Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), established in 1887, was the first federal agency in the United States created to regulate the railroad industry and later expanded to oversee other forms of transportation, such as trucking and shipping. Its main purpose was to ensure fair rates, eliminate harmful practices, and promote competition. The ICC played a crucial role in addressing grievances from farmers and consumers against powerful railroads. It was dissolved in 1995, with its functions transferred to the Surface Transportation Board and other agencies, reflecting changes in the transportation landscape and the belief in decreased federal regulation.