625 ILCS 5/ Illinois Vehicle Code.

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4203) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4203)

Sec. 18c-4203. Household goods contract carrier permits.

(1) Prerequisite to operation as a household goods contract carrier. No person shall operate as a household goods contract carrier of property unless such person possesses a household goods contract carrier permit issued by the Commission and in good standing.

(2) Requirements for issuance.

(a) General requirements. The Commission shall grant an application for a household goods contract carrier permit, in whole or in part, to the extent that it finds that the application was properly filed; the applicant is fit, willing and able to provide the service in compliance with this Chapter, Commission regulations and orders; and issuance of the permit will be consistent with the public interest. Otherwise, the application shall be denied. The burden of proving that the requirements for issuance of a household goods contract carrier permit have been met shall be borne by the applicant.

(b) Conversion to household goods common carrier authority. The Commission may, at the request of the holder, authorize the conversion of household goods contract carrier authority to household goods common carrier authority, subject to the same terms, conditions, limitations, and regulations as other household goods common carriers.

(c) Cancellation and non-renewal of contracts. Cancellation or non-renewal of a contract, or failure to keep on file with the Commission a copy of a valid contract, shall render a permit void with regard to the involved shipper.

(3) Duties and practices of household goods contract carriers.

(a) Services. Household goods contract carriers shall provide safe and adequate transportation service to their contracting shippers within the scope of their authorities and contracts and in compliance with this Chapter, Commission regulations and orders.

(b) Contracts. Each household goods contract carrier shall file with the Commission a copy of each contract executed under authority of its permit, and shall provide no service except in accordance with contracts on file with the Commission. The Commission may, at any time, reject contracts filed with it which do not comply with the provisions of this Chapter, Commission regulations and orders.

(Source: P.A. 97-595, eff. 8-26-11.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4204) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4204)

Sec. 18c-4204. Standards to be considered in issuing common and contract household goods carrier licenses. The Commission shall exercise its discretion in regard to issuance of common carrier of household goods or contract carrier of household goods licenses in accordance with standards enumerated in this Section.

(1) Standards relevant to both common and contract household goods carrier licenses. In determining whether to issue a common carrier of household goods certificate or a contract carrier of household goods permit under Sections 18c-4202 and 18c-4203 of this Chapter, the Commission shall consider, in addition to other standards enumerated in this Chapter:

(a) (Blank);

(b) The existing authorized carriers' services, including the adequacy of such services and the effect which issuance of a new certificate or permit would have on such services;

(c) (Blank);

(d) Any evidence bearing on the fitness, willingness, or ability of the applicant, including but not limited to any past history of violations of this Chapter, Commission regulations or orders, whether or not such violations were the subject of an enforcement proceeding; and

(e) The effect which issuing the certificate or permit would have on the development, maintenance and preservation of the highways of this State for commercial and other public use.

(2) Additional standards relevant to household goods contract carrier licenses. In determining whether to issue a household goods contract carrier permit under Section 18c-4203 of this Chapter, the Commission shall consider, in addition to standards enumerated in subsection (1) of this Section or elsewhere in this Sub-chapter:

(a) Whether the proposed service is contract carrier service; and

(b) The effect which failure to issue the permit would have on the supporting shipper or shippers.

(3) Standards not relevant to either household goods common or household goods contract carrier licenses. In determining whether to issue a household goods common carrier certificate or a household goods contract carrier permit under Sections 18c-4202 and 18c-4203 of this Chapter, the Commission shall not consider:

(a) The mere preference of the supporting shipper or shippers or their receiver or receivers for the applicant's service; or

(b) Any illegal operations of the applicant as evidence of shipper need or the inadequacy of existing carriers' services.

(Source: P.A. 97-595, eff. 8-26-11.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4204a) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4204a)

Sec. 18c-4204a. Fitness standards.

(1) Establishment of administrative standards. The Commission shall, within 180 days from the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1987, adopt and implement standards for determining fitness to hold or continue to hold a household goods carrier license.

(2) Statutory standards. A person shall not be considered fit for purposes of this Section unless the record shows that, at the time of hearing, the person:

(a) Is aware of its obligations under this Chapter, Commission regulations and orders, and other provisions of The Illinois Vehicle Code;

(b) Has substantially complied with applicable statutes and regulations; and

(c) Possesses the equipment, facilities, financial resources, knowledge and experience to provide the proposed service and meet the needs of supporting shippers, in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, on a long-term basis.

