---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 14908"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "14908"
heading: "Unlawful disclosure of information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/14908"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 149 — Civil and Criminal Penalties"
---

# §14908. Unlawful disclosure of information

- (a) **Disclosure of Shipment and Routing Information.—**
  - (1) **Violations.—** A [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I, II, or III of [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md) or an officer, receiver, trustee, lessee, or employee of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2), or another [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) authorized by that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) to receive information from that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) may not disclose to another [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), except the shipper or consignee, and a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) may not solicit, or receive, information about the nature, kind, quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or delivered to that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) for [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) provided under this part without the consent of the shipper or consignee if that information may be used to the detriment of the shipper or consignee or may disclose improperly to a competitor the business transactions of the shipper or consignee.
  - (2) **Penalty.—** A [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) violating paragraph (1) of this subsection is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) for a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.
- (b) **Limitation on Statutory Construction.—** This part does not prevent a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to jurisdiction under [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md) from giving information—
  - (1) in response to legal process issued under authority of a court of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) or a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8);
  - (2) to an officer, employee, or agent of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government, a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), or a territory or possession of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10); or
  - (3) to another [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or its agent to adjust mutual traffic accounts in the ordinary course of business.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 917.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11910 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.