Wash. Rev. Code » Title 81 · Chapter 81.80
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 81.80.020 (2026)

Declaration of policy

✓ current as of May 2026
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The business of operating as a motor carrier of freight for compensation along the highways of this state is declared to be a business affected with a public interest. The rapid increase of motor carrier freight traffic and the fact that under the existing law many motor trucks are not effectively regulated have increased the dangers and hazards on public highways and make it imperative that regulation to the fullest extent allowed under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 14501 should be employed to the end that the highways may be rendered safer for the use of the general public; that the wear of such highways may be reduced; that congestion on highways may be minimized; that the shippers of the state may be provided with a stabilized service and rate structure; that sound economic conditions in such transportation and among such carriers may be fostered in the public interest; that adequate, economical, and efficient service by motor carriers, and reasonable charges therefor, without unjust discrimination, undue preferences or advantages, or unfair or destructive competitive practices may be promoted; that the common carriage of commodities by motor carrier may be preserved in the public interest; that the relations between, and transportation by and regulation of, motor carriers and other carriers may be improved and coordinated so that the highways of the state of Washington may be properly developed and preserved, and the public may be assured adequate, complete, dependable, and stable transportation service in all its phases.
[ 2007 c 234 s 69; 1961 c 14 s 81.80.020. Prior: 1937 c 166 s 1; 1935 c 184 s 1; RRS s 6382-1.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1959–1989 · leading case: Inland Empire Distrib. Sys., Inc. v. Utils. & Transp. Comm'n, 770 P.2d 624 (Wash. 1989).
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Inland Empire Distrib. Sys., Inc. v. Utils. & Transp. Comm'n, 770 P.2d 624 (Wash. 1989). “See RCW 81.80.020 delineating legislative policy.”
Farm Supply Distributors, Inc. v. Washington Utils. & Transp. Comm'n, 518 P.2d 1237 (Wash. 1974). “Finally, the Commission must reevaluate the entire evidence to decide whether the proposed service is consistent with the legislative policy expressed in RCW 81.80.020. In the normal course of events a reversal would call *453 for a remand to the court below.”
State v. Washington Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 340 P.2d 784 (Wash. 1959). · cites it 2× “The respondents contend that under the declaration of policy of the Motor Carrier Act, RCW 81.80.020, the Commission should have considered the effect of Inland’s competition upon them.”
Black Ball Freight Serv. v. Washington Utils. & Transp. Comm'n, 463 P.2d 169 (Wash. 1969). · cites it 3× “They base their contention on the theory that when one considers the policy of the statutory regulations of motor common carrier service under RCW 81.80.020, 6 sound *484 regulation requires an evaluation of the need for proposed new and different competitive operations whether…”
State ex rel. Ry. Express Agency, Inc. v. Washington Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 354 P.2d 711 (Wash. 1960). · cites it 3× “However, they contend that they have a statutory right to be free from action of the commission granting an unfair advantage to a competitor, relying upon RCW 81.80.020 and RCW 81.80.220. The first of these two statutes, RCW 81.”
N. Pac. Transp. Co. v. Washington Utils. & Transp. Comm'n, 418 P.2d 735 (Wash. 1966). “We conclude that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the conclusion of the commission that a grant of the requested authority would “tend to impair the stability and dependability of the service essential to the public needs.”
State ex rel. Don Williams Exp., Inc. v. Timm, 477 P.2d 15 (Wash. 1970). “RCW 81.80.020. Declaration of policy. The business of operating as a motor carrier of freight for compensation *524 along the highways of this state, is declared to be a business affected with a public interest.”
No. Pac. Transp. Co. v. Wa. U. & T. Comm., 418 P.2d 735 (Wash. 1966). “We conclude that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the conclusion of the commission that a grant of the requested authority would "tend to impair the stability and dependability of the service essential to the public needs.”
State Ex Rel. R. Etc. v. Wn. Etc. Comm., 354 P.2d 711 (Wash. 1960). · cites it 3× “However, they contend that they have a statutory right to be free from action of the commission granting an unfair advantage to a competitor, relying upon RCW 81.80.020 and RCW 81.80.220. [3] The first of these two statutes, RCW 81.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.