§31101. Definitions
As of today
View this section as of a date
Notable points in this section's history
Latest Jul 12, 2026 NOW As last amended Jun 9, 1998 — Pub. L. 105–17849 U.S.C. § 31101
“commercial motor vehicle” means (except in section 31106) a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways in commerce principally to transport passengers or cargo, if the vehicle—
has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 10,001 pounds, whichever is greater;
is designed to transport more than 10 passengers including the driver; or
is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under section 5103 of this title and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under section 5103.
“employee” means a driver of a commercial motor vehicle (including an independent contractor when personally operating a commercial motor vehicle), a mechanic, a freight handler, or an individual not an employer, who—
directly affects commercial motor vehicle safety in the course of employment by a commercial motor carrier; and
is not an employee of the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State acting in the course of employment.
“employer”—
means a person engaged in a business affecting commerce that owns or leases a commercial motor vehicle in connection with that business, or assigns an employee to operate the vehicle in commerce; but
“State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 984; Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, § 4003(a), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 395.)
| Historical and Revision Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Revised Section |
Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 31101 | 49 App.:2301(1), (3)–(6). | Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 401(1), (3)–(6), 96 Stat. 2154, 2155. |
| 49 App.:2301(2). | Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 401(2), 96 Stat. 2154; Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–554, § 228(a), (b), 98 Stat. 2852. | |
Before clause (1), the words “unless the context otherwise requires” are omitted as unnecessary. The text of 49 App.:2301(4) is omitted as unnecessary because of 1:1. The text of 49 App.:2301(5) is omitted as surplus because the complete name of the Secretary of Transportation is used the first time the term appears in a section.
In clause (1), before subclause (A), the words “(except in section 31106)” are added because the source provisions being restated in section 31106 of the revised title contain a definition of “commercial motor vehicle”.
In clause (4), the words “the Commonwealth of” are omitted for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1998—Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 105–178, § 4003(a)(1), inserted “or gross vehicle weight” after “rating” and substituted “10,001 pounds, whichever is greater” for “10,000 pounds”.
Par. (1)(C). Pub. L. 105–178, § 4003(a)(2), inserted “and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under section 5103” before period at end.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Savings Clause
Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, § 4003(h), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 398, provided that: “Amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 31102 to 31104 of this title] shall not affect any funds made available before the date of enactment of this Act [June 9, 1998].”