The Impact of 1994’s Further Deregulation of the Trucking Industry: The Rural Shippers’ View

Abstract

This paper focuses on the perceived impact of two legislative changes (elimination of tariffs and intrastate deregulation) affecting the trucking industry that were signed by President Clinton in August of 1994. These legislative changes are generally seen as a completion of the 1980 Motor Carrier Act that deregulated interstate truck freight. Two surveys were conducted with a similar sample, one in the fall of 1994 and another in the fall of 1997 to determine the impact of this further deregulation on rural shippers. The results suggest that the impact on freight costs, service, and safety is viewed as being very positive. Deregulation permits carriers greater flexibility in meeting shippers needs, thus contributing in a positive way to achieving supply chain management goals.

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Bert J. Kellerman

Bert J. Kellerman (Ph.D., University of Missouri – Columbia)is Professor of Marketing and Associate Dean of the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University. He has published articles in the Journal of Advertising, Journal of Direct Marketing, Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, Journal of Product and Brand Management, Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, Marketing News, other nonbusiness journals, and numerous conference proceedings.