FMCSA Household Goods Moving Regulations — Consumer Protections

When you hire an interstate moving company to transport your belongings across state lines, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's 49 CFR Part 375 — Transportation of Household Goods in Interstate Commerce — governs the entire transaction. Every interstate mover must follow these rules, which include written estimates, written inventories, liability disclosures, and a prohibition on holding your goods "hostage" pending payment of unauthorized charges. More than 35 million Americans move each year, and interstate household goods moving is one of the most consumer complaint-generating industries in transportation — largely because consumers don't know their rights until something goes wrong.

Current Rule (2026)

What This Rule Does

Part 375 is the FMCSA's consumer protection rulebook for the household goods moving industry. It establishes what moving companies must disclose before you hire them, how estimates must be provided, what paperwork accompanies your shipment, how disputes are resolved, and critically — when a mover must release your goods even if there is a billing dispute.

The rule uses an unusual second-person regulatory voice ("you must" addressed to the carrier), making it one of the more readable federal regulations. It applies to every motor carrier engaged in the interstate transportation of household goods — generally, any move that crosses a state line. Moves entirely within one state are governed by state law, not Part 375.

Key Provisions

Before the Move — Disclosures and Estimates:

• § 375.201 — Carrier liability: movers are legally liable for loss or damage to household goods during transportation; the default liability under federal law is full value protection (carrier pays current replacement cost or repair cost) unless the shipper selects a lower "released value" option (60 cents per pound per article); the choice of liability level must be made in writing before the move
• § 375.213 — Information packet: at the time the estimate is provided, the mover must give the shipper two documents: (1) the FMCSA's booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, which summarizes all shipper rights under Part 375; and (2) the mover's own written dispute resolution procedures; the shipper must sign acknowledging receipt before pickup
• § 375.211 — Arbitration program: every interstate household goods carrier must maintain a mandatory arbitration program to resolve disputes about property loss, damage, and overcharges; the carrier pays the arbitrator's fees; the shipper's participation is voluntary (the shipper can instead go to court), but the carrier cannot refuse a shipper who elects arbitration
• § 375.207 — Truthful advertising: movers and their agents must use only truthful advertising; advertisements may not imply the mover is a licensed broker when it is actually a carrier, or imply coverage or services not actually offered

Estimates (Subpart D):

• § 375.401 — Physical survey required: the mover must conduct an in-person physical survey of the goods to be moved before providing a written estimate (virtual surveys are permitted only if the shipper explicitly waives the in-person requirement); telephone or web-based estimates without any survey are not compliant for moves where goods will be weighed at origin or destination
• § 375.403 — Binding estimate: a binding estimate is a guaranteed price — the shipper will pay exactly this amount for the services listed, regardless of actual weight; the carrier must honor the binding estimate if the shipment and services match the estimate; additional services requested after the bill of lading is issued can be charged separately
• § 375.405 — Non-binding estimate: a non-binding estimate is the carrier's best guess; the final charge is based on the actual weight of the shipment and the tariff rate; if the actual charges exceed the non-binding estimate, the carrier must deliver the goods upon payment of 110% of the non-binding estimate — the balance may be collected later (§ 375.407); this is the "110% rule" that protects consumers from surprise charges at delivery
• § 375.409 — Broker estimates: household goods brokers (who arrange moves but don't transport goods themselves) may provide estimates only under a written agreement with the actual carrier; the carrier remains responsible for the estimate; the broker-carrier relationship must be disclosed to the shipper

Pickup — Inventory and Bill of Lading:

• § 375.503 — Written inventory: the mover must prepare a written, itemized inventory before loading; every carton and uncartoned item must be listed and its condition noted (boxes marked "scratched," furniture marked "chipped"); the shipper signs the inventory — this document is crucial for any later loss or damage claim
• § 375.505 — Bill of lading: before pickup, the mover must issue a bill of lading stating the terms and conditions of transportation, the carrier's name and address, the pickup and delivery addresses, the type of estimate (binding or non-binding), and the agreed liability level; the shipper and carrier both sign; if the shipper never sees or signs a bill of lading, the move is not legally documented
• §§ 375.507–375.513 — Weight determination: for non-binding estimates, the carrier must weigh the shipment and must notify the shipper of the right to observe the weighing; the shipper may request a reweigh of the shipment at the destination before delivery; reweigh fees (if any) must be stated in the tariff

Delivery and Payment:

• § 375.703 — Maximum collect-on-delivery amount: on a binding estimate, the carrier may only collect the estimate price plus charges for services added after the bill of lading was issued; on a non-binding estimate, the carrier may collect up to 110% of the non-binding estimate at delivery; any excess is billed separately with a 30-day payment window
• § 375.701 — No release of liability on delivery receipt: the delivery receipt may not include any language releasing the carrier from liability; a shipper signing a delivery receipt to acknowledge delivery does not waive any claim for loss or damage
• § 375.709 — Total loss: if a shipment is totally lost or destroyed, the carrier may not collect any freight charges

Dispute Resolution:

• § 375.807 — Invoice timing: the carrier must present the final invoice within 15 days of delivery; the credit period (if extended) must be at least 7 days; the carrier may not refer an unpaid invoice to collections without first attempting to resolve any dispute through its arbitration program

How the "Hostage Goods" Prohibition Works

The most important practical protection in Part 375 is the rule against holding household goods "hostage." Under § 375.407, if a move is transported under a non-binding estimate and the actual weight-based charges exceed the estimate, the carrier must release the goods at the time of delivery if the shipper pays:

• 100% of the binding estimate, or
• 110% of the non-binding estimate (the "110% rule")

The carrier may then collect the balance (whatever is owed above 110%) through a separate invoice, due within 30 days. The carrier cannot hold the goods, threaten to put them in storage, or demand full payment of disputed charges before unloading the truck. Doing so violates FMCSA regulations and may constitute extortion under state law.

