Legal Document

332 U.S. 422 68 Supreme Court Reporter 131 92 L.Ed. 44 MORRISv.McCOMB, Administrator of Wage and Hour Division, Department Labor. Number 7. Argued Oct. 13, 1947. Decided Nov. 17, Mr. George S. Dixon, Detroit, Mich., for petitioner. Harold Nystrom, New York City, respondent. Justice BURTON, delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case requires further application principles stated in Levinson versus Spector Motor Service, 330 649, 67 931, Pyramid Freight Corporation Ispass, 695, 954. The first question is whether Interstate Commerce Commission has power, under § 204 Carrier Act, 1935,1 to establish qualifications maximum hours service with respect drivers mechanics employed full time, as such, by a common carrier motor vehicle, when services rendered, through such employees, carrier, interstate commerce, are distributed generally throughout year, constitute 3% 4% carrier's total services, performance shared indiscriminately among employees mingled their other like not commerce. whether, if that overtime requirements 7 Fair Labor Standards Act 19382 apply view exemption 13(b)(1) Act.3 We hold power therefore do employees. 2 action was brought March 26, 1942, United States District Eastern Michigan Labor, 17 Act,4 enjoin petitioner, James Federal KF105 F3 Morris, from violating 15(a)(1) (2) Act5 failure pay his compensation accordance Act.6 After trial based on pleadings stipulated facts, complaint dismissed September 1945. In its unreported conclusions law court neither petitioner nor were engaged 'in production goods commerce' within meaning that, extent they might be considered 7, overtime, did them. Circuit Appeals Sixth reversed this judgment May 29, 1946, remanded proceedings. Walling 155 Reporter, 2nd Series 832. Because importance interpreting because above had been passed upon our decisions cases, supra, we granted certiorari, Morris Walling, 817, 1091, limited following question: 3 '2. Where (i.e., those hire who conducts general cartage business) during minority time transportation traffic exempt provisions Section provision whom pursuant 1935 (49 Code KF62 sec. 301, et seq., 49 Annotated KF65 U5 301 seq.)?' 4 response invitation, filed brief amicus curiae. 5 material facts treated parties being shown record have effect 1942. They may summarized follows: 6 then was, past 12 years been, sole owner proprietor Judge Cartage Company which operated business vehicle about metropolitan area Michigan, all three contiguous counties State. His operations centralized at Ecorse, garage yard, used dispatching office, maintenance repair storage space equipment. principal steel. regular course business, 1941, he 60 persons, 40 truck drivers, 14 mechanics, painters, washers repairmen garage, dispatchers office workers. equipment consisted 50 trucks or tractors trailers. 8 He prepared render shipping public. rendered 47 consigning firms, but 97% revenue came Great Lakes Steel Corporation, both Ecorse. made up intermingled types service, classifiable follows basis derived them: (1) 35%: Transportation steel largely plants. transported processing plants an unsegregated portion shipped ultimately 61%: between mills industrial establishments. These shipments principally bumper stock, fender stock connection manufacture automobiles, substantial entered (3) 4%: miscellaneous freight directly either part continuous movements begun terminated Detroit.7 9 Ever since took effect, October 24, 1938, petitioner's exception workers, consistently worked enough entitle them additional rate one one-half times wages applicable were, however, paid assumption and, therefore, most part, received only overtime. Accordingly, it found them, there ground injunction against violation. No issue presented here workers no proof having now prospect. dispatchers. held applies commerce administrative Those issues, grant certiorari. As garagemen laborers, including repairmen, together superintendent maintenance, here, except classifications include doing class work defined 'mechanics' Ex Parte MC-2, 28 M.C.C. 125, 132, 133,8 making mechanical repairs affecting safe operation vehicles. All 'straight' hourly rates. weekly wage, pay, although devoted approximately 25% routine physical tasks same character working direction. executive employee should classified manner others group. There nothing showing respective laborers themselves several classes mentioned recover individual would necessary determine fact. However, relating future practices, situation can met limiting appropriate On basis, violation issued Commission, before us proper 'mechanics.' 