Find a Transportation Law Lawyer Continued…

The Surface Transportation Board has overlapping concerns in rail commerce, trucking and some maritime commerce. Rail commerce, however, is the STB's main area of jurisdiction. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) covers navigation and shipping on any waters in the US used for those purposes. The federal government reserves exclusive jurisdiction over these matters, leaving states and localities subject to its rules and regulations when it comes to maritime (also known as admiralty) law. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) is responsible for monitoring and regulating the transportation of hazardous materials via any method (including and especially, through the nation's pipelines). Any oversight of the above agencies falls to the DOT's Office of Inspector General, a watchdog agency tasked with preventing fraud and waste, and making sure the various branches of the DOT work together smoothly. Other Agencies International transportation law is administered by various treaties and agencies, including a number established and maintained by the United Nations and by the European Union. In the US, individual states their own transportation laws and these are valid as long as they do not conflict with federal statutes. Litigation With the tangle of the various states, federal, and international agencies concerned with various aspects of transportation law, the services of attorneys specializing in the field are becoming more and more necessary to sort out any litigation that arises from matters related to this field. By Michael Willis