GlossaryGuide

For-Hire Motor Carrier

Transportation by a motor carrier for compensation, including:

1. Property – Transportation of general freight, hazardous materials or household goods. This category includes transportation exempt from the commercial registration requirements in Title 49 U.S.C. chapter 139. These exemptions can be found in 49 U.S.C. chapter 135.
2. Passengers:
   • Charter & special operations – Charter service is the transportation of groups, assembled by someone other than the carrier, who collectively contract with the motor carrier for the exclusive use of vehicle(s) for the duration of a particular trip or tour.  The passengers must travel together for the entire trip. Special operations include almost any type of service that is neither charter transportation nor regularly-scheduled service over fixed routes.  The carrier assembles the group through the sale of individual tickets and generally offers some service feature in addition to transportation between two points.
   • Regular route – Regularly scheduled service between specific points operated in accordance with a published schedule.  It is not necessary for privately owned applicants to specify a particular route. However, public entities must describe the specific routes over which they propose to operate when prompted by the online Form and must file new applications whenever seeking to add new routes after initial registration.
   • Limousine/van operations – Operation of a passenger vehicle designed or used to transport 15 or fewer passengers, including the driver.
   • FTA grantee – A motor carrier of passengers providing transportation service within a transit service area under an agreement with a Federal, State, or local government funded, in whole or part, with a grant under 49 U.S.C. 5307, 5310, 5311, 5316 or 5317.  Such carriers participate in the for-hire transportation of passengers between points in a transit service area located in more than one State.
3. Mexico-owned, U.S.-based enterprise – A U.S.-based company owned or controlled by persons of Mexico. Transportation of property by such an enterprise is limited to international cargo.