Pacific Intermountain Express Co. v. United States

167 Ct. Cl. 266, 1964 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 205, 1964 WL 8551
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedJuly 17, 1964
DocketNo. 216-61
StatusPublished

This text of 167 Ct. Cl. 266 (Pacific Intermountain Express Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pacific Intermountain Express Co. v. United States, 167 Ct. Cl. 266, 1964 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 205, 1964 WL 8551 (cc 1964).

Opinion

Doefee, Judge,

delivered tbe opinion, of the court:

This case is before us on stipulated facts.

Plaintiff is a motor vehicle common carrier. Between July 1955 and December 1958 plaintiff transported some 22 shipments of property for defendant. For each such shipment, plaintiff assessed and was paid charges for “exclusive use of vehicle” determined from the applicable tariffs then in effect. The General Accounting Office disallowed a portion of the charges for each shipment, deducting the disallowed charges from payments due plaintiff on other transportation services. Plaintiff now seeks to recover these disallowed charges.

The 22 shipments have been classified in four separate categories. Defendant now concedes that plaintiff is entitled to recover $6,088.10 on the shipments listed in Category I (findings 1 through 8) under our decision in Campbell “66” Express, Inc. v. United States, 157 Ct. Cl. 365; 302 F. 2d 270 (1962).

Defendant has also conceded plaintiff’s right to recover $5,159.01 on the shipments listed in Category IV (findings 24 through 26). Accordingly, the only contest awaiting determination is plaintiff’s right to recover “exclusive use” rates on the shipments listed in Categories II and III.

Category II consists of four shipments of electric copper, lead-covered reels of cable moving from Monticello, Illinois to Edwards Air Force Base in California. The reels were loaded on flatbed trailers in single rows, five reels to a load. The loading pattern used by the shipper did not permit any more than five reels per vehicle, though space for other material was available on either side of the row of reels.

The bills of lading were noted “exclusive use of Vehicle Authorized.” The bills of lading were receipted at destination by a Government agent who executed a consignee’s certificate which read as follows:

I certify that I have this day received from the transportation company named in this certificate the public property described in this Bill of Lading in apparent good order and condition except as noted on the reverse hereof, and that delivery service at destination was not by the Government or its agents.

[268]*268No exceptions were noted. Tbe tariff applicable to the shipments, 4th Revised page 105 of Rocky Mountain Motor Tariff Bureau Tariff No. 20A, Item No. 935, provided in pertinent part:

Charge for Exclusive Use of Vehicle.
Subject to Notes 1, 2, 3,4, 5 and 6, and except as otherwise provided in Item 940 herein or in individual items in tariffs made subject to this tariff, when a shipper or his lawful agent requests the exclusive use of a vehicle, charges will be assessed on the actual weight or authorized minimum weight whichever is higher, at the rate applicable, subject to a minimum charge computed on a weight of 20,000 pounds at the First Class LTL rate as provided in Sections 6 thru 11 of RMT No. 21 for each vehicle used. In the application of the provisions just stated the First Class volume rates shown on pages 281 thru 292 or on page 296 of RMT 21 will not be used in the determination of charges provided for in this item.
Nora 1: — The term “vehicle” means, for the purpose of this rule, a truck, or a semi-trailer.
Nora 2: — Shipper shall endorse on bill of lading:
“Exclusive use of vehicle requested.”

Category III consists of three shipments of internal combustion engines from Indianapolis, Indiana to McChord Air Force hi the State of Washington. Each shipment was made up of two j et engines. While no more than two engines could be loaded per vehicle, there was space available for loading freight of other types. The bills of lading bear the endorsement “Exclusive use of Vehicle.” Though these shipments were to have moved under seal, the seals were deleted on the authority of the Transportation Officer at Indianapolis to permit reloading in St. Louis, Missouri.

These shipments, too, were receipted for at destination by a Government transportation agent who signed a consignee’s certificate identical to the one set out, sufra. Again, no exceptions were noted.

The tariff applicable to these Category III shipments was the “First Revised page 129 of Rocky Mountain Tariff No. 20-B which provided in pertinent part:

Seals or Lochs Afflied to Vehicles
Except as provided in Note 1 below, all seals or locks applied to vehicles may be removed at the option of the [269]*269carrier over whose line such vehicle is moving, for the purpose of adding freight, transfer of freight or for other purposes contributing to better utilization of the vehicle.
Note 1: — The provisions of this rule will not apply on shipments for which exclusive use of vehicle is requested as provided in Items 935 or 940 herein, or in individual items in tariffs made subject to this tariff.
Charge for Exclusive Use of Vehicle
Subject to Notes 1,2, 8,4,5 and 6, and except as otherwise provided in Item 940 herein or in individual items in tariffs made subject to this tariff, when a shipper or his lawful agent requests the exclusive use of a vehicle, the charge for each such vehicle will be the charge for the actual weight, or the authorized minimum weight, whichever is greater at the rates applicable, subject to a minimum charge computed on a weight of 22,000 pounds at the Class 100 rate as provided in Sections 6 thru 12 of RMT 21-A.
Note 1: — The term “Vehicle” means, for the purpose of this rule, a truck, or a semi-trailer.
Note 2: — Shipper shall endorse on bill of lading:
“EXCLUSIVE USE OF VEHICLE REQUESTED.”
* * * *
Note 5: — Transfer of loads, enroute, because of road condition, embargoes, equipment failure, or for other causes, shall not modify, alter, or void the endorsement on the bill of lading, “Exclusive use of Vehicle Requested.’

It is plaintiff’s position in regard to both Category II and Category III shipments that when exclusive use of a vehicle is requested by a shipper, the bill of lading is properly endorsed to that effect, and a shipment is accepted by the consignee at destination without exception or qualification, the applicable charges are those for “exclusive use of vehicle” as provided in the governing tariff. Defendant, on the other hand, takes the position that the bill of lading and payment record do not constitute evidence sufficient to satisfy the carrier’s burden of proving that “exclusive use of vehicle” [270]*270was actually furnished, or that no other freight was loaded on the vehicles for the carrier’s convenience.

In regard to the Category III shipments, defendant further argues that the exclusive use of vehicle charges are not applicable since the shipments were transferred enroute. We need not consider this argument, due to our disposition of the case.

It has long been settled that claimants against the United States must come forward with evidence establishing their claim.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Nelson v. Woodruff
66 U.S. 156 (Supreme Court, 1862)
Grand Trunk Western Railway Co. v. United States
252 U.S. 112 (Supreme Court, 1920)
Southern Pacific Co. v. United States
272 U.S. 445 (Supreme Court, 1926)
Southern Pacific Co. v. United States
60 Ct. Cl. 662 (Court of Claims, 1925)
Campbell "66" Express, Inc. v. United States
302 F.2d 270 (Court of Claims, 1962)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
167 Ct. Cl. 266, 1964 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 205, 1964 WL 8551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pacific-intermountain-express-co-v-united-states-cc-1964.