Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
AUTO REGULATIONS
INVOLVE z FACTORS
Physical characteristics and
Operation of Carriers
Considered.

Regulation of motor vehicle common
carriers involves two important con-
siderations, according to the Motor We
hicle Conference Committee. with which
the Society of Automotive Engineers IL
cooperating: first, regulation of the
actual physical characteristics and
physical operation of motor vehicles
used as common carriers and, second,
regulation of the business engaged in
by motor vehicle common carriers.
The first consideration is adequately
cared for by existing State laws. Motor
vehicles operated as common carriers
are, In this respect, subject to the same
regulation as are other motor vehicles.
This consideration is treated in a
pamphlet entitled state Restrictions
on Motor Vehicle Sizes, Weights and
Speeds" by the committee.
Glasses Of Operation.
Regarding the classifcations, class A
includes motor vehicles privately en-
ployed by their owners for the trans
portation OF persons or property. Class
B represents the private contract car
rier. Motor vehicles in this class are
ployed by their owners for the trans
portation for hire of certain persons, or
property of certain persons, to places
tered into for the purpose. Glass G is
representative of the common carrier
1t is comprised of motor vehicles en-
ployed by their owners fro the trans
portation for hire of all persons, or the
property OF all persons. indiScriminate-
ly, under general conditions of agree
ment applicable to the whole public
The constitutional rights of the pri-
vate operator, class A. and the private
nFr a ri rWIn Fln ~ fkNa
portion of their business from regula-
ton. The Supreme Court of the United
States has ruled that the private con-
tract carrier, class B, cannot be forced
to operate as common carrier, class
c. 1t necessarily follows that, up to
the present, the regulation of the busi-
ness OF operating motor vehicles has
been confined to the common carrier.
Scope and Type of Operation.
Regulation Of the business of operat-
ing motor vehicles has been further
confined to operations wholly within a
State, as the Supreme Court of the
United States has ruled that a State
has no jurisdiction over operations
which cross State line.
1t has recently been suggested that
the regulation of the business of operat-
ing motor vehicles should be still fur
ther confined to the transportation of
persons. The motor coach riding public
is yet to be heard from in this connec-
ton. If common carrier, class C.,
motor coach operation which must, Of
necessity, BE- conducted as a monopoly,
is to be subject to State regulation, 1t
must be the same type of regulation
that is used in controlling other forms
of public utilities. In this type of
operation the chief value to the public
lies in regularity or infiexibility of
service
Experience in the transportation of
property by motor vehicles, however,
has demonstrated that its chief value TO
the public lies In It's fiexibility of service,
particularly in emergencies, which will
be limited, II not destroyed, by regula-
ton. Common carrier motor truck
operation, class G, cannot BE- conducted
as a monopoly. Regulation of its bust
ness cannot protect it against private
carrier motor truck competition, class
B, nor can it benefit the shipping public.