---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13506"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13506"
heading: "Miscellaneous motor carrier transportation exemptions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13506"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 135 — Jurisdiction"
  - "Subchapter I — Motor Carrier Transportation"
---

# §13506. Miscellaneous motor carrier transportation exemptions

- (a) **In General.—** Neither the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) nor the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) has jurisdiction under this part over—
  - (1) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) transporting only school children and teachers to or from school;
  - (2) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) providing [taxicab service](/usc/49/13102.md?p=22);
  - (3) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) owned or operated by or for a hotel and only transporting hotel patrons between the hotel and the local station of a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3);
  - (4) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) controlled and operated by a farmer and transporting—
    - (A) the farmer’s agricultural or horticultural commodities and products; or
    - (B) supplies to the farm of the farmer;
  - (5) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) controlled and operated by a cooperative association (as defined by section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act ([12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)](/usc/12/1141j.md?p=a))) or by a federation of cooperative associations if the federation has no greater power or purposes than a cooperative association, except that if the cooperative association or federation provides [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) for compensation between a place in a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) and a place in another [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), or between a place in 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)—
    - (A) for a nonmember that is not a farmer, cooperative association, federation, or the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government, the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) (except for [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) otherwise exempt under this subchapter)—
      - (i) shall be limited to [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) incidental to the primary [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) operation of the cooperative association or federation and necessary for its effective performance; and
      - (ii) may not exceed in each fiscal year 25 percent of the total [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of the cooperative association or federation between those places, measured by tonnage; and
    - (B) the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) for all nonmembers may not exceed in each fiscal year, measured by tonnage, the total [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) between those places for the cooperative association or federation and its members during that fiscal year;
  - (6) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) of—
    - (A) ordinary livestock;
    - (B) agricultural or horticultural commodities (other than manufactured products thereof);
    - (C) commodities listed as exempt in the Commodity List incorporated in ruling numbered 107, March 19, 1958, Bureau of [Motor Carriers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14), Interstate Commerce Commission, other than frozen fruits, frozen berries, frozen vegetables, cocoa beans, coffee beans, tea, bananas, or hemp, or wool imported from a foreign country, wool tops and noils, or wool waste (carded, spun, woven, or knitted);
    - (D) cooked or uncooked fish, whether breaded or not, or frozen or fresh shellfish, or byproducts thereof not intended for human consumption, other than fish or shellfish that have been treated for preserving, such as canned, smoked, pickled, spiced, corned, or kippered products; and
    - (E) livestock and poultry feed and agricultural seeds and plants, if such products (excluding products otherwise exempt under this paragraph) are transported to a site of agricultural production or to a business enterprise engaged in the sale to agricultural producers of goods used in agricultural production;
  - (7) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) used only to distribute newspapers;
  - (8)
    - (A) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of passengers by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) incidental to [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by aircraft;
    - (B) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of property (including baggage) by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) as part of a continuous movement which, prior or subsequent to such part of the continuous movement, has been or will be transported by an air [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or (to the extent so agreed by the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20)) by a foreign air [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3); or
    - (C) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of property by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) in lieu of [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by aircraft because of adverse weather conditions or mechanical failure of the aircraft or other causes due to circumstances beyond the [control](/usc/49/13102.md?p=5) of the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or shipper;
  - (9) the operation of a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) in a national park or national monument;
  - (10) a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) carrying not more than 15 individuals in a single, daily roundtrip to commute to and from work;
  - (11) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of used pallets and used empty shipping containers (including intermodal cargo containers), and other used shipping devices (other than containers or devices used in the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of [motor vehicles](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) or parts of [motor vehicles](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16));
  - (12) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of natural, crushed, vesicular rock to be used for decorative purposes;
  - (13) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of wood chips;
  - (14) [brokers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) for [motor carriers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) of passengers, except as provided in [section 13904(d)](/usc/49/13904.md?p=d);[^1]
  - (15) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of broken, crushed, or powdered glass; or
  - (16) the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of passengers by 9 to 15 passenger [motor vehicles](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) operated by youth or family camps that provide recreational or educational activities.
- (b) **Exempt Unless Otherwise Necessary.—** Except to the extent the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, finds it necessary to exercise jurisdiction to carry out the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) policy of [section 13101](/usc/49/13101.md), neither the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) nor the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) has jurisdiction under this part over—
  - (1) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) provided entirely in a municipality, in contiguous municipalities, or in a zone that is adjacent to, and commercially a part of, the municipality or municipalities, except—
    - (A) when the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is under common [control](/usc/49/13102.md?p=5), management, or arrangement for a continuous carriage or shipment to or from a place outside the municipality, municipalities, or zone; or
    - (B) that in transporting passengers over a route between a place in a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) and a place in another [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), or between a place in 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), the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is exempt from jurisdiction under this part only if the [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) operating the [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) also is lawfully providing intrastate [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of passengers over the entire route under the laws of each [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) through which the route runs;
  - (2) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) provided casually, occasionally, or reciprocally but not as a regular occupation or business, except when a [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) or other [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) sells or offers for sale passenger [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) provided by a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) authorized to transport passengers by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) under an application pending, or registration issued, under this part;
  - (3) the emergency towing of an accidentally wrecked or disabled [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16); or
  - (4) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) designed or used to transport not fewer than 9, and not more than 15, passengers (including the driver), whether operated alone or with a trailer attached for the transport of recreational equipment, if—
    - (A) the [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) is operated by a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) that provides recreational activities;
    - (B) the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is provided within a 150 air-mile radius of the location at which passengers initially boarded the [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) at the outset of the trip; and
    - (C) in the case of a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) transporting passengers over a route between a place in a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) and a place in another [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), the [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) operating the [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) is lawfully providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of passengers over the entire route in accordance with applicable [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) law.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 861; amended Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(8), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2204; Pub. L. 107–298, § 3(b)(1), Nov. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 2343; Pub. L. 114–113, div. L, title I, § 136, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2851; Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title III, § 23012, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 771.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

### Pub. L. 105–102

This amends 49:13506(a)(5) to correct a grammatical error.

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 13904(d), referred to in subsec. (a)(14), was redesignated section 13904(f) by Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, § 32916(b)(2), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 821.

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10526 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 117–58 added par. (4).

2015—Subsec. (a)(16). Pub. L. 114–113 added par. (16).

2002—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–298 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “a motor vehicle providing taxicab service and having a capacity of not more than 6 passengers and not operated on a regular route or between specified places;”.

1997—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 105–102 substituted “1141j(a)))” for “1141j(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.

### Abolition of Interstate Commerce Commission

Interstate Commerce Commission abolished by section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.