---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20305"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20305"
heading: "Inspection of mail cars"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20305"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 203 — Safety Appliances"
---

# §20305. Inspection of mail cars


The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation shall inspect the construction, adaptability, design, and condition of mail cars used on [railroads](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) in the United States. The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) shall make a report on the inspection and submit a copy of the report to the United States Postal Service.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 883.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 20305 | 45:37. | May 27, 1908, ch. 200, § 1 (6th par. last sentence under heading “Interstate Commerce Commission”), 35 Stat. 325. |
|  |  | Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 299, § 1 (6th par. last sentence under heading “Interstate Commerce Commission”), 35 Stat. 965. |
|  | 49 App.:1655(e)(1)(I), (J). | Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(e)(1)(I), (J), 80 Stat. 939. |

The words “United States Postal Service” are substituted for “Postmaster General” because of sections 4(a) and 5(e) of the Postal Reorganization Act (Public Law 91–375, 84 Stat. 773, 775).