Transportation law covers a wide range of entities and subjects, including vehicular safety, hazardous materials transport, and infrastructure. It affects commercial transportation, mass transit, and drivers. The United States Department of Transportation oversees transportation law at the federal level.
Transportation law, sometimes referred to simply as transportation law, is a broad area of case law. Legislation in this category can place limitations and liabilities on a wide range of entities, including commercial vehicle operators, state governments, and private industry. The effects are felt by many because the laws cover many subject areas, such as vehicular safety, the transport of hazardous materials and the infrastructure used for vehicular travel.
The words “transportation law” might lead a person to believe that the subject relates solely to driving regulations. Drivers are certainly affected by this area of law due to regulations such as licensing requirements, vehicle inspection standards and road laws. Many other parts of life and commerce are also heavily affected.
The Transportation Act heavily affects commercial transportation, for example. This includes transportation for the purpose of shipping and delivery as well as that which is for the purpose of mass transit. This area of law therefore applies not only to car and truck operators, but also to the owners and operators of buses, planes and trains.
In these cases, topics of concern may include capacity, operator training, and passenger and cargo insurance. For example, cargo claims are an area of law that attorneys tend to specialize in. How trade arrangements are handled when commercially shipped goods are insured, lost or damaged can be a matter of contractual terms, but it is also generally a matter of legislation. When it comes to mass transit, transportation law often regulates the relationship between passengers and carriers. This may include fees, mandatory safety equipment, and special licensing requirements.
The infrastructure used for travel falls within the scope of the Transport Act. The design and materials used to build highways, railways and bridges are often subject to legislation. The standard to which these travel arrangements must be maintained is generally a matter of law. While there are no structures in the sky, the way airplanes fly is heavily regulated. For example, during a period in 2010, many national governments in Europe banned all air travel due to threats posed by an ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland.
Transportation law can be established at the local, state, or federal level. The highest agency dedicated to such matters in the United States (USA) is the United States Department of Transportation. Within this agency are several others, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Each subagency has a purpose and can introduce and oversee transportation law in its field.
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