Household Goods Consumer Protection

Full Title:
Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act

Summary#

This bill would change parts of title 49 of the U.S. Code that deal with household goods shipping. It adds a clear rule that the Secretary (through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) can assess civil penalties after notice and a hearing for violations of household goods rules. It lets States use certain federal grant funds to enforce Federal household goods rules for interstate moves, and for intrastate moves if the State has matching laws. The bill says those State activities are optional and not a condition of receiving funds. States that impose fines or penalties would keep the money. The bill adds definitions for "principal place of business" and "specified entity." It requires motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to designate a principal place of business when they register, and requires brokers and freight forwarders to disclose certain ownership or management relationships from the prior 3 years. The Secretary may withhold, suspend, amend, or revoke registrations if a registrant fails to designate a valid principal place of business. It also adjusts registration and USDOT number rules to include the principal place requirement.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a household goods motor carrier, broker, freight forwarder, employer, or person seeking registration: you would need to name a principal place of business when you register and, for brokers and freight forwarders, disclose recent common ownership or management relationships. Failure to do so can lead to registration actions by the Secretary.
  • If you are a State transportation official: you could choose to use certain federal grant funds to enforce household goods rules and would keep fines and penalties your State imposes.
  • If you are a consumer shipping household goods: the bill directs federal and State enforcement tools that may be used in oversight of carriers and brokers, such as civil penalties and registration checks.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill text states its purpose is to clarify the Administrator's authority at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration relating to the shipping of household goods and to make related changes to registration and enforcement provisions. Sponsors introduced the bill to achieve those changes.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.