MINNEAPOLIS - On July 17, 2007, NASSTRAC filed intervention motions in the court cases brought by the National Classification Committee and the Southern Motor Carriers Rate Conference, Inc. NCC and SMC have gone to court to challenge the recent decision by the Surface Transportation Board to terminate the antitrust immunity of NCC, SMC and other rate bureaus. As an association primarily representing the interests of shippers, NASSTRAC has intervened in those court cases to support the STB decision.

"The STB's decision is well-reasoned and fully supported, and will be effectively explained by STB and Department of Justice attorneys," said NASSTRAC general counsel John Cutler. "However, we think the court will also benefit from hearing the views of a major shipper association whose members have extensive experience with motor carrier collective ratemaking. The court should know that shippers strongly support a fully competitive freight transportation marketplace."

Mike Regan, NASSTRAC's advocacy committee chairperson said: "NASSTRAC has for many years led the fight against abuses in motor carrier collective ratemaking. We are not going to abandon this effort in the face of court challenges to the STB by NCC and other rate bureaus, and we expect the Board's decision to be upheld on appeal."

NASSTRAC provides advocacy, education, provider relations, and networking for professionals involved in all areas of transportation, ranging from full truckload and LTL to containerization and global logistics. For more information, visit www.NASSTRAC.org.