration number is issued, including whether the registration number is issued for registration of a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker.
(c)For each agreement to provide transportation or service for which registration is required under this chapter, the registrant shall specify, in writing, the authority under which the person is providing such transportation or service.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2012—Pub. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “A person may provide transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 or be a broker for transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of that chapter, only if the person is registered under this chapter to provide the transportation or service.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.

Effective 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 13901

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73