HR 880 · Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Introduced
- Jan 31, 2025
- Latest action
- Feb 1, 2025
- Sponsor
- Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton [D-DC-At Large]
- Policy area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Cosponsors
- 25
Summary
Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act This bill allows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to assess civil penalties against motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders for violations related to the interstate transportation of household goods and provides states with additional related authorities. As background, a broker is the “middle person” between a shipper and a motor carrier and arranges for the transportation of household goods. A freight forwarder organizes shipments for individuals or corporations. Unlike a broker, freight forwarders assume responsibility for transportation and may transport the freight itself. The bill expands the FMCSA registration requirements to require motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to designate a principal place of business (i.e., a single physical location where management officials report to work, a significant portion of the transportation business is conducted, and records are maintained). FMCSA may withhold, suspend, amend, or revoke any part of a registration for failure to designate. In addition, brokers and freight forwarders must disclose any common ownership, management, control, or familial relationship with any other carrier, freight forwarder, broker, or applicant in the previous three years. Under current law, motor carriers must disclose this information. Further, states may use certain grant funds to enforce federal household goods statutes and regulations for the interstate transportation of these goods by motor carriers and brokers. This applies to Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant funds and MCSAP High Priority discretionary grant funds. A state shall retain collected fines that are a result of enforcement.
Recent actions
- Feb 1, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Jan 31, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Jan 31, 2025 Introduced in House
- Jan 31, 2025 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E80-81)
- Jan 31, 2025 Introduced in House
Votes
No recorded votes are available for this bill.