United States v. American Trucking Ass'ns

United States v. American Trucking Associations, 310 U.S. 534 (1940), was a landmark United States Supreme Court in which the court held the Motor Carrier Act of 1935 did not permit federal agencies to regulate employees whose duties did not affect safety and operation.[1]

United States v. American Trucking Associations
Argued April 26, 1940
Decided May 27, 1940
Full case nameUnited States, et al. v. American Trucking Associations, et al.
Citations310 U.S. 534 (more)
60 S. Ct. 1059; 84 L. Ed. 1345; 1940 U.S. LEXIS 1049; 2 Lab. Cas. (CCH) ¶ 17,064
Case history
PriorJudgment for plaintiffs by U.S. District Court
Holding
The Motor Carrier Act of 1935 does not empower the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate all employees of common and contract motor carriers, but rather only those whose duties affect safety of operation.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Charles E. Hughes
Associate Justices
James C. McReynolds · Harlan F. Stone
Owen Roberts · Hugo Black
Stanley F. Reed · Felix Frankfurter
William O. Douglas · Frank Murphy
Case opinions
MajorityReed, joined by Black, Frankfurter, Douglas, Murphy
DissentStone, joined by McReynolds, Roberts, Hughes
Laws applied
Motor Carrier Act of 1935

Background

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The American Trucking Associations (ATA) filed suit to compel the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate all employees of trucking industries, rather than simply those whose job affects safety.[2] The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) included an exemption to employees regulated by the ICC under the Motor Carrier Act of 1935. The ATA sought a ruling compelling the ICC to recognize all trucking employees as within its power to regulate, as such employees would then be exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA.

Opinion of the Court

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The court decided that ICC's interpretation of the statute, which limited its power only to those employees who affect safety, was correct.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ United States v. American Trucking Ass'ns, 310 U.S. 534, 553 (1940) ("Our conclusion, in view of the circumstances set out in this opinion, is that the meaning of employees in § 204 (a) (1) and (2) is limited to those employees whose activities affect the safety of operation.").
  2. ^ American Trucking Ass'ns, 310 U.S. at 541.
  3. ^ American Trucking Ass'ns, 310 U.S. at 553.
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