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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§13901 Requirements for Registration

Title 49 › SUBTITLE IV — INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › PART B — MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › CHAPTER 139 — REGISTRATION › § 13901

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

A person must be registered under this chapter before providing transportation as a motor carrier under subchapter I of chapter 135, serving as a freight forwarder under subchapter III of that chapter, or acting as a broker for transportation under subchapter I. When the Secretary registers someone, the Secretary gives a unique registration number for each authority granted. Each number must show the kind of service it covers (motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker). For every agreement that needs registration, the registrant must say in writing which authority they are using.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §13901

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
A person may provide transportation as a motor carrier subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135 or service as a freight forwarder subject to jurisdiction under subchapter III of such chapter, or service as a broker for transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of such chapter only if the person is registered under this chapter to provide such transportation or service.
(b)Registration Numbers.—
(1)In general.—
If the Secretary registers a person under this chapter to provide transportation or service, including as a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker, the Secretary shall issue a distinctive registration number to the person for each such authority to provide transportation or service for which the person is registered.
(2)Transportation or service type indicator.—
A number issued under paragraph (1) shall include an indicator of the type of transportation or service for which the registration number is issued, including whether the registration number is issued for registration of a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker.
(c)Specification of Authority.—
For each agreement to provide transportation or service for which registration is required under this chapter, the registrant shall specify, in writing, the authority under which the person is providing such transportation or service.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2012—Pub. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “A person may provide transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 or be a broker for transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of that chapter, only if the person is registered under this chapter to provide the transportation or service.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 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.

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. § 13901

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110