United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025
§ 31132.
Definitions
In this subchapter—
(1)
“commercial motor vehicle” means a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property, 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 or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation;
(C)
is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
(D)
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 an operator of a commercial motor vehicle (including an independent contractor when 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; 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 the employment by the Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State.
(3)
“employer”—
(A)
means a person engaged in a business affecting interstate commerce that owns or leases a commercial motor vehicle in connection with that business, or assigns an employee to operate it; but
(B)
does not include the Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State.
(4)
“interstate commerce” means trade, traffic, or transportation in the United States between a place in a State and—
(A)
a place outside that State (including a place outside the United States); or
(B)
another place in the same State through another State or through a place outside the United States.
(5)
“intrastate commerce” means trade, traffic, or transportation in a State that is not interstate commerce.
(6)
“medical examiner” means an individual licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with regulations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as a medical examiner.
(7)
“regulation” includes a standard or order.
(8)
“State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and, in sections 31136 and 31140–31142
(9)
“State law” includes a law enacted by a political subdivision of a State.
(10)
“State regulation” includes a regulation prescribed by a political subdivision of a State.
(11)
“United States” means the States of the United States and the District of Columbia.
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994 , 108 Stat. 1000; Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 104(f), Dec. 29, 1995 , 109 Stat. 919; Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, § 4008(a), June 9, 1998 , 112 Stat. 404; Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4116(c), Aug. 10, 2005 , 119 Stat. 1728.)
cite as: 49 USC 31132
