---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13304"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13304"
heading: "Service of process in court proceedings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13304"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 133 — Administrative Provisions"
---

# §13304. Service of process in court proceedings

- (a) **Designation of Agent.—** A [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md), including a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) operating within the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) while providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) between places in a foreign country or between a place in one foreign country and a place in another foreign country, shall designate an agent in each [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) in which it operates by name and post office address on whom process issued by a court with subject matter jurisdiction may be served in an action brought against that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2). The designation shall be in writing and filed with the Department of [Transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) and each [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) in which the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) operates may require that an additional designation be filed with it. If a designation under this subsection is not made, service may be made on any agent of the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) within that [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8).
- (b) **Change.—** A designation under this section may be changed at any time in the same manner as originally made.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 858.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10330 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.