§ 5203. — Authorization of service by carrier.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 39USC5203]
TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
PART V--TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL
CHAPTER 52--TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY SURFACE CARRIER
Sec. 5203. Authorization of service by carrier
(a) The Postal Service may establish mail routes and authorize mail
transportation service thereon.
(b) A carrier shall transport mail offered for transportation by the
Postal Service in the manner, under the conditions, and with the service
prescribed by the Postal Service. A carrier is entitled to receive fair
and reasonable compensation for the transportation and service connected
therewith.
(c) The Postal Service shall determine the trains or motor vehicles
upon which mail shall be transported, except that no carrier shall be
compelled to transport mail on any train or vehicle which is operated
exclusively for the transportation of passengers and their baggage.
(d) A carrier shall transport with due speed such mail as the Postal
Service directs under this section.
(e) No carrier shall be required to serve territory it is not
otherwise authorized to serve, to provide service for the Postal Service
at a rate which is less than compensatory cost, or to provide service at
a detriment to the carrier or its other customers.
(f) Any order or determination of the Postal Service providing for
the transportation of mail by a motor carrier shall be filed with the
Board. If the Board finds, within 90 days after the filing, that the
order or determination will be detrimental to the motor carrier or its
other customers, or that such carrier does not operate equipment
suitable for the transportation of mail, the order or determination
shall be terminated.
(g) An order or determination of the Postal Service under this
section shall be consistent with the orders of the Board under sections
5207 and 5208 of this title.
(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 768; Pub. L. 95-473,
Sec. 2(a)(4)(D), Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1465; Pub. L. 104-88, title
III, Sec. 307(10), (14), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 946.)
Amendments
1995--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104-88 substituted ``motor carrier'' for
``motor common carrier'' in two places and ``Board'' for ``Commission''
in two places.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 307(14), substituted ``Board'' for
``Commission''.
1978--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95-473 substituted ``motor common
carrier'' for ``motor carrier'' in two places.
Effective Date of 1995 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104-88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of
Pub. L. 104-88, set out as an Effective Date note under section 701 of
Title 49, Transportation.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 5206 of this title.
