(a)  It shall be the duty of the administrator:

(1)  To regulate common carriers by motor vehicle as provided in this chapter, and, to that end, the administrator may establish reasonable requirements with respect to continuous and adequate service, uniform system of accounts, records and reports, and preservation of records;

(2)  To regulate contract carriers by motor vehicle as provided in this chapter, and, to that end, the administrator may establish reasonable requirements with respect to uniform system of accounts, records, and reports, and preservation of records;

(3)  To administer, execute, and enforce all provisions of this chapter, to make all necessary orders in connection therewith, and to prescribe rules, regulations, and procedure of administration;

(4)  For the purposes of the administration of the provisions of this chapter, to inquire into the management of the business of motor carriers and into the management of the business of persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, motor carriers to the extent that the business of the persons is related to the management of the business of one or more motor carriers, and the administrator shall keep himself or herself informed as to the manner and method in which the businesses are conducted, and may obtain from the carriers and persons the information as the administrator deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

(5)  To administer, execute, and enforce all provisions of chapter 12.1 of this title and to make all necessary orders in connection therewith and to prescribe rules, regulations, and procedure of administration.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-4

  • Administrator: means the public utilities administrator. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-2
  • Common carrier: means any person who or that undertakes, whether directly or by any other arrangements, to transport property, or any class or classes of property, by motor vehicle between points within this state, for the general public for compensation, over the publicly used highways of this state, whether over regular or irregular routes. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-2
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Contract carrier: means any person who or that engages in transportation by motor vehicle of property in intrastate commerce, for compensation (other than transportation referred to in the preceding paragraph), under continuing contracts with one person or an unlimited number of persons for the furnishing of transportation services of a special and individual nature required by the shipper and not generally provided by common carriers. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-2
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Motor carrier: means a common carrier by motor vehicle, a contract carrier by motor vehicle, or an interstate carrier by motor vehicle. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-2
  • Motor carriers: means any carrier regulated by the administrator pursuant to chapters 3, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of this title. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-1-2
  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle, machine, truck, tractor-trailer, or semi-trailer propelled or drawn by any mechanical power and used upon the highways in the transportation of property, but does not include any vehicle or car operated on a rail or rails whether on or off the publicly used highways. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-2
  • Person: means any individual, firm, co-partnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof; and, where the context requires shall include "driver" as defined in this section. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12-2
  • seal: shall be construed to include an impression of the seal made with or without the use of wax or wafer on the paper. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-15

(b)  The administrator may, from time to time, establish the just and reasonable classifications of groups of carriers included in the term “common carrier,” or “contract carrier,” as the special nature of the service performed by carrier shall require; and such just reasonable rules, regulations, and requirements, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, to be observed by the carriers so classified or grouped, as the administrator deems necessary or desirable in the public interest.

(c)  Upon complaint in writing to the administrator by any person, organization, or body politic or upon his or her own initiative without complaint, the administrator may investigate whether any motor carrier has failed to comply with any provisions of this chapter, or with any requirements established pursuant thereto. If the administrator, after notice and hearing, finds upon any investigation that the motor carrier has failed to comply with any provisions or requirement, the administrator shall issue an appropriate order to compel the carrier to comply therewith. Whenever the administrator is of the opinion that any complaint does not state reasonable grounds for investigation and action on his or her part, he or she may dismiss the complaint. Whenever a formal investigation shall be made by the administrator, it shall be his or her duty to make a report in writing in respect thereto, which shall state the conclusions of the administrator, together with his or her decision, order, or requirement in the premises. All reports of investigations made by the administrator shall be entered of record, and a copy thereof shall be furnished to the party who may have complained and to any common carrier or contract carrier that may have been complained of.

(d)  The copies of schedules and classifications and tariffs of rates and charges, and all agreements and arrangements between common carriers filed with the administrator as provided in this chapter, and the statistics, tables, and figures contained in the annual or other reports of carriers filed with the administrator, as required under the provisions of this chapter, shall be preserved as public records in the custody of the administrator, and shall be received as prima facie evidence of what they purport to be for the purpose of investigation by the administrator and in all judicial proceedings, and copies of and extracts from any of the schedules, classifications, tariffs, agreements, or arrangements, or reports, made public records as provided in this subsection, certified by the administrator, under the administrator’s seal, shall be received in evidence with like effect as the originals.

(e)  The administrator may establish reasonable requirements with respect to maximum hours of service of employees and safety of operation and equipment.

History of Section.
P.L. 1958, ch. 87, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 12; P.L. 1994, ch. 328, § 3; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 113.