The McLean Trucking Co. v. United States et al. case is a significant decision in the history of transportation regulation in the United States. The case, which was decided in 1944, involved McLean Trucking Company, a motor carrier, seeking operating authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) as a common carrier by motor vehicle. The ICC granted some of the operating authority sought by McLean Trucking, but denied a certificate for certain routes. McLean Trucking then brought a lawsuit against the United States and the ICC to set aside the ICC's order.
The Supreme Court upheld the ICC's order, stating that the ICC had the authority to regulate motor carriers in the same manner as railroads under the Interstate Commerce Act. The Court recognized the need for federal regulation of transportation to ensure adequate service and to promote safe and efficient transportation. The Court also noted that Congress had extended federal regulation to other forms of transportation and had elaborated on the standards for regulation since the original Interstate Commerce Act. The McLean Trucking case thus established the principle that all modes of transportation, including motor carriers, are subject to regulation under the Interstate Commerce Act.