RELO Roundtable…a gathering place

On January 29, 2013, Secretary Ray LaHood announced to the employees of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that after serving for four years in President Obama’s Cabinet, he would not be staying on for the second term.  The high energy, often outspoken, but very charismatic Transportation Secretary was a former Republican congressman from Peoria.  [...]

The United States Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established in 1978 to provide the Secretary of Transportation and Congress with independent and objective reviews of the efficiency and effectiveness of DOT operations and programs and to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. The OIG's Office of Investigations is comprised [...]

According to a new ruling published in the Federal Register, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), will issue a civil penalty of $10,000 for each violation to any person, including a motor carrier or broker, that holds a household goods (HHG) shipment hostage beginning on October 18, 2012. Each day the goods are held [...]

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently called on the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct an investigation into the dramatic increase in low bridge strikes by commercial trucks across New York State, and issue nation-wide standards for Global Positioning System (GPS) devices in trucks.  As part of his call to action, Schumer sent [...]

A New Consumer Protection Problem in the Household Goods Moving IndustryOn Thursday, September 20, 2012, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a public hearing to discuss the growing number of complaints that virtual household goods moving companies and move brokerage services were scamming unsuspecting consumers online. Titled "Taking Consumers for a Ride: Business [...]

If you're one of the thousands of responsible professionals involved in the full service interstate moving industry, you are probably going to want to clear your calendar (and your thoughts) for Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM EDT. That's when the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing about virtual [...]

Most professionals in the full-service moving industry probably don't spend a lot of time hanging out at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) consumer help website, Protect Your Move.gov – especially during the summer. Perhaps they should! Consumer centric information Last sping – just before the start of the traditional peak moving season – [...]

Stumbled across this valuable Broker vs. Mover? consumer information by accident while searching the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website trying to help an distraught visitor who feels her family is being ripped off by the move brokerage company they hired online.  It's buried under the Are you Moving? button in the How to [...]

Recently the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule that strengthens protections for consumers moving their personal property across state lines. Under the new rule, if a household goods moving company and a consumer negotiate a revised written cost estimate for the move, all additional goods or services [...]

There is more to consider than just price! Don’t become a victim of moving fraud. FMCSA 12-12 Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Contact: Shashunga Clayton Tel.: (202) 366-9999 FMCSA Helps Consumers "Protect Your Move" with Moving Company Checklist that offers helpful tips during busiest moving season of the year WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of [...]