The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has amended its regulations to require brokers that arrange the transportation of household goods in interstate or foreign commerce for consumers to comply with certain consumer protection requirements.
Under FMCSA’s final rule published Friday, Nov. 26, in the Federal Register, brokers must provide:
• Their U.S. Department of Transportation number on their advertisements and websites;
• Estimates of expected moving charges and brokerage fees;
• FMCSA pamphlets containing tips for successful moves and the consumer’s rights and responsibilities; and
• The broker’s policies concerning deposits, cancellations and refunds.
This rulemaking is in response to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and a petition for rulemaking from the American Moving and Storage Association. FMCSA says the rulemaking is intended to ensure that individual shippers who arrange for transportation of household goods through brokers receive necessary information regarding their rights and responsibilities in connection with interstate household goods moves.
For more details, go to www.regulations.gov; the docket number is FMCSA-2004-17008.
