CHAPTER 157-TRANSPORTATION

        

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025- Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title III, §§336(a), 372, 373(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 818 , 836, 837, added items 2636b, 2653, and 2654. Amendments were made pursuant to operation of section 102 of this title.

2021- Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, §1083(d)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1923 , substituted "Charter air transportation of members of the armed forces or cargo" for "Charter air transportation of members of the armed forces" in item 2640.

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, §1024(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3842 , substituted "Preference for United States vessels in transporting supplies by sea" for "Supplies: preference to United States vessels" in item 2631.

2017- Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1044(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1555 , added item 2652.

2014- Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1071(f)(21), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3511 , which directed substitution of "rate" for "rates" in item 2642, could not be executed because the word "rates" did not appear after the amendment by Pub. L. 113–291, §1044(c)(2). See below.

Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1044(c)(2), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3494 , amended item 2642 generally, substituting "Transportation services provided to certain non-Department of Defense agencies and entities: use of Department of Defense reimbursement rate" for "Transportation services provided to certain other agencies: use of Department of Defense reimbursement rates".

2013- Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, §621(g)(2), title X, §1073(c), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 784 , 870, struck out item 2634 "Motor vehicles: transportation or storage for members on change of permanent station or extended deployment", added item 2642, and struck out former item 2642 "Airlift services provided to certain other agencies: use of Department of Defense reimbursement rate".

Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, §622(b), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1781 , substituted in item 2641b "Space-available travel on Department of Defense aircraft: program authorized and eligible recipients." for "Space-available travel on Department of Defense aircraft: retired members residing in Commonwealths and possessions of the United States for certain health care services."

2011- Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title III, §352(f), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4194 , added items 2648 and 2649 and struck out former items 2648 "Persons and supplies: sea transportation" and 2649 "Civilian passengers and commercial cargoes: transportation on Department of Defense vessels".

2008- Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title III, §374(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 83 , added item 2641b.

2004- Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, §1072(d)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2058 , added items 2648 to 2651.

2003- Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, §634(b), title X, §1006(b)(2), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1510 , 1585, added item 2636a and amended item 2642 generally, substituting "Airlift services provided to certain other agencies: use of Department of Defense reimbursement rate" for "Reimbursement rate for airlift services provided to Central Intelligence Agency".

2001- Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, §574(b), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1122 , added item 2647.

2000- Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [[div. A], title X, §1009(a)(2)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654 , 1654A-251, substituted "Deductions from amounts due carriers" for "Deductions from carriers because of loss or damage to material in transit" in item 2636.

1998- Pub. L. 105–262, title VIII, §8121(b), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2332 , added item 2641a.

Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VIII, §813(b), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2087 , added item 2646.

1996- Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title III, §368(a)(2)(B), title IX, §906(d)(1), title X, §1079(b)(2), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2498 , 2620, 2670, substituted "Motor vehicles: transportation or storage for members on change of permanent station or extended deployment" for "Motor vehicles: for members on change of permanent station" in item 2634 and added items 2644 and 2645.

Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title III, §334(b), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 262 , added item 2643.

1993- Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, §1173(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1767 , added item 2631a.

1991- Pub. L. 102–88, title V, §501(b), Aug. 14, 1991, 105 Stat. 435 , added item 2642.

1990- Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title III, §326(a)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1531 , added item 2637.

1987- Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XII, §1250(a)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1168 , added item 2641.

1986- Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XII, §1204(a)(2), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3971 , added item 2640.

Pub. L. 99–550, §2(a)(2), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3070 , struck out item 2637 "Transportation between residence and place of work for senior defense officials".

1984- Pub. L. 98–525, title VI, §614(b), title XIV, §1401(j)(2), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2540 , 2620, added items 2637 to 2639.

1982- Pub. L. 97–258, §2(b)(5)(A), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1053 , added item 2636.

1979- Pub. L. 96–125, title VIII, §807(c)(2), Nov. 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 950 , inserted "and on military installations" after "places of employment" in item 2632.

1973- Pub. L. 93–155, title VIII, §814(b), Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 621 , added item 2635.

1965- Pub. L. 89–101, §1(2), July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 425 , substituted "change of permanent station" for "permanent change of station" in item 2634.

1962- Pub. L. 87–651, title I, §111(c), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 511 , substituted "Stevedoring and terminal services: vessels carrying cargo or passengers sponsored by military department" for "Terminal Services, furnish to commercial steamship companies" in item 2633, and added item 2634.

1957- Pub. L. 85–44, §2, June 1, 1957, 71 Stat. 45 , added item 2633.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Cybersecurity and Resilience Annex in Strategic Rail Corridor Network Assessments

Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, §1067, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1048 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall ensure that each periodic assessment of the Strategic Rail Corridor Network carried out after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2025] includes an annex containing an evaluation of the cybersecurity and the resilience of the physical infrastructure of the Strategic Rail Corridor. Each such annex shall include-

"(1) a description of potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities affecting the Strategic Rail Corridor Network operations;

"(2) an assessment of the resilience of the Strategic Rail Corridor Network against cyberattacks and other disruptive actions by an adversary of the United States;

"(3) recommended actions to be taken by Congress and Federal agencies to improve the cybersecurity defenses and the resilience of the physical infrastructure of the Strategic Rail Corridor Network; and

"(4) a description of the timelines and resource requirements to implement the recommendations under paragraph (3).

