608
(f) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project payable from funds made available to carry 
out this section shall not exceed 50 percent. The total Fed-
eral share of the cost of a project payable from all eligible 
sources shall not exceed 80 percent. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) COMMERCIAL
VEHICLE
INFORMATION
SYS-
TEMS AND NETWORKS.—The term ‘‘commercial vehi-
cle information systems and networks’’ means the in-
formation systems and communications networks that 
provide the capability to—
(A) improve the safety of commercial motor 
vehicle operations; 
(B) increase the efficiency of regulatory in-
spection processes to reduce administrative bur-
dens by advancing technology to facilitate in-
spections and increase the effectiveness of enforce-
ment efforts; 
(C) advance electronic processing of reg-
istration information, driver licensing informa-
tion, fuel tax information, inspection and crash 
data, and other safety information;
609
(D) enhance the safe passage of commercial 
motor vehicles across the United States and 
across international borders; and 
(E) promote the communication of informa-
tion among the States and encourage multistate 
cooperation and corridor development. 
(2) 
COMMERCIAL
MOTOR
VEHICLE
OPER-
ATIONS.—The term ‘‘commercial motor vehicle oper-
ations’’—
(A) means motor carrier operations and 
motor vehicle regulatory activities associated 
with the commercial motor vehicle movement of 
goods, including hazardous materials, and pas-
sengers; and 
(B) with respect to the public sector, in-
cludes the issuance of operating credentials, the 
administration of motor vehicle and fuel taxes, 
and roadside safety and border crossing inspec-
tion and regulatory compliance operations. 
(3) CORE DEPLOYMENT.—The term ‘‘core deploy-
ment’’ means the deployment of systems in a State 
necessary to provide the State with the following ca-
pabilities: 
(A) Safety information exchange to—
610
(i) electronically collect and transmit 
commercial motor vehicle and driver inspec-
tion data at a majority of inspection sites 
in the State; 
(ii) connect to the safety and fitness 
electronic records system for access to inter-
state carrier and commercial motor vehicle 
data, summaries of past safety performance, 
and commercial motor vehicle credentials 
information; and 
(iii) exchange carrier data and com-
mercial motor vehicle safety and credentials 
information within the State and connect to 
such system for access to interstate carrier 
and commercial motor vehicle data. 
(B) Interstate credentials administration 
to—
(i) perform end-to-end processing, in-
cluding carrier application, jurisdiction ap-
plication 
processing, 
and 
credential 
issuance, of at least the international reg-
istration plan and international fuel tax 
agreement credentials and extend this proc-
essing to other credentials, including intra-
state registration, vehicle titling, oversize
611
vehicle permits, overweight vehicle permits, 
carrier registration, and hazardous mate-
rials permits; 
(ii) connect to such plan and agree-
ment clearinghouses; and 
(iii) have at least 10 percent of the 
credentialing transaction volume in the 
State handled electronically and have the 
capability to add more carriers and to ex-
tend to branch offices where applicable. 
(C) Roadside electronic screening to elec-
tronically screen transponder-equipped commer-
cial vehicles at a minimum of one fixed or mo-
bile inspection site in the State and to replicate 
this screening at other sites in the State. 
(4) EXPANDED
DEPLOYMENT.—The term ‘‘ex-
panded deployment’’ means the deployment of systems 
in a State that exceed the requirements of a core de-
ployment of commercial vehicle information systems 
and networks, improve safety and the productivity of 
commercial motor vehicle operations, and enhance 
transportation security. 
(h) REPEAL.—Section 5209 of the Transportation Eq-
uity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 502 note; 112 Stat. 
460–461) is repealed.
612
SEC. 4110. SAFETY FITNESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 31144(a) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) determine whether an owner or operator is 
fit to operate safely commercial motor vehicles, uti-
lizing among other things the accident record of an 
owner or operator operating in interstate commerce 
and the accident record and safety inspection record 
of such owner or operator in operations that affect 
interstate commerce; 
‘‘(2) periodically update such safety fitness deter-
minations; 
‘‘(3) make such final safety fitness determina-
tions readily available to the public; and 
‘‘(4) prescribe by regulation penalties for viola-
tions of this section consistent with section 521.’’. 
