In re All-States Moving & Storage Co.

25 Fla. Supp. 136
CourtFlorida Public Service Commission
DecidedMay 12, 1965
DocketNo. 7268-CCT
StatusPublished

This text of 25 Fla. Supp. 136 (In re All-States Moving & Storage Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Florida Public Service Commission primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re All-States Moving & Storage Co., 25 Fla. Supp. 136 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1965).

Opinion

BY THE COMMISSION.

Pursuant to statutory notice the commission by its duly designated examiner, Harold E. Smithers, held public hearings on this application on April 21-24, 1964, and May 18 and 19, 1964, in the commission’s hearing room, Whitfield Bldg., Tallahassee.

The examiner’s report and recommended order were duly served on all of the parties. Exceptions to the recommended order and replies thereto were filed with the commission. Oral argument was heard on March 25, 1965. The entire record herein, including the application, the testimony adduced at the public hearing, the exceptions to the recommended order and [138]*138replies thereto, and oral argument heard thereon, has been examined by the full commission. After due consideration, the commission now enters its own order in this cause.

Under certificate no. 719 issued July 6,1962, the applicant may transport household goods throughout the state with motor vehicles domiciled at Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach. By this application, the applicant originally sought to extend the certificate to include 23 additional domicile points. At the outset of the hearing, the application was restrictively amended by deleting certain requested domicile points so that the twelve remaining were — Panama City, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Cocoa, Pompano Beach, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, Miami and West Palm Beach. Prior to reconvening the hearing on May 18, 1964, the commission granted the protestants’ motion to dismiss as to Tallahassee in order no. 6274. As a result of the foregoing actions, certain protestants withdrew and the hearing proceeded on the application as amended.

At the outset of the hearing, general agreement was obtained to limiting testimony regarding each requested domicile point to the named municipality and the statutory municipal exempt area.

From the evidence presented by the applicant’s president, the applicant appears to be qualified to domicile motor vehicle equipment at the requested domicile points if the applicant would lease motor vehicle equipment from their booking agents at each particular domicile point, rather than purchase vehicle equipment which it does not appear financially able to do. Whether or not leasing would be done had not been determined. Presently, the applicant has two tractor-trailers and seven straight trucks for line haul movements of household goods. The applicant is interstate agent for North American Van Lines at Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach, and some of his agents are interstate agents for North American also.

The applicant’s banker testified to the satisfactory credit rating of the applicant although he could not remember a specific instance when money had been loaned by the bank to the applicant. A Pensacola International Harvester truck dealer testified that he would be willing to sell the applicant motor vehicle equipment on credit, although he had never sold the applicant any equipment on credit.

Three witnesses, Mr. Fogarty of Fogarty Bros. Transfer, Inc. (an intra and interstate carrier of household goods), Mr. Lambert, d/b/a Paul Arpin Van Lines (the Jacksonville agent for another intrastate carrier) and Professor Kafoglis of the Uni[139]*139versity of Florida, testified to the effect that domiciling motor vehicle equipment at each of the requested domicile points would provide the applicant with a more efficient and economical operation. Another public witness representing Boeing Aircraft at Cape Kennedy, testified that granting the applicant domicile rights at Cocoa would be beneficial to his company.

The balance of the evidence presented by the applicant as to each of the requested domicile points can be divided into three categories as follows — growth of each municipality involved, shipments made by the applicant, and his booking agents.

To show the growth of each municipality involved, the applicant presented U. S. Census information showing the population for 1950 and 1960. These figures will not be repeated since their recital would merely substantiate a well-known fact — that these municipalities have experienced a substantial growth and increased population over the years, as have other municipalities in the state for which domicile rights were not requested by the amended application. Other statistical information from the U. S. Census indicating the general mobility of population will not be repeated as that also substantiates a foregone conclusion.

The applicant handled a total of 38 shipments from the various requested domicile points over various periods of time, with 12 of the 38 shipments terminating at one of the other requested domicile points as follows —

Requested domicile point Period of time No. of shipments from No. of Shipments Indicated Point from indicated terminating at another point requested domicile point
Panama City 2/63 — 3/64 8 3
Jacksonville 9/62 — 3/64 15 2
Daytona Beach 2/64 — 3/64 2 1
Orlando 10/62 — 1/64 3 2
Cocoa 8/62 — 3/64 1 0
Pompano Beach 10/63 — 3/64 3 1
Port Myers 12/63 1 0
Sarasota 7/63 — 3/64 3 2
Tampa 0 0
Miami 5/63 — 3/64 2 1
West Palm Beach 0 0

The applicant has registered booking agents at ten of the eleven domicile points requested in the amended application and has an interline agreement with a carrier certificate for Palm Beach County only. With the exception of Panama City, a representative of each of the above testified that the applicant is unable to provide requested service, particularly on smaller weight shipments moving a short distance because the applicant cannot domicile motor vehicle equipment at their particular location; that they have the necessary facilities (office, warehouse and [140]*140vehicular) to perform their function, with the exception of Tampa where there is no warehouse; that it would be more efficient and economical for the applicant to domicile motor vehicle equipment at their particular location; and, that they could not specifically state when a shipper that had requested service from them and which they were unable to handle did not receive reasonable service from the existing carriers. Of the eleven agreements involved above, six were made after the filing of this application (Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Miami and West Palm Beach), four were made within 2% months prior to the filing of this application (Ft. Myers, Pompano Beach, Sarasota and Cocoa) and one (Panama City) was slightly more than one year old.

At the conclusion of the applicant’s case the protestants made motions to dismiss (Tr. 779-785) which were referred to the commission pursuant to Rule 810-2.82.

Of the large number of protestants in this hearing, sixteen appeared and testified, and stipulations were made to the admission of certain exhibits by two other protestants. Each requested domicile point was specifically protested by one or more of the foregoing eighteen protestants based on their domicile authority, and each protested all points based on their authority to serve all points in Florida. Protestants’ evidence generally pertained to their authority, facilities and vehicle equipment, and nine introduced exhibits of specific shipments handled.

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25 Fla. Supp. 136, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-all-states-moving-storage-co-flapubserv-1965.