Moving to Los Angeles? Read These Statistics.

Posted by David Piotrowski

If you are moving to Los Angeles, or even visiting Los Angeles on vacation or simply studying or researching the city, you may find the following Los Angeles statistics interesting.

The following statistics are for all of Los Angeles county, and not just the city of Los Angeles.

Land Area of Los Angeles County
Moving to Los Angeles provides you with an opportunity to choose from many different cities and regions, all unique in nature.
Land Area - 4,084 Square Miles

Population (as of January 2007)
If you are moving to Los Angeles, you will not be alone.
Total in Los Angeles County - 10,331,939
Largest City (Los Angeles) - 4,018,080

Altitude
Moving to Los Angeles means you are always close to the beach and the mountains.
Lowest Point - 9 feet below sea level (at Wilmington)
Highest Point - 10,080 feet above sea level atop Mt. San Antonio

Ethnic Makeup (2000 Census U.S.)
Moving to Los Angeles affords you the opportunity to meet many different cultures and ethnicities.
Hispanic - 44.6%
White - 31.1%
Asian - 12.3%
Black - 9.7%
American Indian - 0.5%
Pacific Islander - 0.3%

The source of the above statistics is the county of Los Angeles.

Occupation / Employment Information
In February 2008, the Los Angeles county labor force consisted of 4,955,100 individuals, of which 4,684,900 were employed and 270,200 were unemployed, giving an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Source.

If you are moving to Los Angeles, you may want to know that the occupations in Los Angeles county with the fastest job growth are 1) dental hygienists, 2) network systems and data communications analysts, 3) dental assistants, 4) medical assistants, and 5) physician assistants. Source.

Additional Information
Moving to Los Angeles and looking for additional statistics? Look here and here.

Visual Estimate Waivers

Posted by David Piotrowski

The general rule (adopted a few years ago) is that moving companies must provide visual, in-home estimates to their potential customers. There are two (2) exceptions to the requirement that moving companies must provide visual estimates to their customers.

The first exception to the rule that moving companies must provide their customers with visual estimates is that if the pickup (origin) address is greater than fifty (50) miles from the movers facility, then the visual estimate requirement is waived. Many moving companies use this waiver especially for customers who are outside of the movers normal geographical reach or for customers that live in remote areas. In these cases, it may not make economic sense for movers to provide an in-house visual estimate due to the costs of providing this service. The flip-side of this argument, of course, is that movers who do provide visual estimates may have a better chance of providing a more accurate estimate. However, online and over-the-phone estimates can be quite accurate if customers take the time to provide truthful and complete inventory descriptions to the moving company.

The second exception to the rule requiring moving companies to provide visual estimates is that if the customer signs a form waiving their right to a visual estimate, the moving company need not provide one, even if the pickup (origin) address is less than fifty (50) miles from the movers facility.

Please read this post for additional information on this topic.

Houshold Goods Tariff Violations

Posted by David Piotrowski

The penalties for household goods tariff violations can be very high. I have previously discussed household good tariffs here (400N Tariff), here (definition of a tariff), and here (new tariff rules).

Penalties for violating household goods tariff provisisions can be both civil and criminal in nature. Any person who charges rates not listed in the tariff shall be liable for a civil penalty of up to $100,000.00 for each violation. This means, in one day if a mover charges three (3) different customers rates that are inconsistent with the mover’s tariff, the mover shall be liable for up to $100,000.00 for each of those violations.

Movers may also be subject to criminal liability if they choose to charge customers rates that are inconsistent with their tariff. The penalties may include a financial fine and/or a jail sentence for up to two (2) years for each violation.

It is imperative that movers utilize their tariff and charge customers only the rates listed in the tariff and not one penny more or less.

