California Trucking Association v. Public Utilities Commission

In a proceeding initiated by the Public Utilities Commission (commission), minimum rates which had been previously set for the transportation of certain commodities were cancelled. Prior to that action, parties affected by the proposed ruling were afforded the opportunity to comment thereon. California Trucking Association 1 requested a hearing on the matter, but the commission refused. California Trucking asserts that the commission was required to grant its request for a hearing and is required by statute to maintain minimum rates for transportation of the commodities in question.

*243 On September 12, 1976, the commission issued a “white paper” which contained a proposal from its staff that the transportation of flattened automobile bodies by motor carrier be exempted from minimum rates previously established by the commission. The announced reasons for the recommendation were that there was only a limited demand for such transportation, that few carriers were engaged in hauling flattened automobile bodies, and that the exemption proposed would not lead to disruptive rate practices.

A copy of the report was sent to various “interested parties,” including California…