(b) PROHIBITED TRANSPORTATION.—The first sub-
section (c) of such section 31144 is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(5) TRANSPORTATION AFFECTING INTERSTATE 
COMMERCE.—Owners or operators of commercial 
motor vehicles prohibited from operating in interstate 
commerce pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (3) 
may not operate any commercial motor vehicle that
613
affects interstate commerce until the Secretary deter-
mines that such owner or operator is fit.’’. 
(c) DETERMINATION OF UNFITNESS BY A STATE.—
Such section 31144 is further amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and the 
second subsection (c) as subsections (e), (f), and (g), 
respectively; 
(2) by inserting after the first subsection (c) the 
following: 
‘‘(d) DETERMINATION OF UNFITNESS BY A STATE.—
If a State that receives a grant under section 31102 deter-
mines, by applying the standards prescribed by the Sec-
retary under subsection (b), that an owner or operator of 
commercial motor vehicles that has its principal place of 
business in that State and operates in intrastate commerce 
is unfit under such standards and prohibits the owner or 
operator from operating such vehicles in the State, the Sec-
retary shall prohibit the owner or operator from operating 
such vehicles in interstate commerce until the State deter-
mines that the owner or operator is fit.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1) of this subsection) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5) GRANTS FOR AUDITS.—From amounts de-
ducted under section 31104(f)(3), the Secretary may
614
make grants to States and local governments for new 
entrant motor carrier audits under this subsection 
without requiring a matching contribution from such 
States or local governments. 
‘‘(6) DOT AUDITS.—If the Secretary determines 
that a State or local government is unable to use gov-
ernment employees to conduct new entrant motor car-
rier audits, the Secretary may utilize the funds de-
ducted under section 31104(f)(3) to conduct such au-
dits in areas under the jurisdiction of such State or 
local government.’’. 
SEC. 4111. PATTERN OF SAFETY VIOLATIONS BY MOTOR 
CARRIER OR BROKER MANAGEMENT. 
(a) DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.—Sec-
tion 31135 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘Each’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) PATTERN OF NONCOMPLIANCE.—If an officer of 
a motor carrier or broker engages in a pattern or practice 
of avoiding compliance, or masking or otherwise concealing 
noncompliance, with regulations prescribed under this 
chapter, the Secretary may suspend, amend, or revoke any 
part of the registration of the motor carrier or broker under 
section 13905.
615
‘‘(c) LIST
OF PROPOSED OFFICERS.—Each person 
seeking registration as a motor carrier under section 13902 
or as a broker under section 13904 shall submit a list of 
the proposed officers of the motor carrier or broker. If the 
Secretary determines that any of the proposed officers has 
previously engaged in a pattern or practice of avoiding 
compliance, or masking or otherwise concealing noncompli-
ance, with regulations prescribed under this chapter, the 
Secretary may deny the person’s application for registra-
tion as a motor carrier under section 13902(a)(3) or as a 
broker under section 13904(a). 
‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall by regula-
tion establish standards to implement subsections (b) and 
(c) and a procedure to allow a person who is denied reg-
istration under subsection (c) or whose registration is sus-
pended, amended, or revoked under subsection (b) to remedy 
the pattern or practice that results in the denial, suspen-
sion, amendment, or revocation. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions shall apply: 
‘‘(1) MOTOR CARRIER AND BROKER.—The terms 
‘motor carrier’ and ‘broker’ have the meanings such 
terms have under section 13102. 
‘‘(2) OFFICER.—The term ‘officer’ means an 
owner, chief executive officer, chief operating officer,
616
chief financial officer, safety director, vehicle mainte-
nance supervisor, and driver supervisor of a motor 
carrier, regardless of the title attached to those func-
tions.’’. 
