Tariff Publishing Services

Posted by David Piotrowski

Need to publish an interstate household goods tariff?

As readers of this blog will know, interstate household goods moving companies are required to have a tariff that lists their prices and the services offered. This blog discusses household goods tariffs in many posts. Household goods moving companies are encouraged to read the following posts relating to tariffs and tariff publishing:

Publishing a Tariff
Moving Company Tariffs
Customized Tariffs
Define: Tariff
New Household Goods Tariff Rules

We offer two (2) types of tariff publishing services. Each option caters to a different type of moving company and you are encouraged to select the option that best suits your needs. Both options are overseen by a transportation law attorney and will meet regulatory requirements.

Option 1 — Hands Off Approach
This option is ideal for new moving companies and for movers who already have a structure in place. Movers who already have their rates, packing price lists, and service offerings will benefit from this less expensive, hands-off approach to creating their tariff. Under this option, the moving company will place an order online to have their tariff created for them. Once the purchase has been made, the mover will receive a tariff questionnaire form within one (1) business day asking them to provide their rates and other relevant information about the way they operate the business. Once the tariff questionnaire form is completed and returned by email or fax, the tariff will be created. Each tariff is personally reviewed by a transportation attorney prior to completion. Once the tariff is completed, which normally takes 14 to 21 business days, the tariff will be mailed to the moving company along with instructions on how to publish and maintain it. Upon request, the tariff can also be emailed to the company. While the tariff is being created, email support is available to answer any questions the mover may have about the process.

Option 1 costs $895.00.

To purchase option one, please click on the following botton. You will be redirected to make your payment using Paypal’s secure servers. Once you make your payment, you will receive your tariff questionnaire within one (1) business day.

Option 2 — Hands On Approach
Option 2 is for those moving companies that may have additional questions or need a little extra assistance when creating their tariff. Option 2 includes everything included in Option 1, plus the following:

- Up to 2 hours of telephone support with a transportation attorney to discuss tariff issues;
- Further tariff customization according the needs of the moving company;
- Tariff turnaround time of 7 to 10 business days instead of 14 to 21 business days.

Option 2 costs $1595.00.

To purchase option two, please click on the following botton. You will be redirected to make your payment using Paypal’s secure servers. Once you make your payment, you will receive your tariff questionnaire within one (1) business day.

If you have any questions, please email info - @ - shipmygoods.com. Remove the dashes and spaces before sending the message. Thank you.

Publish a Custom Tariff

Posted by David Piotrowski

Interstate household goods moving companies must publish a tariff. Several articles on this blog touch upon this subject. Penalties for failing to publish a tariff can be both civil and criminal in nature. There are several benefits for publishing a custom tariff.

First, movers who publish a custom tariff have more freedom to tailor their rates and service offerings in such a way that will be most beneficial to their particular business. All moving companies are different, and just because charging based on weight works for one company doesn’t mean it will work for another. Publishing a custom tariff will allow the mover to elect to charge based on weight, cubic feet, or both.

Second, publishing a custom tariff will help shield the moving company from potential antitrust liability. In the beginning of 2008, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) ended antitrust immunity for ratemaking in the moving industry. This means moving companies may be subjected to liability if they continue to uniformly apply the 400N or other similar tariffs. Continuing the use such tariffs may subject moving companies to liability under the nation’s anti-trust laws.

Third, publishing a custom tariff allows movers to be more competitive. If a mover knows their competition is charging $3.22 per cubic foot, the mover may decide to charge $3.19 per cubic foot, or to provide five (5) free 1.5 cubic feet moving boxes on orders that meet certain monetary thresholds. Publishing a custom tariff allows movers to insert these types of competitive and promotional marketing methods.

Fourth, publishing a tariff is the law. All interstate household goods moving companies must publish a tariff.

For these reasons, and others, it is in the movers best interests to publish a custom tariff.

Need help publishing a custom tariff? Contact a transportation attorney today.

Household Goods Moving Associations

Posted by David Piotrowski

People often ask what organizations represent the household goods moving and storage industry. There are many state and local organizations that movers can belong to. For example, California has the California Moving and Storage Association. On a federal level, many movers belong to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). This organization is discussed in further detail in an earlier blog post on AMSA. An organization representing the household goods industry on a nationwide and global scale is the Household Goods Forwarders Association of America (HHGFAA). The HHGFAA is discussed in an earlier blog post here.

Sirva to Become a Private Company

Posted by David Piotrowski

Sirva, the parent for North American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines, will become a private company effective immediately. Sirva’s stock will no longer be publicly traded. Sirva’s reorganization plan to emerge from bankruptcy became effective Monday.

For more information, please visit Transport Topics.

The Sirva bankruptcy has been discussed in earlier blog posts on this site:

1. Sirva Bankruptcy
2. Allied Van Lines — Bankrupt!

Protect Your Move

Posted by David Piotrowski

Whenever you move your household, you want to make sure you protect your move by taking appropriate and prudent steps to minimize the possibility of problems. To help protect your move, you should do the following before deciding on a moving company:

• Get your estimate in writing.
• Get moving estimates from multiple moving companies.
• Protect your move by asking your sales rep to clarify and questions you have before the move day.
• Ask the mover to provide you with their delivery timeframe.
• Find out of your estimate is binding or non-binding.
• Protect your move by asking if your mover will provide a visual estimate. This is required unless an exception applies.
• Protect your move by reading and following this moving checklist.
• Visit the Protect Your Move website. This is a website published by the FMCSA.

The Protect Your Move website says, “Moving to a new home is a significant event that is often stressful, and the U.S. Government, in partnership with the moving industry, law enforcement and consumer groups, is arming consumers with the information they need to protect themselves against one of the most stressful situations that can plague a household move: being taken advantage of by a dishonest or rogue mover.”

The Protect Your Move site offers valuable ways to help protect against moving fraud and offers helpful information on making your move less stressful.

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