§31503 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

Secretary of Transportation may study and report on whether the federal government should make rules about vehicle size, weight, combinations, and about who may drive and how many hours they can work for motor carriers, including private carriers. The Secretary can use other federal agencies and motor-carrier groups with relevant knowledge, and may hire and pay government safety experts to do research, testing, and investigations to help keep vehicles and equipment safe.

Title 49, §31503

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation may investigate and report on the need for regulation by the United States Government of sizes, weight, and combinations of motor vehicles and qualifications and maximum hours of service of employees of a motor carrier subject to subchapter I of chapter 135 of this title and a motor private carrier. The Secretary shall use the services of each department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government and each organization of motor carriers having special knowledge of a matter being investigated.

(b)In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary may use the services of a department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government having special knowledge about safety, to conduct scientific and technical research, investigation, and testing when necessary to promote safety of operation and equipment of motor vehicles. The Secretary may reimburse the department, agency, or instrumentality for the services provided.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3103(a)49:325.Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 226; added Aug. 9, 1935, ch. 498, 49 Stat. 566; Sept. 18, 1940, ch. 722, § 26(b), 54 Stat. 929. 49:1655(e)(6)(B).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(e)(6)(B), (C), 80 Stat. 939. 3103(b)49:304(a)(5).Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 204(a)(5); added Aug. 9, 1935, ch. 498, 49 Stat. 546. 49:1655(e)(6)(C). In subsection (a), the words “subject to subchapter II of chapter 105 of this title” are added for clarity. The word “services” is substituted for “assistance” for consistency. The words “department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government” are substituted for “departments or bureaus of the Government” for consistency. In subsection (b), the words “In carrying out this chapter” are substituted for “For the purpose of carrying out the provisions pertaining to safety” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “department . . . or instrumentality” are added for consistency. The word “reimburse” is substituted for “transfer . . . such funds” for consistency. The words “as may be necessary and available to make this provision effective” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–88 substituted “subchapter I of chapter 135” for “subchapter II of chapter 105”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–272 renumbered section 3103 of this title as this section and amended it generally, restating it without substantive change.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1301 of this title.

§31503 Research, Investigation, and Testing

Summary

Title 49, §31503

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata