Federal · Title 49 — Transportation

49 U.S.C. § 523: Unlawful disclosure of information

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Motor carriers and their employees may not knowingly disclose confidential shipping information (nature, quantity, destination, routing) without shipper consent if it could harm the shipper or benefit competitors. Exceptions allow disclosure to legal process, government officials, and other carriers for business purposes.

Read the full statutory text
A motor carrier, or an officer, receiver, trustee, lessee, or employee of that carrier, or another person authorized by that carrier to receive information from that carrier, may not knowingly disclose to another person (except the shipper or consignee), and another person may not solicit, or knowingly receive, information about the nature, kind, quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or delivered to that carrier without the consent of the shipper or consignee if that information may be used to the detriment of the shipper or consignee or may disclose improperly to a competitor the business transactions of the shipper or consignee. in response to legal process issued under authority of a court of the United States or a State; to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States Government, a State, or a territory or possession of the United States; and to another motor carrier, motor carrier of migrant workers, or motor private carrier, or its agent, to adjust mutual traffic accounts in the ordinary course of business. An employee of the Secretary of Transportation delegated to make an inspection under section 504 of this title who knowingly discloses information acquired during that inspection, except as directed by the Secretary, a court, or a judge of that court, shall be fined not more than $500, imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.