(3) Burden of proof in application proceedings.

(a) Temporary authority. Each applicant for temporary household goods carrier authority shall have the burden of making a prima facie showing of fitness. The Commission may, in its discretion, deny an application for temporary household goods authority where the applicant's fitness is controverted by specific allegations, under oath, by an intervenor.

(b) Permanent authority. Each applicant for permanent household goods authority shall have the burden of proving its fitness by clear and convincing evidence.

(c) Findings. The order granting permanent household goods authority shall contain specific findings, with citation to the record, on each aspect of fitness.

(4) Revocation proceedings. If the record in a revocation proceeding shows that a licensee is no longer fit to hold a household goods carrier license, the Commission shall suspend or revoke the license. When a license is suspended under this Section, the holder shall have 6 months in which to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that its fitness has been restored. Unless the Commission finds that such a demonstration has been made, the license shall be revoked. A license revoked under this Section shall not be reinstated.

(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4206) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4206)

Sec. 18c-4206. Dual operations.

(1) Dual common/contract operations. No person shall hold both a household goods common carrier certificate and a household goods contract carrier permit unless the Commission determines, or has determined, that both licenses may be held consistent with the public interest and authorizes such dual licensing. Issuance of household goods contract carrier authority after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995 to a person that already holds household goods common carrier authority, or vice versa, shall be rebuttably presumed inconsistent with the public interest if the two authorities would be duplicative, in whole or in part.

(2) Merger of duplicative operating rights. The Commission may, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, order that duplicative operating rights, whether household goods common carrier or household goods contract carrier or both, be merged into a single license and may impose such requirements upon operations under such license as will promote the public interest and effectuate the purposes of this Chapter. The power of the Commission to order merger shall not extend to duplicative operating rights in existence on the effective date of this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4207) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4207)

Sec. 18c-4207. Cessation of service under a license. No household goods carrier shall abandon, discontinue, or suspend any service that it is authorized to provide pursuant to a license issued by the Commission without authorization by the Commission. If the Commission finds good cause for the abandonment, discontinuance, or suspension, it may approve same. If the Commission finds that a household goods carrier has abandoned, discontinued, or suspended service without authorization, it may revoke the carrier's license.

(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch 18C Sub 4 Art III heading) ARTICLE III. TRANSFER OF LICENSES

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4301) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4301)

Sec. 18c-4301. Power of Commission to Approve Transfers. A license issued under this Sub-chapter may be transferred, with Commission approval, under the conditions specified in this Article and in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4302) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4302)

Sec. 18c-4302. Types of Transfers Which May be Approved. It is lawful, with prior authorization from the Commission, for:

(1) Two or more motor carriers of property to consolidate or merge their properties into one business entity for the ownership, management, or operation of the properties theretofore in separate ownership;

(2) A motor carrier of property, or two or more such carriers jointly, to purchase, lease or contract to operate the properties of another such carrier;

(3) A motor carrier of property, or two or more such carriers jointly, to acquire control of another such carrier through ownership of its stock or otherwise;

(4) A person not a motor carrier of property, to acquire control of one or more such motor carriers through ownership of its or their stock or otherwise;

(5) A person not a motor carrier of property and which has control of one or more such carriers to acquire control of another carrier through ownership of its stock or otherwise; or

(6) A person to acquire possession, ownership, or control, by means of the sale or other conveyance of a license issued by the Commission to another person.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4303) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4303)

Sec. 18c-4303. Applications for Approval. Applications for approval of the transfer of a license shall be on forms prescribed by the Commission and shall, where possible, be accompanied by a copy of the written contract executed by parties to the proposed transfer. The contract must state that it:

(1) Is expressly conditioned on approval of the transfer by the Commission;

(2) Is a complete and exclusive statement of the rights of the parties in regard to the proposed transfer; and

(3) Cannot be amended without notice to and approval by the Commission. The application shall also be accompanied by an abstract of shipments performed by the transferor within the last year prior to the date of the contract showing the date of each shipment, the identification number of the shipment, the origin and destination of the shipment, and a description of the commodity shipped.