10 full-time vehicles well definition done commerce.9 From August 1, 1940, work. Since collective bargaining agreement force union intrastate cartage. these agreements required payment excess 52 week rate. concession wartime conditions, applied 54 week. statutory workweek substantially shorter than just mentioned.10 11 whose affects safety transportation, case, special average, effort likely be, appear simplest form each driver required, day, devote 24 minutes allowable daily aggregate ten driving time) relation Under tests Commission's approved majority opinions analysis developed cited 'the activities rather proportion employee's determines actual need reasonable qualifications, equipment.'11 It beyond circumstances, 204(a)(1) Act12 authorized drivers. later, recog ized does restrict over Act. What thus true also mechanic truck. us, instead day without what times, present experience 1941. printed record, unprinted exhibit Clerk, classifies 19,786 trips taken 1941 43 respectively drove less eight weeks year. Only 'Pickup Trips' 'Boat Dock counted 'interstate commerce.' involved railroad houses, line haul depots boat docks steamship companies Detroit. 'engaged local property vehicle,' * (was) public.' Each appears worked. tables show 464 260 Trips,' 724 consignors. constituted 3.65% trips. equally day. apparently normal strictly year otherwise natural, integral inseparable 13 One more average number nine out 37, 24.4%. six half highest percentage 78.1%, 25 32 duty, so. distribution trips, every driver, two, least trip freight. two failed make any months frequent. hand, 97 Another per 16. greatest single seven nine. net result practical confront offering serve demands public center. point co merce, hazards distinguishable cases essential establishment If virtue status, take must perform established Commission. class. applicability specific us. entire classification existence (rather precise terms actually exercise power) Congress test employees.13 gone way purpose clear comparable expressly pickup delivery terminal areas14 wholly area,15 casual, occasional, reciprocal person occupation business.16 operations, even though, exempted regulatory control. furthermore provided procedure which, party interstate, secure compliance though some transportation. Congress, courts, decide exemption.17 certificate obtained sought 15 Having determined recurs face nevertheless possible reconciliation language Acts so provide concurrent jurisdiction length conclusion reached construction permissible. 16 discussion proceeded exist treatment, interpreted necessity restricting if, good cause, finds advisable consider evidence retry de novo. For reasons, vacated cause proceedings consistent Appeals, modified. 18 Vacated remanded. 19 ordered. 20 MURPHY, BLACK DOUGLAS concur, dissenting. 21 Apart 13(b)(1), subject wage hour spend virtually Comet Carriers, Cir., 151 107. becomes determining plainly unmistakably spirit exemption, giving due regard rule exemptions humanitarian legislation narrowly construed. Phillips company 324 490, 493, 65 807, 808, 89 1095, 157 American Law Reports 876. 22 By pedantically literal reading say 'power' service. A sporadic minute activities, approximating total, 204(a) confined regulation foreign commerce; employees' affect Trucking Ass'ns, 310 534, 1059, 84 1345. Hence potential scope extremely narrow. Approximately Yet slender thread fall hence deprived benefits 23 Due legislative militates result. dealing statute dedicated proposition laboring men something chattels. And rights discarded adherence formalistic dogmas interpretation. grammar. living fiber embodying labor others. t read light reason aims achieve. When done, speaks means amount jurisdiction. concerned insignificant conflicts regulations regulations. Nor desirous leaving unregulated nearly infinitesimal amounts words, engaging occasional microscopic exclude sporadically insubstantial bring purview See Mabee White Plains Pub. Co., 327 178, 181, 66 511, 512, 90 607. That implicitly recognized 708, 954, 960, & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions supposed until justified Interpreting disregard reality acts open invitation evade destroy trucking concern operations. employer withdraw send occasionally pick deliver piece into automatically lose accordingly dissent. 