Opinion ID: 493218
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: General Rate Increases

Text: 21 The first of the statutory exemptions seized upon by petitioner permits collective action to establish general rate increases, provided that such increases are limited to industry average costs and that no discussion of individual markets or particular single-line rates is involved. 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10706(b)(3)(D)(i). General rate increase has been defined by the Commission as a proposed general adjustment of substantially all the rates published in a rate bureau's tariff or tariffs. 49 C.F.R. Sec. 1331.5(j)(1) (1986). This definition is wholly consistent with the legislative history of the Act. See H.Rep. No. 1069, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 28 (general rate increases are those increases that are applicable to all rates charged by one or more carriers), reprinted in 1980 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News 2283, 2310; cf. American Trucking Ass'n v. United States, 688 F.2d 1337, 1349 (11th Cir.1982) (reviewing legislative history), rev'd on other grounds, 467 U.S. 354, 104 S.Ct. 2458, 81 L.Ed.2d 282 (1984). 22 The Commission properly concluded that petitioner's terminal service proposal does not fall within this exemption. While NFTB's tariff proposal for other services increased rates generally by six percent, its proposed increases in terminal service rates varied widely among individual terminals, thus enabling NFTB to match the rates charged by other bureaus. See Joint App. at 192-94. We think it clear, therefore, that substantial evidence supported the conclusion that the proposal involved a discussion of individual markets and was not limited to average industry costs as required to come within the exemption. In addition, it is apparent from the record that the terminal rates portion of the proposal was considered and approved by NFTB members separately from the general increase proposed for other rates, Joint App. at 153-55, lending support to the ICC's conclusion that the terminal service tariff was not part of a general rate increase. Moreover, the ICC repeatedly has ruled that a proposal is not a general increase when it increases only one segment of the transportation charge. E.g., Pickup and Delivery at Private Residences, ICC Docket No. M-30376 (slip op. May 2, 1986); Collectively Set Delivery Charges at Eastern Kentucky, ICC Docket No. M-30374 (slip op. Mar. 19, 1986). In sum, we see nothing unreasonable in the Commission's construction of the exemption for general rate increases, and we agree that the exemption is not of proper application to petitioner's terminal service rate proposal.