Publishing a Tariff

Posted by David Piotrowski

All household goods interstate moving companies must publish a tariff. Movers may create or have a competent professional create a tariff for them, so long as the tariff meets all legal requirements. Publishing a tariff does not mean that the moving company must file their tariff with the government. The applicable moving company tariff regulations state that each moving company must have on file at its main office a copy of its tariff (as well as copies of other tariffs to which it is a party). Movers must make their tariffs available for inspection during normal business hours. The tariff shall be accessible and readable. The mover must also display a notice saying that the tariff is available for public inspection.

Here are some simple questions and answers about publishing a tariff:

Q. What is a tariff and must a motor carrier have one?
A. A tariff is a document that must be published by every interstate household goods moving company. Among other things, the tariff lists the prices, rules, policies, and types of services offered by the mover. For more information on what a tariff is, please click here.

Q. How does a moving company publish a tariff?
A. Movers may publish a tariff on their own or have a competent professional create a tariff for them, so long as the tariff meets all legal requirements. Click here for custom moving company tariff services.

Q. What must be included in a tariff?
A. Tariffs must include an accurate description of the services offered to the public; must provide the specific applicable rates, charges and service terms; and must be arranged in a way that allows for the determination of the exact rate, charges and service terms applicable to any given shipment. Increases, reductions and other changes must be symbolized or highlighted in some way to facilitate ready identification of the changes and their effective dates.

Q. Must a moving company file its tariff with the Department of Transportation (DOT)?
A. No. Interstate moving companies operating in the United States need not file their tariff with the DOT. However, moving companies must keep a current copy of their tariff on hand at their office and must make this tariff available to a customer or government body upon reasonable request. Additionally, moving companies must issue a notice to their customers stating that the tariff is available for inspection.

Q. Does a moving company list its prices in its tariff? What if a moving company wants to deviate from the prices in its tariff?
A. One of the key elements in a tariff is that it lists the prices that the mover will charge for the different types of services it offers. A moving company must charge exactly the rates it lists in its tariff. The mover may not deviate from these prices by even a fraction. The tariff is customized to each individual motor carrier’s needs, so the mover should not have a need to charge prices not listed in the tariff. If the motor carrier’s business needs change, then the mover may legally publish an update, or amendment, to their tariff, listing the new rates. At that point, the mover may charge its customers the new rates only – the old rates will no longer be effective. In sum, the mover may not charge its customers prices that are not specified in its tariff.

Q. What are the penalties for violating tariff rules and regulations?
A. Penalties for violating tariff rules and regulations can be both civil and criminal in nature. An interstate moving company may lose its operating authority. Any moving company that charges rates that are not consistent with their published tariff shall be liable for a civil penalty of up to $100,000.00 per violation. In addition, criminal charges for charging rates not consistent with the tariff may include a fine and prison for up to two (2) years for each violation.

Other tariff discussions on this blog can be found on the following posts:

1. Moving Company Tariffs
2. 400N Tariff
3. Customized Tariffs
4. Define: Tariff
5. New Household Goods Tariff Rules

Household Goods Moving Statistics

Posted by David Piotrowski

I thought it would be interesting to list some statistics that relate to the domestic household goods moving industry.

The source of ths statistics on this page are taken from the American Moving and Storage Association’s (AMSA) page on industry statitics.

The household goods moving industry:

• Generates revenue of $10 billion per year
• Employs 450,000 people

The industry is made up of major vanlines, indepedent full service carriers, agents of vanlines, and owner-operators.

The 2005 Bureau of the Census report showed for the year ending March 2005, 39.9 million Americans changed residences. Based on an average family size of 2.34 persons, this translates into approximately 17.0 million household moves. The study shows that these moves were made as follows:

• 57% moved within the same county
• 20% moved within the same state
• 19% changed states
• 4% moved abroad

20-24 year olds were the most mobile of all, representing more than 30% of the total American moving population. 25-29 year olds made up the second largest group, representing more than 28% of the moving population.

The ten (10) most active states for moving are as follows: California, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, New York, Washington, DC, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.

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