---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13503"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13503"
heading: "Exempt motor vehicle transportation in terminal areas"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13503"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 135 — Jurisdiction"
  - "Subchapter I — Motor Carrier Transportation"
---

# §13503. Exempt motor vehicle transportation in terminal areas

- (a) **Transportation by Carriers.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Neither the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) nor the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) has jurisdiction under this subchapter over [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) provided in a terminal area when the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9)—
    - (A) is a transfer, collection, or delivery;
    - (B) is provided by—
      - (i) a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 105](/usc/49/chstIV/ptA/ch105.md);
      - (ii) a [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter II of this chapter; or
      - (iii) a [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter III of this chapter; and
    - (C) is incidental to [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service provided by the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8) that is subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 105](/usc/49/chstIV/ptA/ch105.md) of this title or under subchapter II or III of this chapter.
  - (2) **Applicability of other provisions.—** [Transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) exempt from jurisdiction under paragraph (1) of this subsection is subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 105](/usc/49/chstIV/ptA/ch105.md) when provided by such a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), under subchapter II of this chapter when provided by such a [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26), and under subchapter III of this chapter when provided by such a [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8).
- (b) **Transportation by Agent.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Except to the extent provided by paragraph (2) of this subsection, neither the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) nor the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) has jurisdiction under this subchapter over [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) provided in a terminal area when the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9)—
    - (A) is a transfer, collection, or delivery; and
    - (B) is provided by a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) as an agent or under other arrangement for—
      - (i) a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 105](/usc/49/chstIV/ptA/ch105.md) of this title;
      - (ii) a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) subject to jurisdiction under this subchapter;
      - (iii) a [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter II of this chapter; or
      - (iv) a [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter III of this chapter.
  - (2) **Treatment of transportation by principal.—** [Transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) exempt from jurisdiction under paragraph (1) of this subsection is considered [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) provided by the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or service provided by the [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8) for whom the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) was provided and is subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 105](/usc/49/chstIV/ptA/ch105.md) of this title when provided for such a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), under this subchapter when provided for such a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14), under subchapter II of this chapter when provided for such a [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26), and under subchapter III of this chapter when provided for such a [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 860.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10523 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.