Payment for Transportation of Property in Interstate Commerce Without Proper Operating Authority

A carrier requested reconsideration of a decision in which it was held that the carrier's transportation contract with the Government was illegal because the carrier was not authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to transport property in interstate commerce. It was also held that properly supported vouchers could paid on the basis of quantum meruit, the reasonable value of the services rendered measured by the usual rates of duly authorized carriers for the same or similar service. In its request for reconsideration, the carrier stated that some of its trucks were licensed in its home State and some had ICC operating authority; the service was pieced out among the variously authorized trucks. GAO found that these factors did not cure the legal defects, and the prior decision ws affirmed.