§14101 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

§14101 Providing transportation and service

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART B— - MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › Chapter CHAPTER 141— - OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › § 14101

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Carriers covered by chapter 135 must provide transportation or service when reasonably asked. Motor carriers must also provide safe, adequate service, equipment, and facilities. A carrier may sign a written contract with a shipper (not for household goods in section 13102(10)(A)) to set specific services, rates, and conditions. If both parties clearly give up rights and remedies in writing for that trip, those waived rights can’t be used later. They cannot give up rules about registration, insurance, or safety fitness. If the contract is broken, the only legal remedy is a lawsuit in the proper State court or a U.S. district court, unless the parties agree otherwise.

Title 49, §14101

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A carrier providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 shall provide the transportation or service on reasonable request. In addition, a motor carrier shall provide safe and adequate service, equipment, and facilities.

(b)(1)A carrier providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 may enter into a contract with a shipper, other than for the movement of household goods described in section 13102(10)(A), to provide specified services under specified rates and conditions. If the shipper and carrier, in writing, expressly waive any or all rights and remedies under this part for the transportation covered by the contract, the transportation provided under the contract shall not be subject to the waived rights and remedies and may not be subsequently challenged on the ground that it violates the waived rights and remedies. The parties may not waive the provisions governing registration, insurance, or safety fitness.

(2)The exclusive remedy for any alleged breach of a contract entered into under this subsection shall be an action in an appropriate State court or United States district court, unless the parties otherwise agree.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11101 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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.