Milford chronicle., 1940-07-26
THE PUBLIC VS.. STATE
BARRIERS
BY Ernest '. KeIth


Secretary and General Counsei for Delaware
Motor Truck Association. Inc.
With the recent passage Of a vast
national defense program comes a
demand by the public for the var
ious states throughout the country
to alter and make more flexible
their statutes regulating motor truck
traffic. For some years it has been
known by the pioneers OF the truck
ing industry and the many billions
affiliated directly or indirectly with
the industry that state barrier stat
utes were seriously handicapping
the full effectiveness OF motor truck
transportation. Notwithstanding
this, the industry has taken Il on
the chin, so to speak, and has de-
Yeloped into a weH-organiEed, we'll
directed and Well-equipped public
service enterprise.
When one stops to consider the
many conflicting statutes involving
the transportation of a motor truck
from Florida to Maine or from New
York to the middle west or west
coast, 1t must be conceded that the
motor truck industry has accom-
plished something of a miracle in
transportation service. For instance,
one state will permit 1900 ID axle
load; another state $4,000 10 axle
load. One state will require flares
Of certain number; another state
may require no flares or perhaps a
different number. One state has a
port Of entry law requiring the pay
meat Of an entrances fee; another
state has no such law. One state
permits one type of equipment; an
other state permits another type Of
equipment One state may require
so many hours of rest for drivers;
another state different number OF
hours. And SO on, until the truck |
owner or driver finds himself COM
pletely befogged with mays and
don'ts, all different. when he en-
ters one state. from another. Al
ready various federal departments
are finding that these state barriers
are going to afford a handicap to
the speedy execution Of the defense
plan. the effect Of which will be
that a number of the states will find
II absolutely necessary to change
their regulations in a lot OF re-
spects.
Only recently an incident was cit
ed wherein a truck loaded with re-
lief: supplies being carried from one
state into another was held up at
the borderline Of an intervening
state for a few pounds overweight
The driver possessed all Of the nee
essary credentials required for the
OF the case and made eY-
cry honest effort to expedite the
procedure of the case, which was
set into motion upon his arrest, but
without avail. With the consequence
that not only was a serious delay in
volved, but some Of the people for
whom the emergency relief supplies
were being transported, lost their
lives as the result of the extended
delay.
Today there are 4S,492 communi-
Ties in the United States served only
by motor vehicles, These towns and
hamlets are vital TO American life.
Tor they represent population Of :
7 ,844, SOFAS many people as are In /
The entire state Of Illinois and two
and one half times the whole pop !
llation OF Norway. {
These miles Of highways which Z
connect our farms and factories, j
pass through our villages and cit /
es, crossing state lines on the way :
% markets, must be kept open and I
'ree from barriers for the commerce
" this nation. Il is essential to our s
rational unity. h