Part 398 — Transportation of Migrant Workers

A specialized FMCSA rule section for motor carriers transporting migrant workers.

Applies to covered migrant worker transport, with distance and passenger-count rules.

Important definitions decide whether the migrant-worker transport rules apply.

Drivers transporting workers must be qualified, trained, medically fit, and properly licensed.

Covered worker transport requires safe speed, fatigue control, passenger safety, and route planning.

Vehicles must be safe before transporting workers, especially brakes, steering, tires, lights, and passenger area.

Worker transport must be planned around legal driver hours, rest, safe stops, and fatigue control.

Passenger transport vehicles need inspection proof, defect correction, and maintenance records.

Covered vehicles may be inspected in operation, and unsafe conditions can stop the movement.

A pre-dispatch checklist for worker transport applicability, authority, driver, vehicle, route, and safety planning.

Moving people creates passenger-safety, insurance, authority, driver, and vehicle-condition risks.