Consumers may file complaints against moving companies, moving brokers, or auto transporters. Complaints may allege failure to provide agreed upon services, engagement in deceptive practices or operation without proper authority or required insurance. 

Examples of complaints against a moving company include: 

• A moving company you hired to help you move from one state to another (interstate) deliberately provided a low estimate to later ask for more money.   

• The moving company you hired to help you move from one state to another is withholding your belongings or household goods until you pay significantly more than the agreed upon price.   

• You are not receiving the required documents from the moving company you hired to move from one state to another such as a bill of lading or you are being asked to sign blank documents.   

• Broker did not disclose their cancellation, deposit or refunding policy.  

Complaints may allege safety violations by truck companies including driver safety or cargo securement issues.  

Examples of complaints against a truck company include:   

• You witness a truck speeding or driving recklessly.  

• You witness a cargo tank leaking or not properly secured.  

Complaints filed under this category may allege safety violations by passenger carriers, including tour bus and motorcoach companies. 

Examples of complaints against a bus company include:   

• Bus had unsafe riding conditions or dangerous equipment.  

• You experience discrimination or unfair ticketing practices as a passenger because of your race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, or disability.   

• You witnessed a commercial driver using a handheld device (i.e. mobile phone or tablet). 

Complaints may allege safety violations by truck or bus companies operating as property or passenger motor carriers.  

Examples of complaints against a truck or bus company include:   

• You experience harassment by your employer.   

• You are coerced or forced to knowingly disregard safety regulations (e.g., hours of service) or conduct deceptive business practices by an employer or company.    

• An employer or company does not have the proper operating authority or insurance on file.    

• Carrier placed a commercial truck into operation without one or more parts/accessories necessary for safe operation such as a stop lamp or cab door (a full list can be found in 49 CFR Part 393). 

A Medical Review Officer is a licensed physician trained and certified to review the lab results and to validate whether a test is positive.  A Substance Abuse Professional is a licensed or certified health care professional with knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and controlled substances related disorders. Complaints filed under this category allege these individuals failed to provide the required reporting, eligibility, or testing information in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.    

Examples of complaints against a drug and alcohol service agent include:   

• A substance abuse professional failed to record required information in the clearinghouse.   

• A substance abuse professional did not report your eligibility for return to duty testing in the appropriate amount of time.    

• A medical review officer did not report a change to your results report in the appropriate amount of time.    

Electronic logging devices are devices or technology that automatically records a driver’s driving time and facilitates the accurate recording of the driver’s hours of service. ELDs are intended to help create a safer work environment for drivers, and make it easier and faster to accurately track, manage, and share records of duty status data.     

Examples of complaints against an ELD provider include:   

• The ELD provider was unable or unwilling to resolve the identified issues with your ELD.   

Property brokers are the “middle person” between a shipper and a motor carrier. Brokers arrange for the transportation of property. They don’t transport the property, don’t operate motor vehicles or have drivers, and don’t assume responsibility for the cargo being transported.  Property broker complaints within FMCSA jurisdiction are related to operating authority and/or financial responsibility issues.   

Examples of complaints against a property broker include:   

• Broker misrepresented their operations to you as a carrier or conducted improper rebating or compensation practices.  

• Broker performed, or offered to perform, brokerage services (including advertising) in a name other than a name which its registration is issued.   

• Broker is operating without required interstate operating authority, insurance, or registration.    

• Broker did not maintain transaction records or financial accounts with the required information.  

Hazardous Materials (HM or HazMat) Transportation complaints may allege unsafe or non-compliant transportation of HazMat in commerce which could potentially harm the public. Materials in this category include gasoline, diesel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, insecticides, and others.  
 
Examples of complaints about hazardous material transportation include: 

• A CMV does not have properly displayed placards/labels/markings to identify what kind of hazardous materials they are carrying.  

• The CMV driver is improperly securing, loading, or unloading hazardous materials.  

• The CMV is improperly parked or unattended when attendance is required. 

• The transported hazardous materials have damaged or defective packaging.