---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13501"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13501"
heading: "General jurisdiction"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13501"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 135 — Jurisdiction"
  - "Subchapter I — Motor Carrier Transportation"
---

# §13501. General jurisdiction


The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) and the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) have jurisdiction, as specified in this part, over [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) and the procurement of that [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9), to the extent that passengers, property, or both, are transported by [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14)—

- (1) between a place in—
  - (A) a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) and a place in another [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8);
  - (B) a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) and another place in the same [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) through another [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8);
  - (C) the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) and a place in a territory or possession of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) to the extent the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is in the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10);
  - (D) the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) and another place in the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) through a foreign country to the extent the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is in the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10); or
  - (E) the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) and a place in a foreign country to the extent the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is in the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10); and
- (2) in a reservation under the exclusive jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) or on a public [highway](/usc/49/13102.md?p=9).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 859.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10521 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.