South Carolina State Highway Department v. Barnwell Brothers, Inc.

303 U.S. 177 (1938)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

South Carolina passed a law that limited the gross vehicle weight of trucks and semi's to 20,000 pounds and the width to 90 inches. The trial court found that 90% of all trucks had widths of 96 inches and that only four other states prescribed loads of less than 20,000 pounds. The court held that the Commerce Clause imposes upon state regulations to secure the safe and economical use of highways a standard of reasonableness which is more exacting when applied to the interstate traffic than that required by the Fourteenth Amendment as to all traffic; that a standard of weight and width of motor vehicles which is an appropriate state regulation when applied to intrastate traffic may be prohibited because of its effect on interstate commerce, although the conditions attending the two classes of traffic with respect to safety and protection of the highways are the same. Appellees do not challenge the ruling of the district court that Congress has not undertaken to regulate the weight and size of motor vehicles in interstate motor traffic, and has left undisturbed whatever authority in that regard the states have retained under the Constitution.