Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73
§21101 Definitions
Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— - RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - SAFETY › Chapter CHAPTER 211— - HOURS OF SERVICE › § 21101
Summary
Defines key job and location words used in this chapter. Designated terminal means the crew’s assigned terminal, either their home base or the place they are sent. Dispatching service employee means a person, like an operator or train dispatcher, who uses electrical or mechanical equipment to send, get, or pass along orders about train movements. Employee includes dispatching service employees, signal employees, and train employees. Signal employee means someone who installs, fixes, or cares for signal systems. Train employee means a person who works on or is connected with moving trains, including a hostler.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §21101
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In this chapter—
(1)“designated terminal” means the home or away-from-home terminal for the assignment of a particular crew.
(2)“dispatching service employee” means an operator, train dispatcher, or other train employee who by the use of an electrical or mechanical device dispatches, reports, transmits, receives, or delivers orders related to or affecting train movements.
(3)“employee” means a dispatching service employee, a signal employee, or a train employee.
(4)“signal employee” means an individual who is engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining signal systems.
(5)“train employee” means an individual engaged in or connected with the movement of a train, including a hostler.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 21101(1)45:61(b)(4) (1st sentence).Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2939, 34 Stat. 1415, § 1(b)(4) (1st sentence); added Nov. 2, 1978, Pub. L. 95–574, § 6, 92 Stat. 2461. 21101(2)–(4)(no source). 21101(5)45:61(b)(2).Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2939, § 1(b)(2), 34 Stat. 1415; restated Dec. 26, 1969, Pub. L. 91–169, § 1, 83 Stat. 463; July 8, 1976, Pub. L. 94–348, § 4(c), 90 Stat. 818. Clause (2) is added to avoid the necessity of repeating the substance of the definition every time a “dispatching service employee” is referred to in this chapter. The language in clause (2) is derived from 45:63. Clause (3) is added to provide a definition of “employee” when the source provisions apply to all types of employees covered by this chapter. Clause (4) is added to avoid the necessity of repeating the substance of the definition every time a “signal employee” is referred to in this chapter. The language in clause (4) is derived from 45:63a. In clause (5), the words “train employee” are substituted for “employee” to distinguish the term from the terms “dispatching service employee” and “signal employee”. The word “actually” is omitted as surplus.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2008—Par. (4). Pub. L. 110–432 struck out “employed by a railroad carrier” after “individual”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title I, § 108(g), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4866, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) [amending this section and section 21103 and 21104 of this title] shall take effect 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 16, 2008].” Record Keeping and Reporting Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title I, § 108(f), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4866, provided that: “(1)
Regulations
.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 16, 2008], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall prescribe a regulation revising the requirements for recordkeeping and reporting for Hours of Service of Railroad Employees contained in part 228 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations
—“(A) to adjust record keeping and reporting requirements to support compliance with chapter 211 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by this Act; “(B) to authorize electronic record keeping, and reporting of excess service, consistent with appropriate considerations for user interface; and “(C) to require training of affected employees and supervisors, including training of employees in the entry of hours of service data. “(2) Procedure.—In lieu of issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking as contemplated by section 553 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary may utilize the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee to assist in development of the regulation. The Secretary may propose and adopt
Amendments
to the revised
Regulations
thereafter as may be necessary in light of experience under the revised requirements.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 21101
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73