The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Person" includes an individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, or association or their lessees, trustees, or receivers.

     (2) "Motor vehicle" means any truck, trailer, semitrailer, tractor, dump truck which uses a hydraulic or mechanical device to dump or discharge its load, or any self-propelled or motor-driven vehicle used upon any public highway of this state for the purpose of transporting property, but not including baggage, mail, and express transported on the vehicles of auto transportation companies carrying passengers.

     (3) "Public highway" means every street, road, or highway in this state.

     (4) "Common carrier" means any person who undertakes to transport property for the general public by motor vehicle for compensation, whether over regular or irregular routes, or regular or irregular schedules, including motor vehicle operations of other carriers by rail or water and of express or forwarding companies.

     (5) "Contract carrier" includes all motor vehicle operators not included under the terms "common carrier" and "private carrier" as defined in this section, and further includes any person who under special and individual contracts or agreements transports property by motor vehicle for compensation.

     (6) A "private carrier" is a person who transports by his or her own motor vehicle, with or without compensation, property which is owned or is being bought or sold by the person, or property where the person is the seller, purchaser, lessee, or bailee and the transportation is incidental to and in furtherance of some other primary business conducted by the person in good faith.

     (7) "Motor carrier" includes "common carrier," "contract carrier," "private carrier," and "exempt carrier" as defined in this section.

     (8) "Exempt carrier" means any person operating a vehicle exempted under RCW 81.80.040.

     (9) "Vehicle" means every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, except devices moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rail or tracks.

     (10) "Common carrier" and "contract carrier" includes persons engaged in the business of providing, contracting for, or undertaking to provide transportation of property for compensation over the public highways of the state of Washington as brokers or forwarders.

     (11) "Household goods carrier" means a person engaged in the business of transporting household goods as defined by the commission.

[2007 c 234 § 68; 1989 c 60 § 1; 1988 c 31 § 1; 1982 c 71 § 1; 1967 c 69 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.010. Prior: 1937 c 166 § 2; 1935 c 184 § 2; RRS § 6382-2.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- 1982 c 71: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1982 c 71 § 5.]

     Severability -- 1967 c 69: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1967 c 69 § 4.]