Motor Freight Express v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

146 A.2d 323, 188 Pa. Super. 80
CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 14, 1958
DocketAppeals, Nos. 95, 96, 101, 107, 108
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 146 A.2d 323 (Motor Freight Express v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Motor Freight Express v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 146 A.2d 323, 188 Pa. Super. 80 (Pa. Ct. App. 1958).

Opinions

Opinion by

Gunther, J.,

These appeals are by Motor Freight Express, Breman’s Transfer, Breman’s Express Company, John F. Scott Company, The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company, Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Carriers, Inc., Kramer Bros. Freight Lines, Inc., Highway Express Lines, Inc., and Modern Transfer Company, Inc., from an order of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission which granted to Al Zeffiro Transfer and Storage, Inc. additional authority to transport, as a Class C carrier property from the Borough of Donora, Washington County, and points within 15 miles by the usually travelled highways of the limits of said Borough to points in Pennsylvania. The sufficiency of the evidence as to need [83]*83and inadequacy of service to support the order of the commission is questioned by these appeals.

By application filed with the commission on February 2, 1956 and docketed at Application No. 66674, Folder 9, and thereafter amended, the applicant sought additional authority to transport as a Glass D carrier property, with certain exceptions, from the Borough of Donora. This application was protested by approximately 38 motor carriers and two rail carriers out of which 18 motor carriers and two rail carriers presented testimony in opposition to the application. Hearings were held at Washington, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on March 15, May 21 and 22, July 9, September 13 and November 1, 1956. On February 10, 1958, the commission entered an order in “short form” granting the additional right to the applicant as requested but eliminated a number of other rights. Appellants appealed from this order and, upon petition of the commission to remand the record for further study and consideration, we remanded the record on April 25, 1958, directing the commission to make specific findings of fact in sufficient detail so as to enable us on appeal to determine the controverted questions presented. We further ordered that the supersedeas remain in force and effect pending the return of the record to us. On June 16, 1958, the commission issued an order in lieu of the order of February 10, 1958, granting applicant the additional authority to transport as a Glass G carrier property from Donora area to points in Pennsylvania and refusing the application insofar as it referred to all other transportation as lacking in necessity. At the same time, the commission eliminated certain rights under A. 66674, Folder 2, Folder 5, and cancelled the certificates issued at Folders 3, 4 and 10. From this order, a number of appellants filed petitions for supersedeas and on July 17, 1958,' we ordered all the appeals [84]*84consolidated and listed the same for argument for September 10, 1958 both on the merits and on the question of supersedeas.

The territory of Donora and 15 miles thereof takes in sections of the counties of Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland and Fayette, and municipalities such as Charleroi, Monessen, Monongahela, New Eagle, Elizabeth, Clairton, West Newton, Brownsville, California and Belle Vernon. At the time of the application, the applicant had the right to transport for any shipper within 15 miles of Donora to points within 35 miles, and vice versa. In addition, it also had the right to transport as a Class C carrier for approximately a dozen shippers to any point in Pennsylvania. Appellants, however, did not contest these rights. They are contesting the extension of the Class C rights to include any shipper Avithin the area to any point in Pennsylvania. The rights granted by the commission, they contend, are not considered as a consolidation of existing rights but, rather, an extension of rights not heretofore enjoyed by the applicant.

The commission found that there is need for applicant’s service from Donora and the adjacent territory to points Avithin the State and concluded that a grant of rights, limited to transportation from Donora and 15 miles thereof to points in Pennsylvania, is necessary and proper for the service, accommodation and convenience of the public. The commission also found that there is no evidence of need on the part of shippers located throughout the State to transport property from points within the State to the Borough of Donora and 15 miles thereof.

Apparently it is conceded by all that the test for determining whether a certificate of public convenience should issue is public need or necessity. However, appellants maintain that the applicant failed to prove [85]*85by substantial evidence a need for the service applied for, or the inadequacy of the existing service. As a consequence of this lack of evidence, the commission, it is contended, had no basis upon which to grant the rights here involved.

We have held repeatedly that our review is not to substitute our judgment for that of the commission, but to determine whether there is error of law or lack of evidence to support the order of the commission. Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Pa. P. U. C., 185 Pa. Superior Ct. 115, 138 A. 2d 279; Pittsburgh, & Lake Erie Railroad Co. v. Pa. P. U. C., 170 Pa. Superior Ct. 411, 85 A. 2d 646. We must, therefore, determine whether this record contains either errors of law or lack of evidence to support the order here entered.

In an application for the enlargement of the authority here requested, the burden of proof is upon the applicant to establish the need for additional service and the inadequacy of existing services extending throughout the area to which the order applies. Wiley v. Pa. P. U. C., 186 Pa. Superior Ct. 309, 142 A. 2d 763; Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Pa. P. U. C., 182 Pa. Superior Ct. 54, 125 A. 2d 624; Leaman Transportation Corp. v. Pa. P. U. C., 153 Pa. Superior Ct. 303, 33 A. 2d 721. What may constitute a need for service, however, justifying the issuance of a certificate of public convenience depends upon the locality involved and the particular circumstances of each case. Warminster Township Municipal Authority v. Pa. P. U. C., 185 Pa. Superior Ct. 431, 138 A. 2d 240.

In support of its burden, the applicant presented the testimony of seven shippers. Frank O. Patterson, president of Pittsburgh Flexicore Co., Inc., testified that his company is engaged in the manufacture of pre-stressed concrete floor and roof slabs which are used in the construction of buildings. These slabs are [86]*86transported on flat-bed trailers from the company’s plant at Monongahela, Pa., to job sites. This company has been transporting its product in its own and leased equipment and has used applicant’s services to points within the scope of its previously granted authority. This witness stated that his company has 30 to 45 days from the time it receives approved drawings on a particular contracting job until it requires transportation. Generally, a contractor to whom this company supplies its material, knows two to three weeks in advance when he is going to be ready to receive the materials. Occasionally, this shipper received only a day or half day’s notice prior to the requested delivery. This company made no investigation to determine what carriers are presently authorized to render the service desired and the witness admitted that the applicant is not the only one who could render service to his company.

Raymond T. Lee, traffic manager of Fenestra, Inc., testified that his company has a plant at West Elizabeth, Pa., which produces steel roofing and steel and aluminum siding used principally in schools and commercial buildings.

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Bluebook (online)
146 A.2d 323, 188 Pa. Super. 80, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/motor-freight-express-v-pennsylvania-public-utility-commission-pasuperct-1958.