Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. Rice

1978-02-21

Headline: Court strikes down Wisconsin truck-length rules as an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce, allowing interstate carriers to operate 65-foot double-trailer trucks through the State and reducing detours and delays.

Holding: The Court held that Wisconsin’s regulations barring 65-foot double-trailer trucks unconstitutionally burden interstate commerce and reversed the District Court, allowing carriers to seek permits or operate doubles through the State.

Real World Impact:

Allows interstate carriers to use 65-foot doubles through Wisconsin, reducing detours
Reduces delays and extra handling caused by splitting trailers at the state line
Increases pressure on states to justify safety reasons for truck-size limits

Topics: truck length limits, interstate trade, highway safety, transportation costs

Summary

Background

Two interstate trucking companies — one based in Minnesota and one operating nationwide with terminals in Milwaukee and Madison — wanted to use 65-foot double-trailer trucks on the most direct routes between Chicago and Minneapolis and for service to Wisconsin terminals. Wisconsin law generally limited trucks to 55 feet and the Highway Commission’s regulations narrowly confined when longer combinations could get permits. The companies sued after their permit applications were denied, saying the rules delayed shipments, raised costs, and provided no real safety benefit.

Reasoning

The Court looked at the record and focused on whether Wisconsin’s rules unfairly stopped the flow of trade between states. The companies produced extensive, uncontradicted evidence — including a federal study and many expert statements — showing doubles are as safe or safer than 55-foot singles on limited-access, four-lane highways. Wisconsin offered little or no opposing safety evidence and routinely issued many exceptions benefiting in-state interests. Applying the balancing approach the Court concluded the safety benefit was speculative while the burden on interstate shipping was substantial, so the regulations violated the constitutional rule against impairing interstate commerce.

Real world impact

The Court reversed the District Court and sent the case back for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. Practically, carriers may now operate or seek permission to operate 65-foot doubles through Wisconsin where the safety record supports it, reducing detours, extra handling, and added costs. The decision is narrow and depends on the factual record showing the lack of safety justification in this case.

Dissents or concurrances

A concurring opinion stressed the narrowness of the ruling and emphasized that the Court did not lessen deference to valid safety regulations when supported by evidence.