49 U.S.C. § 13102: Definitions

The term “Board” means the Surface Transportation Board. The term “broker” means a person, other than a motor carrier or an employee or agent of a motor carrier, that as a principal or agent sells, offers for sale, negotiates for, or holds itself out by solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise as selling, providing, or arranging for, transportation by motor carrier for compensation. The term “carrier” means a motor carrier, a water carrier, and a freight forwarder. for transportation provided before January 1, 1996 , service provided pursuant to a permit issued under section 10923, as in effect on December 31, 1995 ; and for transportation provided after December 31, 1995 , service provided under an agreement entered into under section 14101(b). common directors, officers, stockholders, a voting trust, or a holding or investment company, or any other means. that is domiciled in a contiguous foreign country; or that is owned or controlled by persons of a contiguous foreign country; and in the case of a person that is not a motor carrier of property, that provides interstate transportation of property by motor vehicle under an agreement or contract entered into with a motor carrier of property (other than a motor private carrier or a motor carrier of property described in subparagraph (A)). that is domiciled in a contiguous foreign country; or that is owned or controlled by persons of a contiguous foreign country; and in the case of a person that is not a motor private carrier, that provides interstate transportation of property by motor vehicle under an agreement or contract entered into with a person (other than a motor carrier of property or a motor private carrier described in subparagraph (A)). assembles and consolidates, or provides for assembling and consolidating, shipments and performs or provides for break-bulk and distribution operations of the shipments; assumes responsibility for the transportation from the place of receipt to the place of destination; and uses for any part of the transportation a carrier subject to jurisdiction under this subtitle. The term “highway” means a road, highway, street, and way in a State. arranged and paid for by the householder, except such term does not include property moving from a factory or store, other than property that the householder has purchased with the intent to use in his or her dwelling and is transported at the request of, and the transportation charges are paid to the carrier by, the householder; or arranged and paid for by another party. The term “household goods freight forwarder” means a freight forwarder of one or more of the following items: household goods, unaccompanied baggage, or used automobiles. Binding and nonbinding estimates. Inventorying. Protective packing and unpacking of individual items at personal residences. Loading and unloading at personal residences. The term includes any person that is considered to be a household goods motor carrier under regulations, determinations, and decisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that are in effect on the date of enactment of the Household Goods Mover Oversight Enforcement and Reform Act of 2005. The term does not include a motor carrier when the motor carrier provides transportation of household goods in containers or trailers that are entirely loaded and unloaded by an individual (other than an employee or agent of the motor carrier). is the shipper, consignor, or consignee of a household goods shipment; is identified as the shipper, consignor, or consignee on the face of the bill of lading; owns the goods being transported; and pays his or her own tariff transportation charges. The term “motor carrier” means a person providing motor vehicle transportation for compensation. the transportation is as provided in section 13501 of this title ; the person is the owner, lessee, or bailee of the property being transported; and the property is being transported for sale, lease, rent, or bailment or to further a commercial enterprise. The term “motor vehicle” means a vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer, or semitrailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used on a highway in transportation, or a combination determined by the Secretary, but does not include a vehicle, locomotive, or car operated only on a rail, or a trolley bus operated by electric power from a fixed overhead wire, and providing local passenger transportation similar to street-railway service. The term “noncontiguous domestic trade” means transportation subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 involving traffic originating in or destined to Alaska, Hawaii, or a territory or possession of the United States. The term “person”, in addition to its meaning under section 1 of title 1 , includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative of a person. The term “pre-arranged ground transportation service” means transportation for a passenger (or a group of passengers) that is arranged in advance (or is operated on a regular route or between specified points) and is provided in a motor vehicle with a seating capacity not exceeding 15 passengers (including the driver). The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation. The term “State” means the 50 States of the United States and the District of Columbia. is licensed as a taxicab by a State or a local jurisdiction; or provides local transportation for a fare determined (except with respect to transportation to or from airports) primarily on the basis of the distance traveled; and does not primarily provide transportation to or from airports. a motor vehicle, vessel, warehouse, wharf, pier, dock, yard, property, facility, instrumentality, or equipment of any kind related to the movement of passengers or property, or both, regardless of ownership or an agreement concerning use; and services related to that movement, including arranging for, receipt, delivery, elevation, transfer in transit, refrigeration, icing, ventilation, storage, handling, packing, unpacking, and interchange of passengers and property. The term “United States” means the States of the United States and the District of Columbia. The term “vessel” means a watercraft or other artificial contrivance that is used, is capable of being used, or is intended to be used, as a means of transportation by water. The term “water carrier” means a person providing water transportation for compensation. The term “over-the-road bus” means a bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment.