Publish and Create Your USDOT Household Goods Moving Tariff Today

April 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Need a household goods tariff? For information on what a tariff is, click here: http://www.AttorneyDavid.com/custom-tariff.html. Federal law requires all interstate household goods moving companies to maintain and publish a tariff.  The Law Office of David Piotrowski can create your tariff for you.  Are you complying with federal law?  Portions of the federal law relating to tariff publishing states:

"[Carriers] may provide transportation or service for movements of household goods only if the rates, and related rules and practices, for such transportation or service are contained in a published tariff that is in effect under this section. The carrier may not charge or receive a different compensation for the transportation or service than the rate specified in the tariff, whether by returning a part of that rate to a person, by giving a person a privilege, by allowing the use of a facility that affects the value of that transportation or service, or through another device. Tariffs shall be published in the English language and rates shall be stated in money of the United States.

Tariffs maintained pursuant to this part must be available for inspection by the Board, and must be provided to the Board promptly and free of charge, upon request, by mail or other delivery service."

The tariff will list the rates that the company charges its customers, as well as outline the services offered.  The household goods tariff serves as a user manual for the household goods moving company.

Here are some questions and answers about publishing a tariff:

Q. What is a tariff and must a motor carrier have one?
A. A tariff is a document that must be published by every interstate household goods moving company. Among other things, the tariff lists the prices, rules, policies, and types of services offered by the mover. For more information on what a tariff is, please click here.

Q. How does a moving company publish a tariff?
A. Movers may publish a tariff on their own or have a competent professional create a tariff for them, so long as the tariff meets all legal requirements. Click here for custom moving company tariff services.

Q. What must be included in a tariff?
A. Tariffs must include an accurate description of the services offered to the public; must provide the specific applicable rates, charges and service terms; and must be arranged in a way that allows for the determination of the exact rate, charges and service terms applicable to any given shipment. Increases, reductions and other changes must be symbolized or highlighted in some way to facilitate ready identification of the changes and their effective dates.

Q. Must a moving company file its tariff with the Department of Transportation (DOT)?
A. No. Interstate moving companies operating in the United States need not file their tariff with the DOT. However, moving companies must keep a current copy of their tariff on hand at their office and must make this tariff available to a customer or government body upon reasonable request. Additionally, moving companies must issue a notice to their customers stating that the tariff is available for inspection.

Q. Does a moving company list its prices in its tariff? What if a moving company wants to deviate from the prices in its tariff?
A. One of the key elements in a tariff is that it lists the prices that the mover will charge for the different types of services it offers. A moving company must charge exactly the rates it lists in its tariff. The mover may not deviate from these prices by even a fraction. The tariff is customized to each individual motor carrier’s needs, so the mover should not have a need to charge prices not listed in the tariff. If the motor carrier’s business needs change, then the mover may legally publish an update, or amendment, to their tariff, listing the new rates. At that point, the mover may charge its customers the new rates only – the old rates will no longer be effective. In sum, the mover may not charge its customers prices that are not specified in its tariff.

Q. What are the penalties for violating tariff rules and regulations?
A. Penalties for violating tariff rules and regulations can be both civil and criminal in nature. An interstate moving company may lose its operating authority. Any moving company that charges rates that are not consistent with their published tariff shall be liable for a civil penalty of up to $100,000.00 per violation. In addition, criminal charges for charging rates not consistent with the tariff may include a fine and prison for up to two (2) years for each violation.

Contact the Law Office of David Piotrowski at http://www.attorneydavid.com/transportation.html for assistance in creating a custom tariff to comply with applicable interstate household goods regulations.