Tariff Publishing Services

Posted by David Piotrowski

Need to publish an interstate household goods tariff?

As readers of this blog will know, interstate household goods moving companies are required to have a tariff that lists their prices and the services offered. This blog discusses household goods tariffs in many posts. Household goods moving companies are encouraged to read the following posts relating to tariffs and tariff publishing:

Publishing a Tariff
Moving Company Tariffs
Customized Tariffs
Define: Tariff
New Household Goods Tariff Rules

We offer two (2) types of tariff publishing services. Each option caters to a different type of moving company and you are encouraged to select the option that best suits your needs. Both options are overseen by a transportation law attorney and will meet regulatory requirements.

Option 1 — Hands Off Approach
This option is ideal for new moving companies and for movers who already have a structure in place. Movers who already have their rates, packing price lists, and service offerings will benefit from this less expensive, hands-off approach to creating their tariff. Under this option, the moving company will place an order online to have their tariff created for them. Once the purchase has been made, the mover will receive a tariff questionnaire form within one (1) business day asking them to provide their rates and other relevant information about the way they operate the business. Once the tariff questionnaire form is completed and returned by email or fax, the tariff will be created. Each tariff is personally reviewed by a transportation attorney prior to completion. Once the tariff is completed, which normally takes 14 to 21 business days, the tariff will be mailed to the moving company along with instructions on how to publish and maintain it. Upon request, the tariff can also be emailed to the company. While the tariff is being created, email support is available to answer any questions the mover may have about the process.

Option 1 costs $895.00.

To purchase option one, please click on the following botton. You will be redirected to make your payment using Paypal’s secure servers. Once you make your payment, you will receive your tariff questionnaire within one (1) business day.

Option 2 — Hands On Approach
Option 2 is for those moving companies that may have additional questions or need a little extra assistance when creating their tariff. Option 2 includes everything included in Option 1, plus the following:

- Up to 2 hours of telephone support with a transportation attorney to discuss tariff issues;
- Further tariff customization according the needs of the moving company;
- Tariff turnaround time of 7 to 10 business days instead of 14 to 21 business days.

Option 2 costs $1595.00.

To purchase option two, please click on the following botton. You will be redirected to make your payment using Paypal’s secure servers. Once you make your payment, you will receive your tariff questionnaire within one (1) business day.

If you have any questions, please email info - @ - shipmygoods.com. Remove the dashes and spaces before sending the message. Thank you.

Tariff Publishing

Posted by David Piotrowski

Moving companies that transport household goods interstate are required by law to publish a tariff. In the case of interstate household goods rules, tariff publishing does not mean that the moving company must upload the tariff to a website or file it with the government. 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 to inquire into having an attorney create a custom interstate household goods tariff for you.

Among other rules, tariffs shall be published in the English language and rates shall be stated in money of the United States. Tariffs must be kept at the offices of the moving company, and must be made available for inspection by the public or by the relevant government entity.

For more information on tariff publishing, please read this post. You may also be interested in learning about tariff publishing services here.

400N Tariff

Posted by David Piotrowski

As many people may already know, many moving companies have used the 400N tariff in the past.

400N Tariff - What Is it?

The 400N tariff is put together by the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), and has been available for AMSA members to use for a fee. (I’ve discussed the definition of a tariff in a previous post.) The 400N tariff simplifies tariff publishing requirements for many small, medium, and even large-sized movers who may not have the knowledge, desire, or the resources to create their own tariff.

400N Tariff - Changes Taking Place

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) recently ended antitrust immunity for ratemaking in the moving industry (see my article on this subject here). This new ruling is planned to take effect on January 1, 2008. This means that after January 1, 2008, moving companies will not be able to blanketly utilize the 400N tariff (the STB had been concerned over antitrust issues). AMSA had sought a business review letter from the U.S. Department of Justice for an evaluation on whether or not AMSA could license copies of the 400N tariff to individual movers who would then be able to customize and modify the 400N tariff to fit their individual needs. Up until now, AMSA had been licensing the 400N to movers based on the assumption of a favorable letter from the USDOJ. However, the U.S. Department of Justice has now denied AMSA’s request to issue such a letter.

400N Tariff - Uncertainty Is In The Air

Without a business review letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, a concrete determination as to whether or not AMSA can continue to license the 400N tariff to individual movers (who would then need to modify it to meet their needs), cannot be made. The U.S. Department of Justice did not find AMSA’s licensing of the 400N tariff to be unlawful, but instead worried about setting a precedent for other industries going through rate deregulation that could be viewed as standing in the way of rate-differentiation. Therefore, the USDOJ chose not to provide guidance to AMSA on this issue. As a result, AMSA has decided to disclaim any copyright it has in the 400N tariff, apparently allowing any mover to utilize any part of the 400N tariff that they deem useful to their business without having to first receive a license from AMSA to do so.

400N Tariff - What Movers Should Do

The new ruling is planned to take effect on January 1, 2008. Before that time, all interstate movers should have their own tariff published. Tariffs can be customized to meet the individual needs of each mover, or movers can take portions of the 400N tariff and modify it to meet their needs. Movers should NOT take the 400N tariff without any changes and adopt is as their own, as this may subject movers to liability under the new STB ruling.

Option 1

Movers are recommended to create their own tariff customized for their individual market and business plan. This allows for the most flexibility and freedom. Please note, however, if a mover decides to create a custom tariff, they must still comply with the regulations governing household goods tariffs. If interested, David Piotrowski, Esq. can work with individual movers to create a custom tariff.

Option 2

Movers can adopt sections of the 400N tariff that meet their needs, while customizing it to make it “their own.”

Option 3

Movers can get a sample tariff from a publishing company or alternative source and change it to fit their needs. Movers should be careful however not to run afoul of antitrust and other issues that the STB seeks to stop with its recent ruling.

Under any option above, it will be the responsibility of the mover to ensure that their tariff complies with the applicable tariff regulations.

Timing Is Important!

The 400N tariff, as it has been used in the past, is changing. Movers must have their new tariff in place prior to January 1, 2008, to remain compliant with the law.