Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§31503 Research, Investigation, and Testing

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VI — MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › PART B — COMMERCIAL › CHAPTER 315 — MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY › § 31503

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can study and report on whether the federal government should set rules for motor vehicle size, weight, combinations, and for motor carrier employees’ qualifications and maximum work hours. The Secretary can get help from any federal agency or motor carrier group with special knowledge to do scientific or technical research, testing, or investigations, and can pay those agencies for their services.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §31503

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General Authority.—
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)Use of Services.—
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.

Legislative History

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 31503

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110