---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 11101"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "11101"
heading: "Common carrier transportation, service, and rates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/11101"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part A — Rail"
  - "Chapter 111 — Operations"
  - "Subchapter I — General Requirements"
---

# §11101. Common carrier transportation, service, and rates

- (a) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part shall provide the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service on reasonable request. A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) shall not be found to have violated this section because it fulfills its reasonable commitments under contracts authorized under [section 10709 of this title](/usc/49/10709.md) before responding to reasonable requests for service. Commitments which deprive a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) of its ability to respond to reasonable requests for common [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) service are not reasonable.
- (b) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) shall also provide to any [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), on request, the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3)’s [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) and other service terms. The response by a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) to a request for the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3)’s [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) and other service terms shall be—
  - (1) in writing and forwarded to the requesting [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) promptly after receipt of the request; or
  - (2) promptly made available in electronic form.
- (c) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) may not increase any common [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or change any common [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) service terms unless 20 days have expired after written or electronic notice is provided to any [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) who, within the previous 12 months—
  - (1) has requested such [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or terms under [subsection (b)](#b); or
  - (2) has made arrangements with the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) for a shipment that would be subject to such increased [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or changed terms.
- (d) With respect to [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of agricultural products, in addition to the requirements of subsections [(a)](#a), [(b)](#b), and [(c)](#c), a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) shall publish, make available, and retain for public inspection its common [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), schedules of [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), and other service terms, and any proposed and actual changes to such [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) and service terms. For purposes of this subsection, agricultural products shall include grain as defined in section 3 of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 75](/usc/7/75.md)) and all products thereof, and fertilizer.
- (e) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) shall provide [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service in accordance with the [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) and service terms, and any changes thereto, as published or otherwise made available under subsection [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), or [(d)](#d).
- (f) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall, by regulation, establish rules to implement this section. The regulations shall provide for immediate disclosure and dissemination of [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) and service terms, including classifications, rules, and practices, and their effective dates. Final regulations shall be adopted by the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) not later than 180 days after January 1, 1996.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 830; amended Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(25), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3390.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 11101, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1419; Pub. L. 96–258, § 1(10), June 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 426; Pub. L. 96–448, title II, § 222, Oct. 14, 1980, 94 Stat. 1929; Pub. L. 99–521, § 9(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2997; Pub. L. 103–180, § 8, Dec. 3, 1993, 107 Stat. 2052, related to duties of carriers to provide transportation and service, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). See sections 11101, 13710, 14101, and 15701 of this title.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted “January 1, 1996” for “the effective date of the ICC Termination Act of 1995”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section 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 1301 of this title.