At first glance, it may appear that only a competent attorney is fully conversant with the wide range of potential rights and duties that arise upon transfer. In truth, everyone should be familiar with the lawful requirements of relocating. It will make the relocation more efficient and less stressful, as well as save you time and money. An informative pamphlet titled Your rights and responsibilities when you move must be provided to you by your moving company. With your safety in mind, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has enacted stringent consumer protection requirements.
Why knowing your rights and responsibilities is important
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under the United States Department of Transportation governs the moving and storage business. This implies there are loads of moving company regulations and standard operating procedures that all national movers must adhere to. Understanding these regulations is crucial for customers, as they serve to safeguard cross-country movers and guarantee that they are protected in the event of unforeseen mishaps.
This information is shown in this article so you can make an informed decision about which moving company to use, and so that you can hold that company to the same standards you hold yourself. The main point to remember is that from a legal perspective, the right moving provider is no different from any other kind of shipping business. The legislation does not distinguish between shipping an entire household’s worth of stuff and shipping a single item. Legal documentation isn’t always user-friendly, which is a major issue for clients when working with moving businesses.
The majority of transport companies work with transportation specialists who have learned over the course of decades what information is required on various shipping papers and how to fill them out appropriately. Because you are responsible for coordinating your own transportation during a relocation, you should be well-versed in the logistics and legal implications of the procedure. We realize how intimidating this procedure can be, which is why reliable movers will do their best to explain the rules and interstate moving regulations involved in shipping to you.
Moving company responsibilities
A home goods broker or mover is required by the FMCSA to give you some key details before your relocation. For every quote, you can count on receiving the following details:
- If you request a written quote, the responsible moving company is required by law to inform you that you have two different choices for liability coverage on your shipment.
- What the relocation companys arbitration policy entails.
- A notification in writing that the movers rate is available.
- How claims like moving company not delivering your items are processed.
- Get the Ready to Move and Your rights and responsibilities when you move leaflets.
Also, cross-country moves from within 50 miles of the moving firm require an in-home estimate unless the customer waives this privilege in writing prior to loading.
Pay attention that each moving company must provide you with a copy of the Rights and Responsibilities pamphlet by law. Please take the time to read the pamphlets carefully when they arrive from your moving company. You will have a better understanding of the several forms of insurance a mover may provide, the steps you can take to reduce the movers liability for your belongings, the movers late delivery compensation, and the distinction between a binding and non-binding estimate.
The customer rights and responsibilities
For any responsible moving procedure, you, as a customer, have duties not just to the moving company but also to yourself. Examples of these are:
- Examine each and all paperwork your mover or broker provides. Included in this is the bill of lading, inventory of your goods, weight tickets, and service request.
- Before signing any paperwork, make sure you’ve double-checked their accuracy and that there are no blanks. The overall weight of your delivery and any unexpected charges that may occur during transit are the two pieces of information that might not show on your moving paperwork.
- Promptly communicating any changes to your mover, such as new delivery addresses, more goods, or new pickup locations.
- Ensuring that you are available both during the pickup and the delivery of your package. It is recommended that you choose a legal representative to act on your behalf in your absence.
- Providing the appropriate funds in the manner previously discussed and agreed upon with the moving company.
- Notifying your mover of any loss, damage, delays, or items moving company failure to deliver as soon as possible.
- Those are your legal rights:
- Your mover must not ask you to sign any forms that are blank or otherwise not complete.
- Estimates given by movers must be in writing and may be binding. Non-binding estimates are not guaranteed to be correct, as actual costs may be higher and movers charging more than estimated.
- Before signing, be sure the document has been thoroughly reviewed and has all the necessary information. Including everything that has to be included to determine the ultimate cost of shipping and any additional services provided, except for the actual weight of the package.
- Guaranteed pickup and delivery dates can be arranged with your moving provider.
- As an alternative to court action, movers are required to provide customers with a dispute resolution procedure in the event of item damage or loss.
- Differences exist between valuation coverage and relocation insurance. Find out what is and isn’t covered by your valuation coverage before you move. You have the right to inquire about the distinction between valuation and insurance.
- Whenever your moving company conducts a weight check, you have the right to be present and to ask for a re-weigh.
Moreover, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you can submit a request to the FMCSA for information on moving company complaints; however, the agency has the right to charge a fee.
