Section 5503 of the FAST Act required the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Working Group for the purpose of developing recommendations on how to best convey relevant information to consumers on Federal laws concerning the interstate transportation of household goods by motor carriers.  The FAST Act required a report to Congress on FMCSA’s implementation of the Working Group’s recommendations within one year after the Working Group provided its recommendations to the Secretary.  The Working Group provided its report to FMCSA on September 25, 2017.  Upon receipt of the report, FMCSA analyzed the recommendations to identify those that can be easily implemented and those that will require regulatory or statutory change.  Since receipt of the Working Group’s report, FMCSA has focused on developing implementation plans for the recommendations.

The FMCSA’s Household Goods Program’s mission is to protect consumers from rogue carriers and moving fraud, and to provide education and tools to help consumers avoid becoming victims of deceptive business practices.  The FMCSA appreciates the opportunity Congress provided in the FAST Act to establish the Working Group and the tasks given.  These recommendations, when implemented, will offer streamlined documentation requirements for interstate household goods motor carriers and household goods brokers, and improve the protection of America’s moving public.  Implementing these recommendations will improve consumer protection and enhance outreach and education to combat moving fraud.