Interstate Commerce Act

The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in the United States. This was the nation's first regulatory agency and served as a model for future government regulatory bodies.1

The ICC's initial purpose was to regulate the railroad industry. Over time, its scope expanded to include other forms of interstate transportation such as trucks, ships, and freight forwarders. The commission's regulations covered aspects like rates, routes, services, mergers, and carrier securities.2

The concept of "interstate commerce" itself refers to commercial transactions that cross state lines or involve multiple states. The principle that the free flow of commerce between states should not be hindered has been used to justify various federal and state regulations. In the 1970s and 1980s, deregulation led to the elimination of the ICC in 1996, with its remaining duties transferred to the Department of Transportation.2