The application shall not be docketed until a contract and abstract have been filed. Where the contract cannot be signed because of some operation of law, the Commission may waive the signature of the transferor, but not the filing of the written contract.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4304) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4304)

Sec. 18c-4304. Standard for Review of Applications. The Commission may approve a proposed transfer if it finds that:

(1) The license to be transferred is in good standing and has not been abandoned, discontinued, or suspended, in whole or in part;

(2) The proposed transferee is fit, willing, and able to provide service for which the license was issued, and to do so in compliance with provisions of this Chapter, Commission regulations and orders; and

(3) The transfer would be consistent with the public interest and the state transportation policy.

The Commission may approve or disapprove a transfer, in whole or in part, and may subject the transfer to such terms and conditions as will protect the public interest and effectuate the purposes of this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4305) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4305)

Sec. 18c-4305. Abandonment, Discontinuance, or Suspension of Service Under a License to be Transferred. In determining whether the proposed transferor has abandoned, discontinued or suspended service without authorization, the Commission shall only consider the operations of the transferring party performed within the last 2 years prior to the date on which the contract between transferor and transferee was executed, or the date the application was filed.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4306) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4306)

Sec. 18c-4306. Expedited Transfer Procedures.

(1) The Commission may provide for the transfer of a license, without notice and hearing, and without the necessity of making the findings specified above, when such transfer or control is to:

(a) a member or members of the transferor's immediate family;

(b) a corporation, the stock of which is wholly owned by the transferor or members of his immediate family or a member or members of the transferor partnership;

(c) a member or members of a partnership of which the transferor is a partner;

(d) a stockholder or stockholders of the transferor corporation or of a corporation wholly owned by the transferor or the transferor's immediate family;

(e) the heirs of a person who dies intestate or the legatees of a testator, upon order of the probate court having jurisdiction;

(f) the heirs or legatees of the transferor pursuant to the Probate Act of 1975, as amended;

(g) a corporation, more than 50% of the stock of which is controlled by the stockholders of the transferor corporation; or

(h) a corporation, all of the stock of which is controlled by a member or members of the immediate family of the stockholder or stockholders of the transferor corporation.

(2) When a transfer of a license may be accomplished on an expedited basis without notice and hearing through 2 or more transactions of the type described in subsection (a), and they do, in fact, represent a single, contemporaneous transaction, then the Commission shall allow the transfer to be made as a single transaction in a single application. However, it shall be the applicants' burden to demonstrate that they are entitled to this treatment of their application by setting forth each of the individual qualifying transactions under subsection (1) with the same detail and specificity as if each individual application were filed.

(Source: P.A. 88-415.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4307) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4307)

Sec. 18c-4307. Unapproved Transfers. (1) Unapproved Transfers Prohibited. Except as provided in this Article, no person may enter into a transaction to accomplish or effectuate, or participate in accomplishing or effectuating, the ownership, control or management of any one or more motor carriers, however such result is attained, whether directly or indirectly by use of common directors, officers, or stockholders, a holding or investment company, a voting trust, or in any other manner, and regardless of whether or not the carrier received compensation or value from the transaction. Nor shall any person continue to maintain control or management accomplished or effectuated in violation of this Article. The words "control or management," when used in this Article, shall be construed to include the power to exercise control or management.

(2) Direct Supervision and Control by License Holder Required. The holder of a motor carrier license shall exercise direct supervision and control over all operations conducted with vehicles registered under its license or utilized in conducting operations under its license. The holder may be called upon to demonstrate that it is exercising direct supervision and control. Failure to exercise active supervision and control shall constitute the unauthorized transfer of operating rights in violation of this Chapter. Where an unauthorized transfer occurs, both the transferor and transferee shall have committed violations of this Chapter. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the holder from exercising such supervision and control through a manager or other bona fide employee of the holder. Elements to be considered in evaluating whether supervision and control is being exercised include solicitation; public identification; billing; collecting; dispatching drivers and equipment; hiring; evaluation and firing of drivers and other personnel; liability for cargo loss or damage; and responsibility for payment of carrier expenses.

(Source: P.A. 85-553.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4308) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4308)

Sec. 18c-4308. Enforcement of Transfer Requirements. The Commission may, on its own motion or on complaint, investigate and determine whether violations of this Article have occurred. When the Commission determines that a carrier or other person is violating the provisions of this Article it shall by order require the carrier or other person to take whatever action is necessary to prevent continuance of the violation, and may, in addition, impose sanctions as provided in this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4309) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4309)

Sec. 18c-4309. Temporary Suspension and Transfer. Periods during which a license is temporarily suspended by order of the Commission shall not be considered as part of the 1-year period for which an abstract of shipments must be provided for application to transfer a license pursuant to Section 18c-4303 of this Chapter, or for the 2-year period used to determine whether a proposed transferor has abandoned, discontinued or suspended service without Commission authorization pursuant to Section 18c-4305 of this Chapter. This Section shall apply to all temporary suspension applications filed, and all temporary suspensions granted, on or after January 1, 1986.

