---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 14122"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "14122"
heading: "Records: form; inspection; preservation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/14122"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 141 — Operations of Carriers"
  - "Subchapter II — Reports and Records"
---

# §14122. Records: form; inspection; preservation

- (a) **Form of Records.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may prescribe the form of records required to be prepared or compiled under this subchapter by [carriers](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1) and [brokers](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1), including records related to movement of traffic and receipts and expenditures of money.
- (b) **Right of Inspection.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), or an employee designated by the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), may on demand and display of proper credentials, in [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) or in writing—
  - (1) inspect and examine the lands, buildings, and equipment of a [carrier](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1) or [broker](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1); and
  - (2) inspect and copy any record of—
    - (A) a [carrier](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1), [broker](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1), or [association](/usc/49/14121.md?p=2); and
    - (B) a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) controlling, controlled by, or under common [control](/usc/49/13102.md?p=5) with a [carrier](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1) if the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, considers inspection relevant to that [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18)’s relation to, or transaction with, that [carrier](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1).
- (c) **Period for Preservation of Records.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may prescribe the time period during which operating, accounting, and financial records must be preserved by [carriers](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1) and [brokers](/usc/49/14121.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 893; amended Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, § 32501(d), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 803.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11144 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Amendments

2012—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–141 inserted “, in person or in writing” after “proper credentials”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.

### 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.