From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC31101]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
PART B--COMMERCIAL
CHAPTER 311--COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
SUBCHAPTER I--STATE GRANTS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE PROGRAMS
Sec. 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, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 984; Pub. L. 105-
178, title IV, Sec. 4003(a), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 395.)
Historical and Revision Notes
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Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
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31101................................. 49 App.:2301(1), (3)-(6). Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97-424, Sec.
401(1), (3)-(6), 96 Stat. 2154, 2155.
49 App.:2301(2). Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97-424, Sec.
401(2), 96 Stat. 2154; Oct. 30, 1984,
Pub. L. 98-554, Sec. 228(a), (b), 98
Stat. 2852.
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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.
Amendments
1998--Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 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, Sec. 4003(a)(2), inserted ``and
transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations
prescribed by the Secretary under section 5103'' before period at end.
Savings Clause
Pub. L. 105-178, title IV, Sec. 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].''