"(b) Strategic Rail Corridor Network Defined.-In this section, the term 'Strategic Rail Corridor Network' means the interconnected network of rail corridors important to national defense and military mobility, as defined by the Department of Defense and the Federal Railroad Administration."

Process for Complaints and Investigations of Transportation Service Providers and Transportation Officers

Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, §1090, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1062 , provided that:

"(a) Complaints and Investigations.-

"(1) Process for submitting complaints.-The Commander of the United States Army Transportation Command shall develop a process through which a transportation service provider may submit a complaint to the Commander regarding possible violations of the Military Freight Traffic Unified Rules Publication or the Defense Transportation Regulations by Department of Defense transportation officers and transportation service providers regarding any military shipments that are required to be processed by the Global Freight Management System.

"(2) Elements.-The complaint process required under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following:

"(A) An identification of the information the complainant should provide as part of a complaint to assist the Commander in reviewing and investigating the complaint, including references to the rules that were allegedly violated.

"(B) A timeline for the adjudication of the complaint and rendering of an initial finding by an individual designated by the Commander.

"(C) A process for any party to appeal the initial finding if the party believes the initial finding is incorrect, a timeline for the review of the appeal, and a timeline for the Commander to render a final decision.

"(D) Such other elements as the Commander determines appropriate.

"(3) Consequences for violations.-If, pursuant to a complaint submitted through the complaint process under this section, a transportation officer or transportation service provider is found to have violated the Military Freight Traffic Unified Rules Publication or the Defense Transportation Regulations, the Commander shall impose a penalty in accordance with the Military Freight Traffic Unified Rules Publication and the Defense Transportation Regulations and, if applicable, work with the transportation officer or transportation service provider to take corrective action.

"(4) Transportation officer actions.-

"(A) Notification process.-The Commander shall establish a timely process through which a transportation service provider may notify the United States Army Transportation Command of any action a transportation officer imposes against a transportation service provider, such as a letter of non-use, if the transportation service provider believes that such action was improper, excessive, or not in accordance with the Military Freight Traffic Unified Rules Publication or Defense Transportation Regulations.

"(B) Authority to override.-The Commander may override any action taken by a transportation officer against a transportation service provider if the Commander believes such action was improper, excessive, or not in accordance with the Military Freight Traffic Unified Rules Publication or Defense Transportation Regulations. The authority under this subparagraph includes revoking a letter of non-use, reducing the duration of a letter of non-use, and removing any service failure from the record of the transportation service provider.

"(b) Global Freight Management Training.-The Commander of the United States Army Transportation Command shall provide recurring training to all transportation officers and transportation service providers that use the Global Freight Management System to process and award Department of Defense shipments. Such training shall include-

"(1) detailed instruction on the Military Freight Traffic Unified Rules Publication and Defense Transportation Regulations;

"(2) best practices for processing and awarding shipments in the Global Freight Management system;

"(3) the importance of awarding shipments transparently and in accordance with Department of Defense policies; and

"(4) such other information as the Commander determines appropriate.

"(c) Freight Carrier Registration Program.-

"(1) Update.-The Commander of the United States Army Transportation Command shall update the freight carrier registration program to ensure that users of the program, including Department of Defense personnel and transportation service providers, are able to easily determine if a standard carrier alpha code belongs to a motor carrier or broker.

"(2) Annual audit requirement.-Not less frequently than annually, the Commander shall conduct an audit of the freight carrier registration program to ensure that all approved transportation service providers have active and appropriate operating authority from the Department of Transportation."

Notification of Changes to Certain Transportation Contracts

Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VIII, §852, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1995 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The Secretary of Defense shall provide a written notification and briefing to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] not later than 90 days before the date on which the Secretary will implement any rule, regulation, or policy change which would-

"(1) waive, exempt, or reduce any requirement, including any security clearance requirements, regarding transportation protective services for any transportation service provider; or

"(2) allow the award of a contract or order to a transportation service provider for any shipment that requires any transportation protective service if such transportation service provider is not authorized by the Department of Defense to transport cargo regarding such a transportation protective service.

"(b) Transportation Protective Service; Transportation Service Provider Defined.-In this section, the terms 'transportation protective service' and 'transportation service provider' have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in the publication of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command of the Department of Defense issued September 12, 2022, and titled 'MILITARY FREIGHT TRAFFIC UNIFIED RULES PUBLICATION-1 (MFTURP-1)', or any successor thereto."

Air Transportation of Civilian Department of Defense Personnel To and From Afghanistan

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1098, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1626 , provided that:

"(a) Policy Review.-Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 12, 2017], the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a policy review regarding the use of commercial air transportation or alternative forms of air transportation to transport civilian personnel of the Department of Defense to and from Afghanistan.

"(b) Report to Congress.-Not later than 90 days after the completion of the policy review required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results of such review.

"(c) Updated Guidelines.-Not later than 90 days after the completion of the policy review required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue updated guidelines, based on the report submitted under subsection (b), regarding the use of commercial air transportation or alternative forms of air transportation to transport civilian personnel of the Department to and from Afghanistan."