Household Goods Shipping Protection Act

Official: Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act

IntroducedN/A

Transportation and Public WorksAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresState and local government operationsMotor carriersLicensing and registrationsCivil actions and liabilityConsumer affairsDepartment of TransportationBusiness records

Why This Matters

The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act strengthens regulations for shipping household goods and helps states enforce these rules. This is important to ensure that consumers have better protection and support when moving their belongings.

If you are moving and hiring a shipping company, this bill could help ensure better protection for your belongings.

Affects: This bill affects families and individuals who are moving and using shipping companies for their household goods.

Summary

Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act This bill allows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to assess civil penalties against motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders for violations related to the interstate transportation of household goods and provides states with additional related authorities. As background, a broker is the “middle person” between a shipper and a motor carrier and arranges for the transportation of household goods. A freight forwarder organizes shipments for individuals or corporations. Unlike a broker, freight forwarders assume responsibility for transportation and may transport the freight itself. The bill expands the FMCSA registration requirements to require motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to designate a principal place of business (i. e., a single physical location where management officials report to work, a significant portion of the transportation business is conducted, and records are maintained). FMCSA may withhold, suspend, amend, or revoke any part of a registration for failure to designate. In addition, brokers and freight forwarders must disclose any common ownership, management, control, or familial relationship with any other carrier, freight forwarder, broker, or applicant in the previous three years. Under current law, motor carriers must disclose this information. Further, states may use certain grant funds to enforce federal household goods statutes and regulations for the interstate transportation of these goods by motor carriers and brokers. This applies to Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant funds and MCSAP High Priority discretionary grant funds. A state shall retain collected fines that are a result of enforcement.