Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-102
§11124 War Emergencies; Embargoes Imposed by Carriers
Title 49 › SUBTITLE IV — INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › PART A — RAIL › CHAPTER 111 — OPERATIONS › SUBCHAPTER II — CAR SERVICE › § 11124
Summary
If, during war or threatened war, the President tells the rail board certain cargo needs priority, the board must order it. If troops and war supplies must go first, railroads must speed them. Embargoes cannot stop U.S. government shipments; carriers must deliver promptly.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §11124
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)When the President, during time of war or threatened war, notifies the Board that it is essential to the defense and security of the United States to give preference or priority to the movement of certain traffic, the Board shall direct that preference or priority be given to that traffic.
(2)When the President, during time of war or threatened war, demands that preference and precedence be given to the transportation of troops and material of war over all other traffic, all rail carriers providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part shall adopt every means within their control to facilitate and expedite the military traffic.
(b)An embargo imposed by any such rail carrier does not apply to shipments consigned to agents of the United States Government for its use. The rail carrier shall deliver those shipments as promptly as possible.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11128 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). Prior sections 11124 to 11128 were omitted in the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). section 11124, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1422, related to rerouting traffic on failure of rail carrier to serve the public. section 11125, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1423; Pub. L. 98–216, § 2(15), Feb. 14, 1984, 98 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(28),
July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, related to directed rail transportation. section 11126, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1424; Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(29),
July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, related to distribution of coal cars. section 11127, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1424; Pub. L. 99–521, § 9(b)(1), (2), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2997, related to service of household goods freight forwarders. section 11128, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1425, related to war emergencies and embargoes imposed by carriers. See section 11124 of this title.
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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 11124
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102