Title 49TransportationRelease 119-73

§14916 Unlawful brokerage activities

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART B— - MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › Chapter CHAPTER 149— - CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES › § 14916

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must be registered under section 13904 and meet the financial security rules in section 13906 to act as a broker for interstate brokerage services. The rule does not apply to three kinds of businesses: non‑vessel‑operating common carriers or ocean freight forwarders when arranging inland transport as part of an international through movement involving ocean transport between the United States and a foreign port; customs brokers licensed under 19 CFR 111.2 when handling movements under a customs bond or doing customs business as defined in 19 CFR 111.1; and indirect air carriers with a TSA‑approved Standard Security Program when acting as air carriers. Anyone who knowingly allows a violation can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation by the U.S. government and must pay any valid claims from injured parties, regardless of amount. Those fines and claims can be applied to the company or partnership involved and to its officers, directors, and principals, together or separately.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §14916

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person may provide interstate brokerage services as a broker only if that person—
(1)is registered under, and in compliance with, section 13904; and
(2)has satisfied the financial security requirements under section 13906.
(b)Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(1)a non-vessel-operating common carrier (as defined in section 40102 of title 46) or an ocean freight forwarder (as defined in section 40102 of title 46) when arranging for inland transportation as part of an international through movement involving ocean transportation between the United States and a foreign port;
(2)a customs broker licensed in accordance with section 111.2 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations, only to the extent that the customs broker is engaging in a movement under a customs bond or in a transaction involving customs business, as defined by section 111.1 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations; or
(3)an indirect air carrier holding a Standard Security Program approved by the Transportation Security Administration, only to the extent that the indirect air carrier is engaging in the activities as an air carrier as defined in section 40102(2) or in the activities defined in section 40102(3).
(c)Any person who knowingly authorizes, consents to, or permits, directly or indirectly, either alone or in conjunction with any other person, a violation of subsection (a) is liable—
(1)to the United States Government for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each violation; and
(2)to the injured party for all valid claims incurred without regard to amount.
(d)The liability for civil penalties and for claims under this section for unauthorized brokering shall apply, jointly and severally—
(1)to any corporate entity or partnership involved; and
(2)to the individual officers, directors, and principals of such entities.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–94 substituted section symbol for “SEC.” before section designation.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date

Section 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 14916

Title 49Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73