[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR390.3]

[Page 312-313]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 390_FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS; GENERAL--Table of 
Contents
 
             Subpart A_General Applicability and Definitions
 
Sec.  390.3  General applicability.

    (a) The rules in subchapter B of this chapter are applicable to all 
employers, employees, and commercial motor vehicles, which transport 
property or passengers in interstate commerce.
    (b) The rules in Part 383, Commercial Driver's License Standards; 
Requirements and Penalties, are applicable to every person who operates 
a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in Sec.  383.5 of this 
subchapter, in interstate or intrastate commerce and to all employers of 
such persons.
    (c) The rules in Part 387, Minimum Levels of Financial 
Responsibility for Motor Carriers, are applicable to motor carriers as 
provided in Sec.  387.3 or 387.27 of this subchapter.
    (d) Additional requirements. Nothing in subchapter B of this chapter 
shall be construed to prohibit an employer from requring and enforcing 
more stringent requirements relating to safety of operation and employee 
safety and health.
    (e) Knowledge of and compliance with the regulations.
    (1) Every employer shall be knowledgeable of and comply with all 
regulations contained in this subchapter which are applicable to that 
motor carrier's operations.
    (2) Every driver and employee shall be instructed regarding, and 
shall comply with, all applicable regulations contained in this 
subchapter.
    (3) All motor vehicle equipment and accessories required by this 
subchapter shall be maintained in compliance with all applicable 
performance and design criteria set forth in this subchapter.
    (f) Exceptions. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the rules in 
this subchapter do not apply to--
    (1) All school bus operations as defined in Sec.  390.5;
    (2) Transportation performed by the Federal government, a State, or 
any political subdivision of a State, or an agency established under a 
compact between States that has been approved by the Congress of the 
United States;
    (3) The occasional transportation of personal property by 
individuals not for compensation nor in the furtherance of a commercial 
enterprise;
    (4) The transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons;

[[Page 313]]

    (5) The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved 
in emergency and related operations;
    (6)(i) The operation of commercial motor vehicles designed or used 
to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver), not for 
direct compensation, provided the vehicle does not otherwise meet the 
definition of a commercial motor vehicle, except that motor carriers 
operating such vehicles are required to comply with Sec.  Sec.  390.15, 
390.19, and 390.21(a) and (b)(2).
    (ii) The operation of commercial motor vehicles designed or used to 
transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for direct 
compensation, provided the vehicle is not being operated beyond a 75 
air-mile radius (86.3 statute miles or 138.9 kilometers) from the 
driver's normal work-reporting location, and provided the vehicle does 
not otherwise meet the definition of a commercial motor vehicle, except 
that motor carriers operating such vehicles are required to comply with 
Sec.  Sec.  390.15, 390.19, and 390.21(a) and (b)(2).
    (7) Either a driver of a commercial motor vehicle used primarily in 
the transportation of propane winter heating fuel or a driver of a motor 
vehicle used to respond to a pipeline emergency, if such regulations 
would prevent the driver from responding to an emergency condition 
requiring immediate response as defined in Sec.  390.5.
    (g) Motor carriers that transport hazardous materials in intrastate 
commerce. The rules in the following provisions of subchapter B of this 
chapter apply to motor carriers that transport hazardous materials in 
intrastate commerce and to the motor vehicles that transport hazardous 
materials in intrastate commerce:
    (1) Part 385, subparts A and E, for carriers subject to the 
requirements of Sec.  385.403 of this chapter.
    (2) Part 386, Rules of practice for motor carrier, broker, freight 
forwarder, and hazardous materials proceedings, of this chapter.
    (3) Part 387, Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility for Motor 
Carriers, to the extent provided in Sec.  387.3 of this chapter.
    (4) Section 390.19, Motor carrier identification report, and Sec.  
390.21, Marking of CMVs, for carriers subject to the requirements of 
Sec.  385.403 of this chapter. Intrastate motor carriers operating prior 
to January 1, 2005, are excepted from Sec.  390.19(a)(1).

[53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 
FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 
29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 
48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 
2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004; 72 FR 36790, July 5, 2007]