
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC13101]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
 
 PART B--MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS
 
                     CHAPTER 131--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 13101. Transportation policy

    (a) In General.--To ensure the development, coordination, and 
preservation of a transportation system that meets the transportation 
needs of the United States, including the United States Postal Service 
and national defense, it is the policy of the United States Government 
to oversee the modes of transportation and--
        (1) in overseeing those modes--
            (A) to recognize and preserve the inherent advantage of each 
        mode of transportation;
            (B) to promote safe, adequate, economical, and efficient 
        transportation;
            (C) to encourage sound economic conditions in 
        transportation, including sound economic conditions among 
        carriers;
            (D) to encourage the establishment and maintenance of 
        reasonable rates for transportation, without unreasonable 
        discrimination or unfair or destructive competitive practices;
            (E) to cooperate with each State and the officials of each 
        State on transportation matters; and
            (F) to encourage fair wages and working conditions in the 
        transportation industry;

        (2) in overseeing transportation by motor carrier, to promote 
    competitive and efficient transportation services in order to--
            (A) encourage fair competition, and reasonable rates for 
        transportation by motor carriers of property;
            (B) promote efficiency in the motor carrier transportation 
        system and to require fair and expeditious decisions when 
        required;
            (C) meet the needs of shippers, receivers, passengers, and 
        consumers;
            (D) allow a variety of quality and price options to meet 
        changing market demands and the diverse requirements of the 
        shipping and traveling public;
            (E) allow the most productive use of equipment and energy 
        resources;
            (F) enable efficient and well-managed carriers to earn 
        adequate profits, attract capital, and maintain fair wages and 
        working conditions;
            (G) provide and maintain service to small communities and 
        small shippers and intrastate bus services;
            (H) provide and maintain commuter bus operations;
            (I) improve and maintain a sound, safe, and competitive 
        privately owned motor carrier system;
            (J) promote greater participation by minorities in the motor 
        carrier system;
            (K) promote intermodal transportation;

        (3) in overseeing transportation by motor carrier of 
    passengers--
            (A) to cooperate with the States on transportation matters 
        for the purpose of encouraging the States to exercise intrastate 
        regulatory jurisdiction in accordance with the objectives of 
        this part;
            (B) to provide Federal procedures which ensure that 
        intrastate regulation is exercised in accordance with this part; 
        and
            (C) to ensure that Federal reform initiatives enacted by 
        section 31138 and the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 are not 
        nullified by State regulatory actions; and

        (4) in overseeing transportation by water carrier, to encourage 
    and promote service and price competition in the noncontiguous 
    domestic trade.

    (b) Administration To Carry Out Policy.--This part shall be 
administered and enforced to carry out the policy of this section and to 
promote the public interest.

(Added Pub. L. 104-88, title I, Sec. 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 853.)

                       References in Text

    The Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. 
(a)(3)(C), is Pub. L. 97-261, Sept. 20, 1982, 96 Stat. 1102. For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1982 
Amendment note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 10101 of this title prior to the general amendment of this 
subtitle by Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 102(a).


                             Effective Date

    Chapter 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 701 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 302, 13506, 13541, 13703 of 
this title; title 33 section 1803.
