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Commercial trucking and transportation is really complex, with Federal, State and local authorities for various exerting various and sometimes overlapping jurisdictions. It’s a feature of federalism.

The federal government runs a pretty impressive safety program by enforcing rules and targeting enforcement based on statistical analysis and national standards. Shady operators basically cannot operate interstate business for long.

At the state or local level, it varies. States usually have more lax standards. There’s a cat and mouse game around the regs which evolve over time - Chinatown busses being the most notorious example recently.

The regulations shape business. Usually something like a hotel minibus or senior services bus operates with state or local authority. Large limos often operate in a legal grey zone. As a consumer it sucks, as the less regulated carriers are often a nightmare — that hotel minibus may not have operating brakes or a qualified driver.



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