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Simple English definitions for legal terms
common carrier
Read a random definition: bona memoria
A quick definition of common carrier:
A common carrier is a person or business that transports people or things for money and is available to anyone who wants to use their service. Examples of common carriers include ships, trains, planes, and taxis. They are different from private carriers, who only transport people or things in specific situations and don't offer their services to the general public.
A more thorough explanation:
A common carrier is a person or business that transports passengers or goods for a fee and makes their service available to the general public. This means that anyone can use their service as long as they pay the fee. Examples of common carriers include:
- Shipowners who transport goods across the ocean
- Railroads that transport goods and passengers by train
- Airlines that transport passengers by plane
- Taxi services that transport passengers by car
These examples illustrate the definition of a common carrier because they all provide transportation services to the general public for a fee. They don't discriminate against customers and don't require a special agreement to use their services.
On the other hand, a private carrier is a person or business that only transports passengers or goods in specific circumstances. They don't make their services available to the general public. Instead, they enter into a contract with each customer individually. For example, a private courier service that delivers packages for a specific company is a private carrier.