49 USC 31101 - Definitions

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 31101.

Definitions

In this subchapter—

(1)

“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—

(A)

has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 10,001 pounds, whichever is greater;

(B)

is designed to transport more than 10 passengers including the driver; or

(C)

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.

(2)

“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—

(A)

directly affects commercial motor vehicle safety in the course of employment by a commercial motor carrier; and

(B)

is not an employee of the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State acting in the course of employment.

(3)

“employer”—

(A)

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

(B)

does not include the Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State.

(4)

“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.

(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.)

cite as: 49 USC 31101