---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13701"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13701"
heading: "Requirements for reasonable rates, classifications, through routes, rules, and practices for certain transportation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13701"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 137 — Rates and Through Routes"
---

# §13701. Requirements for reasonable rates, classifications, through routes, rules, and practices for certain transportation

- (a) **Reasonableness.—**
  - (1) **Certain household goods transportation; joint rates involving water transportation.—** A [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), classification, rule, or practice related to [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service provided by a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md) for [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service involving—
    - (A) a movement of [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10),
    - (B) a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for a movement by or with a [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) in [noncontiguous domestic trade](/usc/49/13102.md?p=17), or
    - (C) [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), rules, and classifications made collectively by [motor carriers](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) under agreements approved pursuant to [section 13703](/usc/49/13703.md),

    must be reasonable.

  - (2) **Through routes and divisions of joint rates.—** Through routes and divisions of joint [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for such [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service must be reasonable.
- (b) **Prescription by Board for Violations.—** When the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) finds it necessary to stop or prevent a violation of [subsection (a)](#a), the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall prescribe the [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), classification, rule, practice, through route, or division of joint [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) to be applied for such [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service.
- (c) **Filing of Complaint.—** A complaint that a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), classification, rule, or practice in [noncontiguous domestic trade](/usc/49/13102.md?p=17) violates [subsection (a)](#a) may be filed with the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1).
- (d) **Zone of Reasonableness.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** For purposes of this section, a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or division of a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) for service in [noncontiguous domestic trade](/usc/49/13102.md?p=17) or [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) for port-to-port service in that trade is reasonable if the aggregate of increases and decreases in any such [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or division is not more than 7.5 percent above, or more than 10 percent below, the [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or division in effect 1 year before the effective date of the proposed [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or division.
  - (2) **Adjustments to the zone.—** The percentage specified in [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall be increased or decreased, as the case may be, by the percentage change in the Producers Price Index, as published by the Department of Labor, that has occurred during the most recent 1-year period before the date the [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or division in question first took effect.
  - (3) **Determinations after complaint.—** The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall determine whether any [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) or division of a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or service in [noncontiguous domestic trade](/usc/49/13102.md?p=17) which is not within the range described in [paragraph (1)](#d-1) is reasonable if a complaint is filed under [subsection (c)](#c) or [section 13702(b)(6)](/usc/49/13702.md?p=b-6).
  - (4) **Reparations.—** Upon a finding of violation of [subsection (a)](#a), the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall award reparations to the complaining shipper or shippers in an amount equal to all sums assessed and collected that exceed the determined reasonable [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), division, [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) structure, or tariff. Upon complaint from any governmental agency or authority and upon a finding or violation of [subsection (a)](#a), the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall make such orders as are just and shall require the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) to return, to the extent practicable, to shippers all amounts plus interest, which the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) finds to have been assessed and collected in violation of [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 867.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in sections 10701, 10704, and 10705 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.