Truck access to ports
American Trucking Associations v. City of Los Angeles
In brief
Federal law bars the Port’s placard and parking requirements for motor carriers, and the Supreme Court sent the case back to the Ninth Circuit.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 9-0 · June 13, 2013 · Opinion by Justice Kagan
- What it’s about
- The American Trucking Associations challenged Port of Los Angeles requirements for truck placards and off-street parking plans, imposed through port concession agreements.
- Who it affects
- The decision bars the Port of Los Angeles from enforcing its placard and off-street parking requirements against motor carriers under those agreements.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court ruled that federal law bars the Port from enforcing those requirements because they had the force of law, overturned part of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, and sent the case back to that court (remanded).
The dispute turned on whether truck requirements written into port concession contracts were covered by federal limits on state and local rules affecting motor-carrier transportation.
Question presented
1. Can a municipal government limit the activities of motor carriers when it acts as a market participant, as opposed to a market regulator? 2. Can a municipal government bar federally licensed motor carriers from access to a port?
What the Court decided
Holding
1. The FAAAA expressly preempts the concession agreement’s placard and parking requirements. Section 14501(c)(1) preempts a state “law, regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law related to a price, route, or service of any motor carrier... with respect to the transportation of property.” 49 U. S. C. §14501(c)(1). Because the parties agree that the Port’s placard and parking requirements relate to a motor carrier’s price, route, or service with respect to transporting property, the only disputed question is whether those requirements “hav[e] the force and effect of law.” Section 14501(c)(1) draws a line between a government’s exercise of regulatory authority and its 660 F. 3d 384, reversed in part and remanded.
- Result
- Reversed
The Court's reasoning
The FAAAA bars government requirements with the force of law that relate to a motor carrier’s price, route, or service in transporting property. Both sides agreed the Port’s placard and parking rules related to those matters, and the Court ruled federal law barred them.
The vote
What's next
The Ninth Circuit will take up the case again in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Documents
Opinions
Audio
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Audio Recording added: Oral Arguments - American Trucking Associations, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles, California
Opinion added: Opinion
More questions
- Did the Court decide whether Los Angeles could bar carriers from port access?
- The Court’s stated ruling covers the Port’s placard and parking requirements, not a general rule about port access.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.