Interstate commerce is the transportation of products and services from one state to geographic points in other states. This involves the transportation of goods and services across state lines, creating a dependency on transportation modes and making the process subject to state laws regarding the transportation of goods.

Transportation plays an important role in determining the profitability of operating both farm and nonfarm businesses in rural areas. Farms, businesses, and industries in rural areas rely on transportation services to achieve necessary production outputs and to deliver commodities and products to market.

Interstate commerce has its roots in farming. During most of the first decade after the Civil War, farmers in seven midwestern states were responsible for approximately one-half of the nation's output of corn, wheat, and oats. Illinois farms were the leaders in the production of each of these grains; farmers to the north provided large...