26 RUTLEDGE, 27 But Court's Ispass my views accord expressed MURPHY. dissenting 685, 949; thought foreshadowed extreme goes far Act's protection regards phase business. While hand very ones. Although regarded foreshadowing perhaps concluding where going exempting coverage safety, understand small lumped together, purposes exclusion, proportionate phases think decision. To extent, ruling constitutes extension sustained cases. 29 decision last term Yellow Cab Company, 218, 1560, difficulty Chicago passengers luggage homes, offices, hotels, etc. stations boarding trains journeys, conversely use taxicabs reverse direction after arrival 'too unrelated thereof Sherman (15 §§ 1—7, note).' page 230, 1567. decision, ruling, so-called commerce,' i.e., customers' places terminals, commerce.1 30 am unable agree opinion. 'Sec. shall duty Commission— '(1) regulate carriers end adequate baggage express, uniform systems accounts, records, reports, preservation *' Statutes-at-Large 546, 304(a)(1), 304(a)(1). (a) shall, section, employ commerce— longer forty-four effective date '(2) forty-two second date, '(3) forty expiration unless receives employment specified employed. 1063, 207(a), 207(a). 13. '(b) section 1935; *.' 1068, 213(b)(1), 213(b)(1). 17. district courts jurisdiction, shown, (relating notice opposite party) entitled 'An supplement existing laws unlawful restraints monopolies, purposes', 15, 1914, amended (U.S.C., 1934 edition, title 28, 381), restrain violations 15.' 1069, 217, 217. 15. *, person— transport, offer ship, deliver, sell knowledge shipment sale intended, order 14; impose liability produced excuse obligation accept transportation; violate 215, 215. note 2, supra. activity described 'C. cent defendant's consists interchange points, docks, depots, terminals lying Detroit Metropolitan Area, boundaries State involving picking water carriers, moved across lines move defendant carriers. instances him representing division rates movement, compensated shipper.' 'E. shippers Corporation. category subparagraphs A, C, Defendant above, behalf account Corporation.' Mechanics workers.—The operate cannot economically work, 'The larger primary duties keep condition. example, lights brakes many duties, course, sufficient clearly directly, obvious large great hazard highway safety. witnesses testifying hearing agreed direct intimate operation, conflicting submitted. 'Our tha said 204(a). 'There directly. Some paint Others carpenters, few tarpaulin tailors. find none operation. 'It possible, fact, see properly supplied oil, gas, grease, wash undoubtedly, vehicles, finding entirely clear, jurisdiction.' MC—2, 133. Safety Regulations (Carriers Vehicle), Cum.Supp., Parts 190—193. 674—675, 944. 'For, factually speaking, spends spent Ten unqualified harm month constant qualified one.' Id., opinion, 687 U.S., 950 'We recognize, matter, private transport days transporting rest operates given week, herein prescribed. Likewise period consecutive hours, drive prescribed express Act.' (Italics supplied.) parte MC—3, 39. statement demonstrates field mixed rules extended field. fact Southland Gasoline Bayley, 319 44, 63 917, 87 1244, explains reservation unexercised powers Hours Service Vehicle) Cu .Supp., Part 191. 202. '(c) Notwithstanding 203, relative equipment, apply— I, III, forwarder IV, incidental parts, areas transfer, collection, services; 202(c)(1), 543, 56 300, U.S.C.Supp. V, 302(c)(1), 302(c)(1). 203. Nothing standards construed (8) municipality municipalities zone adjacent commercially municipalities, control, management, arrangement carriage municipality, zone, irregular route routes lawfully jurisdiction; (9) business.' 545—546, 303(b)(8) (9), 303(b)(8, 9). Sec. '(4a) determine, own motion, board, interest, performed solely nature, character, quantity impair effectuating national policy declared Upon finding, remain unrevoked, attach conditions require. At issuance revoke thereof, designated become, reasonably 921, 304(a)(4a), 304(a)(4a). stipulation terminal.

Classification Label: 6