[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4743-4744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. MC-F-20941]


Groendyke Transport, Inc., Manfredi Motor Transit Co., Miller 
Transporters, Inc., Superior Carriers, Incorporated, and Trimac 
Transportation, Inc.--Pooling Agreement

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Request for comments from interested parties and order of 
suspension.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 14302(c)(3), we are (1) requesting 
public comments on an application filed by nine motor carriers of bulk 
commodities to pool some of their services, traffic, and revenues and 
(2) suspending operation of the pooling agreement pending a final 
decision on the application.

DATES: Comments must be filed by March 1, 1999. Applicant's reply to 
the comments is due by March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of any comments referring to 
STB Docket No. MC-F-20941 to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of 
the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 
20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments to applicants' 
representative: James A. Calderwood, Zuckert, Scoutt & Rasenberger, 888 
17th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1609. 
[TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By application filed on November 20, 1998, 
nine motor carriers 1 seek authority to pool some of their 
services, traffic, and revenues pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 14302 and our 
regulations to implement this provision at 49 CFR 1184. The carriers 
are all licensed by the United States Department of Transportation 
(DOT) to carry bulk commodities that are often classified as 
``hazardous materials'' by DOT. In general, the bulk commodities 
transported by applicants are chemical products that cannot be mixed 
with other cargo in the same load and require specialized equipment and 
handling procedures. The equipment must usually be cleaned after each 
delivery.
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    \1\ The nine motor carriers are: Groendyke Transport, Inc.; 
Manfredi Motor Transit Co.; Miller Transporters, Inc.; Superior 
Carriers, Inc., and Central Transport, Inc., both wholly owned 
subsidiaries of Superior Carriers, Incorporated, a noncarrier; and 
Liquid Transporters, Inc., Quality Services Tanklines, Inc., Trimac 
Transportation Services (Western), Inc., and Universal Transport, 
Inc., all four of which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Trimac 
Transportation, Inc., a noncarrier.
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    By their pooling agreement, applicants plan to establish a ``joint 
venture corporation'' (JVC) that will (1) coordinate their operations 
so as to avoid traffic imbalances and empty mileage and (2) share and 
coordinate their acquisition, use, and cleaning of the specialized 
cleaning equipment required for their operations. The pooling agreement 
has no expiration date. Each of the five owners of the JVC will have a 
20% equity interest in it, and representation on the JVC's Board of 
Directors will be equal among the five owners.2 Each of the 
five owners will make an initial contribution to the JVC to cover 
expenses associated with its formation and initial operations. The 
JVC's board will hire its own staff.
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    \2\ The parent owners will act on behalf of their subsidiary 
regulated carriers: see n.1 herein.
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    The operations of the JVC can be summarized in their essential 
aspects as follows:
    1. Load Balancing. Each carrier will regularly notify the JVC about 
the points where it will have empty equipment or need loads and the 
points where it cannot handle the loads offered to it. The JVC will 
endeavor to reconcile available equipment with needs ``in a fair and 
equitable manner.'' Not less than monthly, the JVC will report to its 
carrier members as to ``the number of loads transported under the joint 
venture corporation arrangement along with the volumes and points 
served.''
    2. Cleaning equipment. The carrier members will assist each other 
in the provision of cleaning equipment, make cleaning facilities 
available on an equal basis, establish procedures for the use and 
cleaning of such equipment, and share information and compile records 
concerning such use. In addition, ``[m]ember carriers owning or 
controlling particular cleaning facilities will be responsible for the 
safe and efficient operation of such facilities * * *''
    3. Funding. The JVC may establish charges to its member carriers to 
fund its operations.
    4. Participation. A carrier member may terminate its participation 
by giving 30 days notice, subject to fulfillment of its prior 
obligations, and, if its permit is revoked by DOT, its operational 
participation will be automatically suspended.
    5. Shippers. The carriers certify that the rates set under the 
agreement do not contravene the restrictions on collective ratemaking 
in 49 U.S.C. Subtitle IV and our regulations.3 Each carrier 
member will deal separately with shippers as to rates, contracts, and 
service. Rates will not be set by the JVC or its staff and will not be 
subject to discussion or agreements between JVC members.
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    \3\ The last sentence of numbered paragraph 7 of the pooling 
agreement provides: ``The joint venture corporation will establish a 
uniform rate structure applicable to transportation services 
rendered through the joint venture corporation.'' We presume that 
this provision concerns payment for services that the carriers will 
render to each other and would not allow the JVC to provide 
regulated transportation services to be billed to shippers. 
Applicants should notify us if we are incorrect in this presumption.
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    Under the pooling agreement, carriers will sometimes have to 
collect charges from their customers for services that will actually be 
performed by other carriers. The particular carrier member responsible 
for contractual

[[Page 4744]]

arrangements with a particular shipper will collect charges from the 
shipper and compensate the carriers that actually perform the services. 
The JVC will facilitate such compensation, acting as a clearinghouse 
and record keeper.
    On January 7, 1999, Schneider National Bulk Carriers, Inc. 
(Schneider) filed a letter reply in opposition to the agreement, urging 
us to set the matter for hearing. Schneider asserts that the agreement 
is too vague; that it would unduly concentrate the market; that it 
would allow the participants to function as a de facto rate bureau; 
that it would permit improper ``signals'' of price movements; that 
uniform equipment costs could improperly influence carrier rates; and 
that the agreement would improperly allow division of the market. 
Interested persons may obtain a copy of Schneider's letter reply by 
contacting counsel for Schneider, Mr. Stephen M. Ferris, Esq., who may 
be reached at (920) 592-3896.
    On January 15, 1999, Liquid Transport Corporation (LTC) filed a 
petition urging us to reject the agreement or to request comments from 
the public. LTC asserts that the proposal, which it concludes is not a 
pooling agreement but is instead a ``Return Loads Bureau'' and 
equipment cleaning service, is of major transportation importance 
because it will adversely affect the ability of other carriers to 
compete for this traffic; that the proposal will restrain competition 
and effectively constitute collective ratemaking; and that any benefits 
it may produce will not justify the harm it will cause. Interested 
persons may obtain a copy of LTC's petition by contacting counsel for 
LTC, Mr. Terry G. Fewell, Esq., who may be reached at (317) 637-1777.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 14302(c)(2), the Board must determine whether the 
proposed pool is of major transportation importance and whether there 
is a substantial likelihood that the agreement will unduly restrain 
competition. If we determine that neither of these two factors exists, 
we are required to approve the agreement without a hearing. Before we 
attempt to make those determinations, we will seek public comments on 
the application and on the issues raised by Schneider and LTC.
    So that we may issue a final decision on the application after the 
comments are analyzed, commenters should also address whether, even if 
the agreement is of major transportation importance or there is a 
substantial likelihood that the agreement will unduly restrain 
competition, the agreement should nevertheless be approved under 49 
U.S.C. 14302(c)(3) because it would foster better service to the public 
or operational economies.
    Because the applicant carriers bear the burden of proof, we will 
allow them to respond to the public comments.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 14302(c)(3), we are required to suspend operation 
of the proposed agreement pending a final decision, and we hereby do 
so.
    Board decisions and notices are available at our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''
    This notice and order will not significantly affect either the 
quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy 
resources.
    It is ordered:
    1. A hearing on the pooling application is commenced as described 
in this notice.
    2. Effective on the date of publication, the operation of the 
proposed pooling agreement is suspended pending completion of this 
hearing and issuance of a final decision.
    3. A copy of this notice will be served on the U.S. Department of 
Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20530.

    Decided: January 25, 1999.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Clyburn.
Vernon A. Williams.
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-2224 Filed 1-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P