---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 11144"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "11144"
heading: "Records: form; inspection; preservation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/11144"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part A — Rail"
  - "Chapter 111 — Operations"
  - "Subchapter III — Reports and Records"
---

# §11144. Records: form; inspection; preservation

- (a) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may prescribe the form of records required to be prepared or compiled under this subchapter—
  - (1) by [rail carriers](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1) and [lessors](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1), including records related to movement of traffic and receipts and expenditures of money; and
  - (2) by [persons](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) furnishing cars to or for a [rail carrier](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part to the extent related to those cars or that service.
- (b) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), or an employee designated by the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), may on demand and display of proper credentials—
  - (1) inspect and examine the lands, buildings, and equipment of a [rail carrier](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1) or [lessor](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1); and
  - (2) inspect and copy any record of—
    - (A) a [rail carrier](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1), [lessor](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1), or [association](/usc/49/11141.md?p=3);
    - (B) a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) controlling, controlled by, or under common [control](/usc/49/13102.md?p=5) with a [rail carrier](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1) if the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) considers inspection relevant to that [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18)’s relation to, or transaction with, that [rail carrier](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1); and
    - (C) a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) furnishing cars to or for a [rail carrier](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1) if the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) prescribed the form of that record.
- (c) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may prescribe the time period during which operating, accounting, and financial records must be preserved by [rail carriers](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1), [lessors](/usc/49/11141.md?p=1), and [persons](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) furnishing cars.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 835.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 11144, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1426; Pub. L. 96–296, § 24(c), July 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 816, related to form, inspection, and preservation of records, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). See sections 11144, 14122, and 15722 of this title.

### 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.