(Source: P.A. 85-553.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch 18C Sub 4 Art IV heading) ARTICLE IV. RATE FILINGS AND REGISTRATION OF INTRASTATE PUBLIC CARRIERS AND EQUIPMENT AND REGISTRATION OF INTERSTATE CARRIERS AND EQUIPMENT

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4401)

Sec. 18c-4401. Registration required.

(1) General provisions. No intrastate public carrier and no interstate carrier shall operate over the public roads of this State without a registration issued pursuant to this Article and in effect at the time operations are conducted. As used in this Article, "interstate carrier" includes any private carrier that is required to register under federal law.

(2) Interstate intercorporate hauling and single-source leasing. Persons or entities engaged in interstate compensated intercorporate hauling, and interstate private carriers which lease equipment, with drivers, are interstate carriers for purposes of this Article notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter. However, the Commission may:

(a) Exempt such carriers from the requirements of this Article;

(b) Subject any such exemption to such reasonable terms and conditions as the Commission deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Chapter; and

(c) Revoke any exemption granted hereunder if it deems revocation necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 94-760, eff. 1-1-07.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4402) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4402)

Sec. 18c-4402. Registration Standards. The Commission shall not issue a registration until after the carrier has:

(1) Properly filed an application for registration; and

(2) Complied with Commission regulations and orders regarding:

(a) Application, franchise, franchise renewal, and other fees and levies; and

(b) Proof of insurance.

(Source: P.A. 85-553.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4403) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4403)

Sec. 18c-4403. Issuance of registrations. The Commission may issue registrations to any qualified applicant authorizing bona fide intrastate public carrier or interstate operations, if it is found that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to provide service in conformity with the requirements of this Chapter, Commission regulations and orders.

(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4404) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4404)

Sec. 18c-4404. Revocation of Registrations. The Commission may revoke any registration if it determines that the carrier has failed to comply with this Chapter, Commission regulations or orders, or with any other statute or regulation of this State relating to the privilege of operating motor vehicles over the public roads of the State.

(Source: P.A. 84-796.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4405)

Sec. 18c-4405. Intrastate public carrier rate filings. Public carriers that voluntarily file rates under an agreement approved by the Commission under Section 18c-4502 of this Chapter are subject to all provisions of Sub-chapter 3, Article II, and Section 18c-4501 of this Chapter 18c.

(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch 18C Sub 4 Art V heading) ARTICLE V. RATEMAKING.

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4501) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4501)

Sec. 18c-4501. Jurisdiction and power of the Commission.

(1) Power to set rates. The Commission shall have jurisdiction and power to set the maximum or minimum, or maximum and minimum, lawful rates for intrastate service by common carriers of household goods, to set the minimum lawful rates for contract carriers of household goods, and to prescribe the form and content of tariffs and schedules containing such rates.

(2) Power to Establish Ratemaking Procedures. The Commission may establish procedures for the filing, publication, investigation, suspension and prescription of rates. The Commission may provide that rates for particular services will go into effect unless suspended by the Commission, or may require that rates for such services be approved by the Commission before going into effect.

(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4502) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4502)

Sec. 18c-4502. Collective ratemaking.

(1) Application for approval. Any carrier party to an agreement between or among 2 or more carriers relating to rates, fares, classifications, divisions, allowances, or charges (including charges between carriers and compensation paid or received for the use of facilities and equipment), or rules and regulations pertaining thereto, or procedures for the joint consideration, initiation, or establishment thereof, whether such conference, bureau, committee, or other organization be a "for-profit" or "not-for-profit" corporate entity or whether or not such conference, bureau, committee or other organization is or will be controlled by other businesses may, under such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe, apply to the Commission for approval of the agreement, and the Commission shall by order approve any such agreement, if approval thereof is not prohibited by subsection (3), (4), or (5) of this Section, if it finds that, by reason of furtherance of the State transportation policy declared in Section 18c-1103 of this Chapter, the relief provided in subsection (8) should apply with respect to the making and carrying out of such agreement; otherwise the application shall be denied. The approval of the Commission shall be granted only upon such terms and conditions as the Commission may prescribe as necessary to enable it to grant its approval in accordance with the standard above set forth in this paragraph.

