§FMCSR.com
Historical textIn force on Oct. 1, 1997Source: annual CFR edition 1996

§ 390.3 General applicability.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded by the 1998 annual edition.

govinfo, 1996 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 1996 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 1997 and Oct. 1, 1997 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates. govinfo does not publish the 1997 edition of Parts 300–399 in machine-readable form, so the 1996 text is shown for that year.
49 CFR § 390.3 — General applicability.. Text in force on October 1, 1997. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to October 1, 1998. Source: govinfo, 1996 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-1996-title49-vol4/CFR-1996-title49-vol4-sec390-3. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/390.3?asof=1997-10-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) The rules in subchapter B of this chapter are applicable to all employers, employees, and commercial motor vehicles, which transport property or passengers in interstate commerce.

(b) The rules in subpart C of this part are applicable to persons tendering loaded containers or trailers, to carriers used to transport such loaded containers or trailers, and to persons who coerce or attempt to coerce a motor carrier to transport a loaded container or trailer in violation of that subpart.

(c) The rules in Part 383, Commercial Driver's License Standards; Requirements and Penalties, are applicable to every person who operates a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in § 383.5 of this subchapter, in interstate or intrastate commerce and to all employers of such persons.

(d) The rules in Part 387, Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility for Motor Carriers, are applicable to motor carriers as provided in § 387.3 or 387.27 of this subchapter.

(e) Additional requirements. Nothing in subchapter B of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit an employer from requring and enforcing more stringent requirements relating to safety of operation and employee safety and health.

(f) Knowledge of and compliance with the regulations.

(1) Every employer shall be knowledgeable of and comply with all regulations contained in this subchapter which are applicable to that motor carrier's operations.

(2) Every driver and employee shall be instructed regarding, and shall comply with, all applicable regulations contained in this subchapter.

(3) All motor vehicle equipment and accessories required by this subchapter shall be maintained in compliance with all applicable performance and design criteria set forth in this subchapter.

(g) Exceptions. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the rules in this subchapter do not apply to—

(1) All school bus operations as defined in § 390.5;

(2) Transportation performed by the Federal government, a State, or any political subdivision of a State, or an agency established under a compact between States that has been approved by the Congress of the United States. The accident recordkeeping requirements of § 390.15 of this part remain applicable to the entities identified in this paragraph when engaged in the interstate charter transportation of passengers;

(3) The occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation nor in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise;

(4) The transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons;

(5) The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations.

[53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994]

Effective Date Note:

At 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994, § 390. 3 was amended by redesignating paragraphs (b) through (f) as (c) through (g), and by adding a new paragraph (b), effective June 27, 1995. At 60 FR 26002, May 16, 1995, the effective date was extended to Sept. 27, 1995. At 60 FR 40761, Aug. 10, 1995, the effective date was further extended to Sept. 1, 1996. At 61 FR 42822, Aug. 19, 1996, the effective date was further extended to Jan. 2, 1997.

Amendment history

19 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. Nov. 8, 2021 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [80 FR 63710, Oct. 21, 2015, as amended at 83 FR 22877, May 17, 2018; 86 FR 55743, Oct. 7, 2021]
  2. Oct. 7, 2021 → Nov. 8, 2021eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [80 FR 63710, Oct. 21, 2015, as amended at 83 FR 22877, May 17, 2018]
  3. June 18, 2018 → Oct. 7, 2021eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [80 FR 63710, Oct. 21, 2015, as amended at 83 FR 22877, May 17, 2018]
  4. May 17, 2018 → June 18, 2018eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [80 FR 63710, Oct. 21, 2015]
  5. Jan. 17, 2017 → May 17, 2018eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [80 FR 63710, Oct. 21, 2015]
  6. Oct. 1, 2016 → Jan. 17, 2017annual edition 2016diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988]
  7. Oct. 1, 2014 → Oct. 1, 2016annual editions 2014–2015diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988]
  8. Oct. 1, 2013 → Oct. 1, 2014annual edition 2013diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988]
  9. Oct. 1, 2012 → Oct. 1, 2013annual edition 2012diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004; 72 FR 36790, July 5, 2007; 73 FR 76820, Dec. 17, 2008; 75 FR 5002, Feb. 1, 2010; 75 FR 59135, Sept. 27, 2010; 76 FR 75487, Dec. 2, 2011]
  10. Oct. 1, 2011 → Oct. 1, 2012annual edition 2011diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004; 72 FR 36790, July 5, 2007; 73 FR 76820, Dec. 17, 2008; 75 FR 5002, Feb. 1, 2010; 75 FR 59135, Sept. 27, 2010]
  11. Oct. 1, 2010 → Oct. 1, 2011annual edition 2010diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004; 72 FR 36790, July 5, 2007; 73 FR 76820, Dec. 17, 2008; 75 FR 5002, Feb. 1, 2010]
  12. Oct. 1, 2009 → Oct. 1, 2010annual edition 2009diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004; 72 FR 36790, July 5, 2007; 73 FR 76820, Dec. 17, 2008]
  13. Oct. 1, 2007 → Oct. 1, 2009annual editions 2007–2008diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004; 72 FR 36790, July 5, 2007]
  14. Oct. 1, 2004 → Oct. 1, 2007annual editions 2004–2006diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003; 69 FR 39372, June 30, 2004]
  15. Oct. 1, 2003 → Oct. 1, 2004annual edition 2003diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001; 68 FR 47875, Aug. 12, 2003]
  16. Oct. 1, 2001 → Oct. 1, 2003annual editions 2001–2002diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999; 66 FR 2766, Jan. 11, 2001]
  17. Oct. 1, 1999 → Oct. 1, 2001annual editions 1999–2000diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998; 64 FR 48516, Sept. 3, 1999]
  18. Oct. 1, 1998 → Oct. 1, 1999annual edition 1998diff vs. previous
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 1296, Jan. 9, 1997; 63 FR 33276, June 18, 1998]
  19. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 1998annual edition 1996viewing
    [53 FR 18052, May 19, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 12202, Mar. 24, 1989; 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 59 FR 8752, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 67554, Dec. 29, 1994]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.