Staggers Act Law and Legal Definition
The Stagers Act of 1980 is a U.S federal law. The Act is officially known as the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. The Act deregulates the American railroad industry. The Act replaced the regulatory structure that existed out of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The Act establishes a greater pricing freedom, streamlining merger timetables, expediting the line abandonment process, allowing multi-modal ownership, and permitting confidential contracts with shippers.
The Act provides for:
1. the establishment of any rates by the rail carriers for their services unless the Interstate Commerce Commission determines otherwise;
2. the rail shippers and rail carriers to establish contracts subject to no effective Commission review; and
3. the curtailment of right to control rates to prevent discrimination among shippers.
The Act amended the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976.
