To all motor carriers subject to sections 216, 217, and 218 of the Motor Carrier Act, 1935

George B. McGinty
Interstate Commerce Commission
17 March 1936

March 12, 1936.

Notice

The Commission has observed with interest the development of the “agency” method of publishing tariffs for motor carriers engaged in the transportation of property. Where an association or bureau is set up for the purpose of rendering a genuine service to motor carriers and provides a “publishing agent” the carriers may be relieved of a great deal of the detailed work and expense incidental to the preparation of their tariffs by simply granting proper authority to him to act in their stead. No doubt in many instances this method will be found to be desirable. However, it should be understood that membership in such an association or bureau is not required by the Commission.

Each carrier may initiate and file its own rates with the Commission without having to join such organizations.

It should also be understood that under the Motor Carrier Act, 1935, whenever a carrier joins an association or bureau such carrier is still at liberty to establish joint; through rates with nonmembers, and that because of such membership the carrier does not forfeit the privilege of participating in joint tariffs with “nonmember” carriers which desire to file their own tariffs.

Membership in an association or bureau does not give the member carrier the right to refuse to accept shipments tendered, at proper transfer point, by a carrier not a member of its association. When an originating carrier issues a bill of lading to a point on a connecting carrier’s line, the shipper is entitled to receive the through service via any proper transfer point over the lines of any two or more motor carriers provided the proper charges are made for the services of each carrier as set forth in its tariff on file with the Commission.

[seal] George B. McGinty, Secretary.
[Filed, March 14, 1936; 12: 29 p. m.]