Us Code § 31304 - Employer responsibilities
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 31304 — Employer responsibilities, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 31304. Employer responsibilities
(a)
(1) has a driver's license revoked, suspended, or canceled by a State, has lost the right to operate a commercial motor vehicle in a State, or has been disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle; or
(2) has more than one driver's license (except as allowed under section 31302 of this title).
(b)
(1)
(A) by making an inquiry at least once every 12 months to the appropriate State agency in which the driver held or holds a commercial driver's license or permit during such time period;
(B) by receiving occurrence-based reports of changes in the status of a driver's record from 1 or more driver record notification systems that meet minimum standards issued by the Secretary; or
(C) by a combination of inquiries to States and reports from driver record notification systems.
(2)
(3)
(A) if the employer obtains the driver's identification number, type, and issuing State of the driver's commercial motor vehicle license; or
(B) if the information described in subparagraph (A) is furnished by another employer and the employer that regularly employs the driver meets the other requirements under this section.
(4)
(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1016; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, §§32303(a), 32307, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 790, 794.)
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 31304 | 49 App.:2703. | Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, §12004, 100 Stat. 3207–171. |
In this section, before clause (1), the words "Effective July 1, 1987" are omitted as executed. The words "permit, or authorize" are omitted as surplus. Clause (2) is substituted for 49 App.:2703(2) to eliminate unnecessary words.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2012—Pub. L. 112–141, §32303(a), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–141, §32307, in introductory provisions, struck out "knowingly" before "allow an employee" and substituted "that the employer knows or should reasonably know that" for "in which".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2012 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.
Standards for Driver Record Notification Systems
Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, §32303(b), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 791, provided that: "Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [see section 3(a), (b) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment notes under section 101 of Title 23, Highways], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall issue minimum standards for driver notification systems, including standards for the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of the information provided."
About This Section
49 U.S.C. § 31304 is part of Title 49 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 49 U.S.C. § 31304. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.