Opinion ID: 1300217
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Jeopardy of Other Carriers

Text: In challenging the commission's finding that granting Nebraskaland's application would place in jeopardy the intrastate operations of the existing carriers, Nebraskaland argues that the commission's finding is erroneous because Nebraskaland has already been operating as an intrastate carrier of household goods. Nebraskaland has been conducting intrastate moves since 1989 pursuant to its lease agreement with Husker Express; already advertises for intrastate moves; and receives referrals for intrastate moves from its national carrier, Paul Arpin Van Lines. While there is no evidence that Husker Express will begin conducting household moves if Nebraskaland is granted its own authority, Husker Express' authority will nonetheless continue to be available to the public, and nothing would stop Husker Express from operating pursuant to its certificate. The commission should not have to assume that Husker Express will retain its certificate and do nothing with it. In Moore's Transfer, Inc. v. Nebraska Public Service Commission, 198 Neb. 491, 497, 253 N.W.2d 313, 316 (1977), we wrote that [g]eneral fears of potential diversion, as contrasted with specific evidence indicating probable harm, do not constitute proof that harm will result to competitive carriers because of an application. In that case, there was no evidence of record to indicate what service the existing carriers could provide, as the application was unopposed. Id. at 494, 253 N.W.2d at 315. In the instant case, while there is ample evidence of the services existing carriers could provide, there is no specific evidence indicating probable harm, only general fears of potential diversion. Although the addition of another certificate into the pool of available carriers would allow for more competition, there is no competent evidence supporting the commission's finding that granting a certificate would place in jeopardy the intrastate operations of the existing carriers. The testimony of Dennis R. Bauder, owner of Borley Moving and Storage, and that of Andrews regarding potential harm to their businesses assume that granting a certificate will result in the complete and total loss of their intrastate business. The question posed to Buck assumes that granting the certificate will necessarily result in the loss of intrastate business to Buck's Moving & Storage. William Cronstrom, vice president and general manager of A-1 Metro Movers, testified that granting the certificate would have an impact on its operations because it obviously would handle less shipments.... When asked if granting the certificate would impact Ford Van Lines' operations, Wiederspan answered, [C]ertainly, it would. They are right here in Lincoln. Once they get authority, even though they are already doing it, they will be able to solicit easier, and they will be able to get more business than they are getting now. When asked if granting the certificate would impact Chieftain Van Lines' operations, Leslie answered, I could not say. But none of the protestants provided specific evidence demonstrating how granting Nebraskaland's application would place them in jeopardy. Thus, in this regard, the commission erred. However, in view of the evidence supporting the commission's finding that the public demand is currently being met by the existing carriers and that future demand or need will be met by such carriers, the error is harmless.