(b) 
MOTOR
CARRIER
REGISTRATION.—Section 
13902(a)(1)(B) of such title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B)(i) any safety regulations imposed by 
the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) the duties of employers and employees 
established by the Secretary under section 31135; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the safety fitness requirements estab-
lished by the Secretary under section 31144; 
and’’. 
SEC. 4112. MOTOR CARRIER RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 31108 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 31108. Motor carrier research and technology pro-
gram 
‘‘(a) RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY, AND TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFER ACTIVITIES.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall establish and carry out a motor car-
rier research and technology program.
617
‘‘(2) MULTI-YEAR PLAN.—The program must in-
clude a multi-year research plan that focuses on non-
redundant innovative research. 
‘‘(3) RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, 
AND
TECH-
NOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary may 
carry out under the program research, development, 
technology, and technology transfer activities with re-
spect to—
‘‘(A) the causes of accidents, injuries, and 
fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles; 
‘‘(B) means of reducing the number and se-
verity of accidents, injuries, and fatalities in-
volving commercial motor vehicles; 
‘‘(C) improving commercial motor vehicle 
and motor carrier safety, and industry effi-
ciency, through technological improvement; 
‘‘(D) improving technology used by enforce-
ment officers when conducting roadside inspec-
tions and compliance reviews to increase effi-
ciency and information transfers; and 
‘‘(E) increasing the safety and security of 
hazardous materials transportation. 
‘‘(4) TESTS AND DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary 
may test, develop, or assist in testing and developing
618
any material, invention, patented article, or process 
related to the research and technology program. 
‘‘(5) TRAINING.—The Secretary may use the 
funds made available to carry out this section for 
training or education of commercial motor vehicle 
safety personnel, including training in accident re-
construction and detection of controlled substances or 
other contraband and stolen cargo or vehicles. 
‘‘(6) PROCEDURES.—The Secretary may carry 
out this section—
‘‘(A) independently; 
‘‘(B) in cooperation with other Federal de-
partments, agencies, and instrumentalities and 
Federal laboratories; or 
‘‘(C) by making grants to, or entering into 
contracts, cooperative agreements, and other 
transactions with, any Federal laboratory, State 
agency, authority, association, institution, for-
profit or nonprofit corporation, organization, 
foreign country, or person. 
‘‘(7) DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF USE OF 
PRODUCTS.—The Secretary shall use funds made 
available to carry out this section to develop, admin-
ister, communicate, and promote the use of products
619
of research, technology, and technology transfer pro-
grams under this section. 
‘‘(b) COLLABORATIVE
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOP-
MENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To advance innovative solu-
tions to problems involving commercial motor vehicle 
and motor carrier safety, security, and efficiency, and 
to stimulate the deployment of emerging technology, 
the Secretary may carry out, on a cost-shared basis, 
collaborative research and development with—
‘‘(A) non-Federal entities, including State 
and local governments, foreign governments, col-
leges and universities, corporations, institutions, 
partnerships, and sole proprietorships that are 
incorporated or established under the laws of any 
State; and 
‘‘(B) Federal laboratories. 
‘‘(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In carrying 
out this subsection, the Secretary may enter into co-
operative research and development agreements (as 
defined in section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a)). 
‘‘(3) COST SHARING.—
‘‘(A) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share 
of the cost of activities carried out under a coop-
620
erative research and development agreement en-
tered into under this subsection shall not exceed 
50 percent; except that, if there is substantial 
public interest or benefit associated with any 
such activity, the Secretary may approve a 
greater Federal share. 
‘‘(B) TREATMENT OF DIRECTLY INCURRED 
NON-FEDERAL
COSTS.—All costs directly in-
curred by the non-Federal partners, including 
personnel, travel, and hardware or software de-
velopment costs, shall be credited toward the non-
Federal share of the cost of the activities de-
scribed in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(4) USE OF TECHNOLOGY.—The research, devel-
opment, or use of a technology under a cooperative re-
search and development agreement entered into under 
this subsection, including the terms under which the 
technology may be licensed and the resulting royalties 
may be distributed, shall be subject to the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3701 et seq.).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 311 of such title is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 31108 and inserting the following:
‘‘31108. Motor carrier research and technology program.’’.