For binding estimates, the rule is even cleaner: the shipper pays the estimate price, and that's it for the services covered. The carrier cannot demand more at delivery on a binding estimate regardless of actual weight.

How It Affects You

If you're planning an interstate move: Get a binding estimate whenever possible — it eliminates the weight-based uncertainty that creates most moving disputes. Before signing anything, verify the mover's FMCSA license (search at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov — look for "Household Goods Motor Carrier" authority), confirm you are dealing with an actual licensed carrier (not just a broker), and request the Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet. Photograph your items before loading and review the inventory carefully before signing — inaccurate inventory is the primary obstacle to loss and damage claims later.

If the mover has your goods and is demanding more than the estimate: On a non-binding estimate, pay up to 110% and demand delivery. On a binding estimate, pay the estimate amount and demand delivery. If the mover refuses to deliver after you tender the required amount, file an FMCSA complaint at protectyourmove.gov and contact your state attorney general. FMCSA can revoke the carrier's operating authority for refusing to relinquish goods.

If your goods were damaged: File a written claim with the carrier within 9 months of delivery (the federal limit under 49 U.S.C. § 14706). Photograph damage immediately. The carrier has 30 days to acknowledge the claim and 120 days to deny, pay, or make a settlement offer. If the carrier fails to respond, you may file in federal district court or invoke the mandatory arbitration program.

If you're dealing with a moving broker: Brokers arrange moves but do not transport goods. They must disclose they are brokers (not carriers) and must provide the carrier's name and contact information before you pay. A broker cannot lawfully arrange a move with an unlicensed carrier. If the carrier the broker booked shows up with a different truck or operator, verify the MC number on the truck matches the licensed carrier.

Statutory Authority

This rule implements:

• 49 U.S.C. § 13102 — Definitions for surface transportation; defines household goods, individual shipper, and related terms
• 49 U.S.C. § 14706 — Carrier liability for loss, damage, or delay; establishes the federal framework within which Part 375's liability rules operate
• 49 U.S.C. § 14104 — Shipper protection (Safe Moves Act provisions added by the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization directing FMCSA to issue consumer protection regulations for household goods moves)

Recent Rulemakings

87 FR 24447 (April 2022): Updated Part 375's arbitration program requirements to clarify that the arbitration program must be available to individual shippers even for disputes about overcharges (not just loss and damage); updated disclosure requirements for household goods brokers to require written confirmation that the arranging entity is a broker, not a carrier; made technical corrections to align Part 375 with related regulations in Part 371 (brokers) and Part 376 (receipts and bills of lading for household goods).

68 FR 35091 (June 2003): The original consumer protection rule issued after the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was abolished and FMCSA inherited household goods oversight; established the core framework still in effect, including the 110% rule, the Your Rights and Responsibilities booklet requirement, the mandatory arbitration program, and the physical survey requirement for estimates.

Recent Developments

• "Hostage load" enforcement and consumer complaints: FMCSA's household goods program continues to receive thousands of consumer complaints annually about movers demanding additional payment before releasing goods — the "hostage load" practice. Despite federal prohibition under Part 375, enforcement has been limited by FMCSA's constrained enforcement resources relative to the volume of interstate movers. FMCSA has used revocation of operating authority and civil penalties against the most egregious violators, but consumer advocates argue the enforcement level is insufficient to deter widespread non-compliance.
• Broker disclosure requirements (2022 update): The April 2022 rulemaking (87 FR 24447) strengthened disclosure requirements for household goods brokers — companies that arrange moves without performing them. Brokers must now provide written confirmation of their broker status to consumers (not a carrier), ensuring consumers understand the entity they're contracting with. The update addressed consumer confusion resulting from brokers presenting themselves as carriers in advertising while outsourcing actual moves.
• Moving fraud and rogue movers: Online marketplace platforms have enabled a new category of moving fraud: companies with no physical infrastructure that collect deposits for moves, then either subcontract to unlicensed carriers or disappear with the deposit. FMCSA has published consumer guidance and a "Protect Your Move" campaign (protectyourmove.gov) to help consumers verify mover credentials, but the ease of creating new online moving company identities makes enforcement challenging.
• Military relocation and Part 375: Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO) moves for military personnel under government Bills of Lading are separately governed by defense logistics contracts, not Part 375. However, military families arranging their own ("personally procured") moves use the civilian household goods market and Part 375 protections. Military consumer advocacy groups have documented elevated rates of household goods disputes among personally procured movers, given the compressed timelines and geographic volatility of military moves.

Pending Action

FMCSA's household goods consumer protection program has been under Congressional scrutiny due to persistent moving fraud complaints and hostage load practices. Legislative proposals to increase civil penalties for violations, require mandatory bonding for all household goods brokers, and create a centralized consumer complaint tracking system have been introduced in multiple sessions. Watch the Senate Commerce and House Transportation Committees for any reauthorization provisions in surface transportation or consumer protection legislation that address household goods protections. FMCSA has indicated intent to update Part 375's consumer rights notification requirements and broker accountability standards in a future NPRM; the regulatory agenda listing provides advance notice of expected timing.