§14303 Consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control of motor carriers of passengers

Summary

You must get the Board’s approval before doing major deals that change who owns, runs, or controls passenger motor carriers under federal jurisdiction (subchapter I of chapter 135). That includes mergers or consolidations, buying, leasing, or contracting to run another carrier’s operations, and any takeover or control of one or more carriers by other carriers or by non-carriers. The Board will approve a deal only if it is in the public interest. The Board will look at how the deal affects service for the public, the total fixed charges that result, and the interests of the carrier employees. After you file, the Board has 30 days to publish a notice or reject an incomplete filing. People can comment for 45 days after that notice. The Board must finish hearings within 240 days after the notice and issue a final decision within 180 days after hearings end; extensions are allowed but cannot total more than 90 days. Small carriers with no more than $2,000,000 in gross operating revenue over a 12‑month period (ending no more than 6 months before the agreement) are excluded. If the Board approves a deal, the parties may carry it out and are exempt from state approval and other laws as needed to complete and use the transaction. A non‑carrier that acquires a carrier becomes subject to certain federal provisions (sections 504(f), 14121–14123, 14901(a), and 14907). While an application is pending, the Board may allow temporary operation for up to 180 days to prevent harm, and may issue extra orders if needed.