621
SEC. 4113. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 311 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
‘‘§ 31161. International cooperation 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to use 
funds made available by section 31104(i) to participate and 
cooperate in international activities to enhance motor car-
rier, driver, and highway safety by such means as exchang-
ing information, conducting research, and examining needs, 
best practices, and new technology.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
‘‘31161. International cooperation.’’.
SEC. 4114. PERFORMANCE AND REGISTRATION INFORMA-
TION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT. 
(a) DESIGN AND CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION.—
Section 31106(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) DESIGN.—The program shall link Federal 
motor carrier safety information systems with State 
commercial vehicle registration and licensing systems 
and shall be designed to enable a State to—
622
‘‘(A) determine the safety fitness of a motor 
carrier or registrant when licensing or reg-
istering the registrant or motor carrier or while 
the license or registration is in effect; and 
‘‘(B) deny, suspend, or revoke the commer-
cial motor vehicle registrations of a motor car-
rier or registrant that has been issued an oper-
ations out-of-service order by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION.—The Sec-
retary shall require States, as a condition of partici-
pation in the program, to—
‘‘(A) comply with the uniform policies, pro-
cedures, and technical and operational standards 
prescribed by the Secretary under subsection 
(a)(4); and 
‘‘(B) possess or seek the authority to deny, 
suspend, or revoke commercial motor vehicle reg-
istrations based on the issuance of an operations 
out-of-service order by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) PERFORMANCE AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION 
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT GRANTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 311 
of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following:
623
‘‘§ 31109. Performance and registration information 
system management 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may make a grant to a State to implement the performance 
and registration information system management require-
ments of section 31106(b). 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY
OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts made 
available to a State under this section shall remain avail-
able until expended.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
‘‘31109. Performance and registration information system management.’’.
SEC. 4115. DATA QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. 
Section 31106(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (D); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of subpara-
graph (E) and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
tical, all the data is complete, timely, and accu-
rate across all information systems and initia-
tives; and
624
‘‘(G) establish and implement a national 
motor carrier safety data correction system.’’. 
SEC. 4116. DRIVEAWAY SADDLEMOUNT VEHICLES. 
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 31111(a) of tile 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) 
DRIVE-AWAY
SADDLEMOUNT
WITH 
FULLMOUNT VEHICLE TRANSPORTER COMBINATION.—
The term ‘drive-away saddlemount with fullmount ve-
hicle transporter combination’ means a vehicle com-
bination designed and specifically used to tow up to 
3 trucks or truck tractors, each connected by a saddle 
to the frame or fifth-wheel of the forward vehicle of the 
truck or truck tractor in front of it.’’. 
(b) GENERAL LIMITATIONS.—Section 31111(b)(1) of 
such title is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) 
as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) imposes a vehicle length limitation of not 
less than or more than 97 feet on a driveaway 
saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter com-
binations;’’.
625
SEC. 4117. COMPLETION OF UNIFORM CARRIER REGISTRA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 14504 of title 49, United 
States Code, and the item relating to such section in anal-
ysis for chapter 145 of such title, are repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 13908 of 
such title is amended—
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘the single State 
registration system under section 14504,’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), 
and (6) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respec-
tively; 
(3) by striking subsection (d); and 
(4) by striking ‘‘(e) DEADLINE FOR CONCLUSION; 
MODIFICATION.—’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘1996,’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of the Transportation Eq-
uity Act: A Legacy for Users,’’. 
SEC. 4118. REGISTRATION OF MOTOR CARRIERS AND 
FREIGHT FORWARDERS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS RELATING TO MOTOR CARRIERS.—
Paragraphs (6), (7), (12), and (13) of section 13102 of title 
49, United States Code, are each amended by striking