---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13301"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13301"
heading: "Powers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13301"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 133 — Administrative Provisions"
---

# §13301. Powers

- (a) **General Powers of Secretary.—** Except as otherwise specified, the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) shall carry out this part. Enumeration of a power of the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) in this part does not exclude another power the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may have in carrying out this part. The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may prescribe regulations in carrying out this part.
- (b) **Obtaining Information.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may obtain from [carriers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) providing, and [brokers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) for, [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) and service subject to this part, and from [persons](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) controlling, controlled by, or under common [control](/usc/49/13102.md?p=5) with those [carriers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [brokers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) to the extent that the business of that [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) is related to the management of the business of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2), information the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) decides is necessary to carry out this part.
- (c) **Subpoena Power.—**
  - (1) **By secretary.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may subpoena witnesses and records related to a proceeding under this part from any place in the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10), to the designated place of the proceeding. If a witness disobeys a subpoena, the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20), or a party to a proceeding under this part, may petition a court of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) to enforce that subpoena.
  - (2) **Enforcement.—** The district courts of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) have jurisdiction to enforce a subpoena issued under this section. Trial is in the district in which the proceeding is conducted. The court may punish a refusal to obey a subpoena as a contempt of court.
- (d) **Testimony of Witnesses.—**
  - (1) **Procedure for taking testimony.—** In a proceeding under this part, the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may take the testimony of a witness by deposition and may order the witness to produce records. A party to a proceeding pending under this part may take the testimony of a witness by deposition and may require the witness to produce records at any time after a proceeding is at issue on petition and answer.
  - (2) **Subpoena.—** If a witness fails to be deposed or to produce records under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may subpoena the witness to take a deposition, produce the records, or both.
  - (3) **Depositions.—** A deposition may be taken before a judge of a court of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10), a [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) magistrate judge, a clerk of a district court, or a chancellor, justice, or judge of a supreme or superior court, mayor or chief magistrate of a city, judge of a county court, or court of common pleas of any [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), or a notary public who is not counsel or attorney of a party or interested in the proceeding.
  - (4) **Notice of deposition.—** Before taking a deposition, reasonable notice must be given in writing by the party or the attorney of that party proposing to take a deposition to the opposing party or the attorney of record of that party, whoever is nearest. The notice shall [state](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) the name of the witness and the time and place of taking the deposition.
  - (5) **Transcript.—** The testimony of a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) deposed under this subsection shall be taken under oath. The [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) taking the deposition shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a transcript of the testimony taken. The transcript shall be subscribed by the deponent.
  - (6) **Foreign country.—** The testimony of a witness who is in a foreign country may be taken by deposition before an officer or [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) designated by the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or agreed on by the parties by written stipulation filed with the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20). A deposition shall be filed with the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) promptly.
- (e) **Witness Fees.—** Each witness summoned before the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or whose deposition is taken under this section and the individual taking the deposition are entitled to the same fees and mileage paid for those services in the courts of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10).
- (f) **Powers of Board.—** For those provisions of this part that are specified to be carried out by the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall have the same powers as the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) has under this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 856.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10321 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### 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.

### Broker Guidance Relating to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title III, § 23021, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 777, provided that: In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 15, 2021], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall issue guidance to clarify the definitions of the terms ‘broker’ and ‘bona fide agents’ in section 371.2 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. Considerations.—In issuing guidance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration— the extent to which technology has changed the nature of freight brokerage; the role of bona fide agents; and other aspects of the freight transportation industry. Dispatch Services.—In issuing guidance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, at a minimum— examine the role of a dispatch service in the transportation industry; examine the extent to which dispatch services could be considered brokers or bona fide agents; and clarify the level of financial penalties for unauthorized brokerage activities under section 14916 of title 49, United States Code, applicable to a dispatch service.”