Washington DC – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) secured a historic ruling against moving companies for transporting household goods without FMCSA registration, violating federal regulations. The judgment comes as FMCSA strengthens state partnerships and takes further actions to protect consumers moving across state lines.
On September 11, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ordered USA Logistics to pay $25,000 in fines for multiple infractions of FMCSA laws. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of Secretary Pete Buttigieg. As part of the settlement, USA Logistics admitted to the violations and committed to adhering to the law moving forward.
“This Department has taken action against carriers not fulfilling their obligations. Families deserve to know their belongings are safe during a move,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The judgment announced today is a significant step in holding moving companies accountable for deceptive practices. We will continue to use our authority to protect consumers.”
FMCSA Deputy Administrator Vinn White added, “We want carriers to know that non-compliance with federal regulations can have serious consequences. We’re proud to partner with DOJ to tackle this issue.”
FMCSA also hosted a Commercial Enforcement and Consumer Protection (CECP) course to highlight consumer protection issues related to household goods transportation. The course focused on enforcement options and consumer protections available to state attorney general personnel. The CECP course builds on FMCSA’s efforts through Operation Protect Your Move, an annual nationwide initiative to target moving companies with significant consumer complaints. In 2024, FMCSA investigators conducted 60 investigations and implemented over 30 enforcement actions.
Additionally, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed a bipartisan bill in September, giving FMCSA greater enforcement authority. The bill allows the agency to impose civil penalties for violations of commercial regulations, including consumer protections for household goods, and refuse registration to applicants without proper verification.
For more information on FMCSA’s consumer protection efforts, visit www.protectyourmove.gov.
Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/fmcsa-wins-landmark-judgement-against-moving-company
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