October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1230
Does Michigan's flat truck fee violate the Commerce Clause?
Truckers challenge a state fee that burdens interstate commerce.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Boynton stated the fee places significant burdens on interstate commerce.
Mr. Digges described the fee as a $100 annual charge for point-to-point trucks.
Mr. Stewart argued the central question is not about apportioning the fee.
Mr. Hanson noted the companion case involves federal preemption of interstate fees.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Michigan charges a flat annual fee for trucks. Truckers say this fee burdens interstate commerce. The state defends the fee as a valid regulation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-39
What each side wants
American Trucking wants the fee struck down as unconstitutional.
Michigan wants the fee upheld as a valid state tax.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
What each side says
American Trucking argues the fee places significant burdens on interstate commerce.
Michigan argues the fee is a valid regulation of intrastate operations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if the fee applies only to intrastate deliveries.
Justice Stevens asked if interstate and intrastate carriers pay the same tax.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-43
Why it matters
This case determines how states may tax trucks crossing state lines. It affects the balance between state revenue and national trade.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-43
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.