Sirva Bankruptcy

Posted by David Piotrowski

On February 5th, I discussed Allied Van Lines (and Sirva’s) bankruptcy in this post. Today I read an article that discusses how some of Sirva’s creditors are expressing their opposition to the Chapter 11 loan.

Sirva’s unsecured creditors called the moving company’s proposed $150 million bankruptcy loan “unnecessary” and said it shouldn’t be approved. These unsecured creditors feel it gives the secured creditors inappropriate leverage.

Sirva, the parent of Allied Van Lines, will ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan to sign off on the loan at a final hearing Thursday. The court has already given the company the go-ahead to borrow up to $110 million on the loan pending the final hearing.

It will be intersting to see how the Sirva Bankruptcy pans out. Allied Van Lines is a large household goods moving company, and I wonder if Sirva’s bankruptcy is one of more to come from other large moving companies.

Will the housing downturn also have a major effect on small and medium sized moving companies? What should moving companies be doing now to protect themselves against periodic economic downturns?
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Update May 12, 2008: Sirva to Become a Private Company

Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move

Posted by David Piotrowski

Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move is a publication of the FMCSA. This article was adapted from the FMCSA’s website.

Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move is a booklet that the FMCSA requires all movers to provide their customers with prior to the move.

In the words of the FMCSA, “Entrusting your possessions to another can be a stressful experience. The booklet explains to you what you have a right to expect from your mover and what you should do to help ensure your move is a smooth one.”

Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move is a fairly long booklet and can be downloaded from this website here.

Interstate Move

Posted by David Piotrowski

I gave a brief overview of what an interstate move is here, but I thought it prudent to discuss interstate moves on a deeper level as this blog is geared primarily to those who provide interstate moving services and those who are in need of such services.

This majority of this article was taken from the FMCSA’s website www.protectyourmove.gov. For the article, please click here.

While I explain what an interstate move is below, this explanation is not meant to be an exhaustive explanation. There are other types of interstate moves; however, the below definitions and explanations of interstate moves are the more common uses of the term.

Interstate move means transportation of goods in the United States which is between a place in a state and a place outside of that state (including a place outside the United States); or between two places in a state through another state or place outside of the United States.

Interstate Move…
Occurs between a place in a state and a place outside of that state (i.e., in another state or country). Even if other modes of transportation, such as plane or rail, are involved in moving the goods as long as the goods cross a state line and involve a mover at any point, it is an interstate move, and at least the portion involving the mover is governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. The moving truck or van does not have to physically cross a state line for it to be an interstate move.

Interstate Move…
Occurs between two places in the same state if the shipment passes through another state.

Moving Company Advertisements

Posted by David Piotrowski

Many moving companies are not aware that their are specific rules they must follow when advertising their services. While regulations take into consideration the first amendment to the U.S. Constititution, guaranteeing the right to free speech, their are particular laws explaining what movers need to include in their advertisements.

For example, movers and their agents must publish and use only truthful, straightforward, and honest advertisements. Movers must include, and movers must require each of their agents to include, in all advertisements for all services (including any accessorial services incidental to or part of interstate household goods transportation), the following two elements:

1. The name of the moving company, as it appears on file with the U.S. DOT, or the name or trade name of the motor carrier under whose operating authority the advertised service will originate; and
2. The U.S. DOT assigned to the moving company.

In addition, the movers U.S. DOT number must be displayed only in the following form in every advertisement: U.S. DOT No. xxxxxx (replacing the x with the actual number).

By following these simple instructions, movers will be in compliance with the rules regulating moving company advertisements.

AMSA

Posted by David Piotrowski

AMSA, short for the American Moving and Storage Association, is a name that all interstate movers should know. AMSA is an organization comprised of many domestic (and some international) moving companies that conduct interstate household goods moving services, as well as their suppliers and vendors.

AMSA was established in 1936 and currently serves around 3,700 members.

Membership in AMSA is available to those who qualify and members receive periodic newsletters with updates on the industry, access to annual events, certification programs, educational seminars, and more.

For more information, visit AMSA’s website.

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