Code of Federal Regulations Title 49. Transportation § 49.1113.3 Authority of officers

(i) To hold hearings;

(ii) to administer oaths and affirmations;

(iii) to grant intervention;

(iv) to accept any pleading;

(v) to establish special rules of procedure appropriate to the effective handling of the particular proceeding;

(vi) to examine witnesses;

(vii) to issue subpoenas at the hearing;

(viii) to dispose of requests for discovery;

(ix) to hold conferences for the settlement and simplification of issues;

(x) to rule on motions and dispose of procedural requests;

(xi) to make initial decisions;

(xii) to exclude any person from the hearing for contemptuous conduct;  and

(xiii) to take any other action authorized by this part, by the Administrative Procedure Act, or by the Interstate Commerce Act and related acts.

(i) To terminate examination or cross-examination of repetitious or cumulative nature;

(ii) to limit direct examination to material matters;

(iii) to limit cross-examination to disputed material facts;

(iv) to require that principal examination or cross-examination be conducted by one or more counsel representing similar interests in proceedings where several parties are involved;

(v) to set reasonable schedules for the presentation of witnesses;

(vi) and to set reasonable time limits for the examination or cross-examination of witnesses. In order to enforce this paragraph, the officer may require a clear statement on the record of the nature of the testimony to be given by any witness.