Disentangling Regulatory Policy: The Effects of State Regulations on Trucking Rates

791211PDFResearch PaperTruckingRatesMotor carriersRegulationDeregulationAntitrust lawsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Trade CommissionDaniel TPKleit ANUnited States. Federal Trade CommissionNTL-FREIGHT-Freight Economics and FinanceNTL-FREIGHT-Trucking IndustryAGR-FREIGHT-Motor CarriersAGR-FREIGHT-Freight RatesUS Transportation CollectionStudy attempts to estimate the independent effect on transportation prices from different types of economic regulations: rate regulations, entry restrictions and the providion of antitrust immunity for decisions made jointly by competitors. The study extimates the relationship between intrastate trucking rates and three different types of state level regulations: 1) the strictness with which rates are regulated; 2) the reguirements placed on motor carriers seeking to enter the market and 3) whether the state provides antitrust immunity for decisions made by motor carrier rate bureaus. By combining a cross section of intrastate trucking rates with information on the motor carrier laws and regulations in place at the time the relationships between particular types of regulations and trucking rates may be estimated