Released Rates of Motor Common Carriers of Household Goods

Jeffrey Herzig
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
January 31, 2011

[Federal Register: January 31, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 20)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5431]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja11-126]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. RR 999 (Amendment No. 5)]

 
Released Rates of Motor Common Carriers of Household Goods

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board seeks written public comments 
and evidence on the average per-pound replacement value for household 
goods that are lost or damaged while in the care of a moving company.

DATES: Comments are due on or before March 15, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted either via the Board's e-filing 
format or in traditional paper format. Any person using e-filing should 
attach a document and otherwise comply with the instructions at the E-
FILING link on the Board's website at http://www.stb.dot.gov. Any 
person submitting a filing in the traditional paper format should send 
an original and 10 copies referring to Docket No. RR 999 (Amendment No. 
5) to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Julia Farr (202) 245-0359. Assistance 
for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information 
Relay Service (FIRS) at: (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board issued a decision in this 
proceeding on January 21, 2011. In that decision, the Board, following 
notice and comment, adopted certain changes concerning the 
responsibility of interstate moving companies to pay for damage to or 
loss of customers' household goods and required the moving companies to 
amend particular documents they provide to consumers. The decision is 
available on the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. The Board 
seeks comment on one aspect of that decision: The calculation of 
replacement value of household goods when the consumer elects to have 
the moving company assume liability for the replacement value of the 
consumer's goods but neglects to write in the total value for the 
shipment.
    Unless otherwise agreed to, a moving company is liable for the cost 
to replace lost or damaged goods, up to a total value stated by the 
consumer. For instance, if the consumer stated that the shipment had a 
value of $200,000, and the entire shipment were destroyed, the moving 
company would be liable for a $200,000. However, if a consumer does not 
indicate a total value for the shipment, the Board's decision would 
require the moving company to be liable for the greater of (1) $6,000 
or (2) $6.00 per pound of the lost or destroyed item(s). The $6.00-per-
pound figure is meant to represent the replacement value of an average 
shipment of household goods. The Board seeks comments and evidence 
concerning this figure, particularly whether some other figure would 
more closely represent the average per-pound value of household goods 
in an interstate move. Any interested person may submit comments or 
evidence. If no evidence or comments are received on this issue, the 
Board's decision establishing the $6.00-per-pound limit will become 
effective on April 1, 2011.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: January 26, 2011.

    By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Nottingham, and 
Commissioner Mulvey.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2011-2019 Filed 1-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P