---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13541"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13541"
heading: "Authority to exempt transportation or services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13541"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 135 — Jurisdiction"
  - "Subchapter IV — Authority to Exempt"
---

# §13541. Authority to exempt transportation or services

- (a) **In General.—** In any matter subject to jurisdiction under this part, the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, shall exempt a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), class of [persons](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), or a transaction or service from the application, in whole or in part, of a provision of this part, or use this exemption authority to modify the application of a provision of this part as it applies to such [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), class, transaction, or service, when the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) finds that the application of that provision—
  - (1) is not necessary to carry out the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) policy of [section 13101](/usc/49/13101.md);
  - (2) is not needed to protect shippers from the abuse of market power or that the transaction or service is of limited scope; and
  - (3) is in the public interest.
- (b) **Initiation of Proceeding.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may, where appropriate, begin a proceeding under this section on the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20)’s or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1)’s own initiative or on application by an interested party.
- (c) **Period of Exemption.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may specify the period of time during which an exemption granted under this section is effective.
- (d) **Revocation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may revoke an exemption, to the extent specified, on finding that application of a provision of this part to the [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), class, or [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) is necessary to carry out the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) policy of section 13101.
- (e) **Limitations.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The exemption authority under this section may not be used to relieve a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) from the application of, and compliance with, any law, rule, regulation, standard, or order pertaining to cargo loss and damage, insurance, safety fitness, or activities approved under section [13703](/usc/49/13703.md) or [14302](/usc/49/14302.md) or not terminated under [section 13907(d)(2)](/usc/49/13907.md?p=d-2).
  - (2) **Water carriers.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may not exempt a [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) from the application of, or compliance with, section [13701](/usc/49/13701.md) or [13702](/usc/49/13702.md) for [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) in the non-contiguous domestic trade.
- (f) **Continuation of Certain Existing Exemptions for Water Carriers.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, shall not regulate or exercise jurisdiction under this part over the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) in the non-contiguous domestic trade of any cargo or type of cargo or service which was not subject to regulation by, or under the jurisdiction of, either the Federal Maritime Commission or Interstate Commerce Commission under Federal law in effect on November 1, 1995.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 866.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10505 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.

### 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.