Transportation Lawmakers Take Aim at Moving Industry Scams
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A bipartisan bill that aims to protect consumers from falling victim to unscrupulous practices when moving goods and property was recently unveiled in Congress.
The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act is designed to boost certain guidelines at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to help reassure individuals about consumer protections in place for moves made around the country.
“We cannot allow bad actors in the shipping and moving industry to violate consumer trust and harm our nation’s supply chain. Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation will give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration the tools they need to hold these thieves accountable,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the freight policy committee, Jan. 30. Fischer is the bill’s co-lead sponsor in her chamber.
“Bad actors are constantly developing new ways to defraud hardworking Americans, so it’s critical we keep our legislation up to speed so we can protect our constituents from the latest scamming techniques,” added co-lead sponsor Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), also on the Commerce Committee on freight policy.
Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act
Reintroducing the bill on the other side of the Capitol were Reps. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). The House lawmakers are senior members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The pair had introduced an earlier version of the bill during the previous session of Congress, but that version did not reach the president’s desk for enactment.
“The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act aims to tackle fraudulent practices in the moving and shipping industry that damage consumer trust and disrupt our national supply chain,” Ezell said.
“Shipping fraud is a widespread issue that affects every corner of our nation. I will continue working to fight deceptive business practices by shipping companies,” added Holmes Norton.
Specifically, the bill would equip FMCSA officials with authority to levy civil penalties against unregistered shippers. The agency also would be authorized to set requirements to ensure motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders are operating legitimately in the marketplace. In targeting entities that threaten to hold customers’ goods hostage until exorbitant bills are paid, the measure would allow state agencies to access federal funds to increase protections for household articles and personal possessions.
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The bipartisan bill was referred to committees in the House and Senate. Votes on the bills have yet to be scheduled.
American Trucking Associations is among the transportation stakeholders backing the bill’s introduction.
“When individuals and families begin the stressful process of relocating, the last thing they should have to worry about is being exploited by unscrupulous companies charging exorbitant rates and holding their household goods hostage. We commend Sens. Deb Fischer and Tammy Duckworth for taking action to help prevent consumers from becoming victims of moving fraud and protect the reputations of legitimate moving and storage companies and their hardworking employees,” said ATA’s Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom and Moving and Storage Conference Executive Director Dan Hilton in a statement. “By creating additional tools to crack down on scammers, their legislation will help Americans have greater confidence that the moving professionals they entrust with their valuable possessions are experienced, honest and reliable.”
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