common carrier

Noun

common carrier (plural common carriers)

1. A person or company that undertakes to transport goods for the general public or passengers on regular routes at agreed rates.
   • Baldwin built the biggest by virtue of its rapport with the U.S. Steel roads. The largest of these properties is the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range. The Missabe is, to be sure, no granger; indeed DM&IR is only technically a common carrier.1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 41
   • Equally to be expected, in view of the trend of Government legislation and pronouncements over the past few years—but no less epoch-making for that—is the proposal that the railways and canals shall cease to be common carriers and be entirely free to fix their own passenger and freight charges...1961 December, “Editorial: Führerprinzip for nationalised transport”, in Trains Illustrated, page 705
2. (US) A company providing public telecommunications facilities.