PA PUC:  Commission Adopts Final Rulemaking Order to Streamline the Rate Increase Procedures for Small Motor Carriers

(August 3, 2011)

On December 2, 2010, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“Commission”) adopted a final rulemaking order that streamlines the procedures for rate increase requests submitted by motor carrier of passengers with annual gross operating revenues of less than $500,000.

The rulemaking amends the Commission’s existing regulations at Chapter 23 of the Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code Ch. 23, to simplify the rate process for small motor passenger carriers.  The new regulations permit, among other things, a small motor passenger carrier to request a revenue increase each year by filing only a limited set of detailed, supporting financing information.  The new regulations also establish a one-year stay out provision that prohibits small motor passenger carriers from requesting another increase in rates for one year following a prior-Commission approved rate increase.  Carriers with operating ratios above 93% are excepted, however, from the one-year stay out.

The new regulations became effective on July 30, 2011.

A copy of the entire final rulemaking as published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin is available by clicking here.

For more information on the new regulations, please contact Thomas Long attorneys Thomas T. Niesen or Charles E. Thomas, III.