(2) Accounts, reporting, and internal procedures. Each conference, bureau, committee, or other organization established or continued pursuant to any agreement approved by the Commission under the provisions of this Section shall maintain such accounts, records, files and memoranda and shall submit to the Commission such reports, as may be prescribed by the Commission, and all such accounts, records, files, and memoranda shall be subject to inspection by the Commission or its duly authorized representatives. Any conference, bureau committee, or other organization described in subsection (1) of this Section shall cause to be published notice of the final disposition of any action taken by such entity together with a concise statement of the reasons therefor. The Commission shall withhold approval of any agreement under this Section unless the agreement specifies a reasonable period of time within which proposals by parties to the agreement will be finally acted upon by the conference, bureau, committee, or other organization.

(3) Matters which may be the subject of agreements approved by the Commission. The Commission shall not approve under this Section any agreement between or among carriers of different classes unless it finds that such agreement is of the character described in subsection (1) of this Section and is limited to matters relating to transportation under joint rates or over through routes. For purposes of this paragraph carriers by railroad and express companies are carriers of one class; carriers by motor vehicle are carriers of one class and carriers by water are carriers of one class.

(4) Non-applicability of Section to transfers. The Commission shall not approve under this Section any agreement which it finds is an agreement with respect to a pooling, division, or other matter or transaction, to which Section 18c-4302 of this Chapter is applicable.

(5) Independent action. The Commission shall not approve under this Section any agreement which establishes a procedure for the determination of any matter through joint consideration unless it finds that under the agreement there is accorded to each party the free and unrestrained right to take independent action either before or after any determination arrived at through such procedures. The Commission shall not find that each party has a free and unrestrained right to take independent action if the conference, bureau, committee, or other organization is granted by the agreement any right to engage in proceedings before the Commission or before any court regarding any action taken by a party to an agreement authorized by this Section, or by any other party providing or seeking authority to provide transportation services.

(6) Investigation of activities. The Commission is authorized, upon complaint or upon its own initiative without complaint, to investigate and determine whether any agreement previously approved by it under this Section or terms and conditions upon which such approval was granted, is not or are not in conformity with the standard, set forth in subsection (1), or whether any such terms and conditions are not necessary for purposes of conformity with such standard, and, after such investigation, the Commission shall by order terminate or modify its approval of such agreement if it finds such action necessary to insure conformity with such standard, and shall modify the terms and conditions upon which such approval was granted to the extent it finds necessary to insure conformity with such standard or to the extent to which it finds such terms and conditions not necessary to insure such conformity. The effective date of any order terminating or modifying approval, or modifying terms and conditions, shall be postponed for such period as the Commission determines to be reasonably necessary to avoid undue hardship.

(7) Hearings and orders. No order shall be entered under this Section except after interested parties have been afforded reasonable opportunity for hearing.

(8) Exemption from State antitrust laws. Parties to any agreement approved by the Commission under this Section and other persons are, if the approval of such agreement is not prohibited by subsection (3), (4), or (5), hereby relieved from the operation of the antitrust laws with respect to the making of such agreement, and with respect to the carrying out of such agreement in conformity with its provisions and in conformity with the terms and conditions prescribed by the Commission.

(9) Other laws not affected. Any action of the Commission under this Section in approving an agreement, or in denying an application for such approval, or in terminating or modifying its approval of an agreement, or in prescribing the terms and conditions upon which its approval is to be granted, or in modifying such terms and conditions, shall be construed as having effect solely with reference to the applicability of the relief provisions of paragraph subsection (8) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(625 ILCS 5/18c-4503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-4503)

Sec. 18c-4503. Terminal Area Operations.

(1) Exemption From Rate Regulation. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this Section, nothing contained in this Chapter shall be construed to require any carrier engaged in the transportation of property by motor vehicle between points wholly within a terminal area to comply with the provisions of this Chapter with respect to the filing, publishing, observance or enforcement of tariffs or schedules of rates with respect to transportation wholly within any such area.

(2) Application of Section. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions therein, the ratemaking provisions of subsection (1) of this Section shall have no application to transportation of household goods, as defined in Commission regulations, wholly within a county having a population of more than 1,000,000.

(Source: P.A. 85-553.)