DOT'S INITIATIVE TO CONTROL HOUSEHOLD GOODS BROKERS

A PROGRESS REPORT ON A 2003 INITITIATIVE WHEREBY DOT WOULD
EMPLOY NEW NEW METHODS TO WEED OUT UNSCRUPULOUS HOUSEHOLD GOODS BROKERS

Popular Title: Household Goods Brokers
RIN 2126-AA84
Stage: Undetermined

Previous Stage: ANPRM: Publication Date 12/22/2004; End of Comment Period 02/22/2005. NPRM: Publication date 2/8/2007; End of Comment Period 5/9/2007
Abstract: This rulemaking would address the American Moving and Storage Association´s petition for rulemaking and implement certain provisions of Subtitle B of SAFETEA-LU. FMCSA would determine in this rulemaking whether 49 CFR part 371 needs to be amended to protect consumers against unscrupulous brokers of household goods.
Effects:
Information Collection


Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline: Final Rule : 08/10/2006


Rulemaking Project Initiated: 05/12/2003
Docket Number: FMCSA-2004-17008

Report on DOT Significant Rulemakings


This Report provides a summary and the status for all significant rulemakings that DOT currently has pending or has issued recently. We update the Report at the beginning of each month. The information in the Report is not intended to commit DOT to specific conclusions or actions. For example, after further analysis, DOT may decide the effects of the rule would be different or it may decide to terminate the rulemaking.

Access Reports - May 2009 Report (1514 KB)

Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Undetermined: None

SOME BACKGROUND FROM YOUR BLOGMEISTER ON HOUSEHOLD GOODS "BROKERS"

WHAT IS A BROKER AND WHY DO i NEED A BROKER WHEN MOVING?

When I sent out for bids on my move from Melbourne,Florida to Longs,SC in early March,2009 I sent my request to 5 licensed moving companies all of whom had BBB logos on their Website Mastheads.

Instead of 5 bids I received back over 50 quotes, 45 of course from companies I never had contacted. I did some surfing and googling and found out that 45 "companies" who I did not contact but who sent me quotes were, in fact not Moving Companies at all but "Brokers" who arranged moves for consumers as middlemen and walked away with a piece of the pie.

Why not? ;, in a crooked, unpoliced, industry filled with licensed Highway Hijackers there is always room for more criminal swindlers. These crafty brokers called me from their homes all times of the day and night,much as bill collectors might do but these con men were collecting my personal posessions to sell on the open market!

I of course was not born yesterday (6/15/31) so I told them all to go to a netherworld location.

So that's what a "broker" is and DOT, after possibly a billion complainst about them issued a report in 2003 that they were aware of these brokers and how unscrupulous "some" of them were so they were about to start a system of dealing with them or deterring them ( I guess similar to how they have dealt with and deterred the thousands of licensed criminal movers under their jurisdiction.

Well that initiative is now 6 years old and just 3 weeks ago on May 1,2009 DOT felt that the public deserved a "PROGRESS REPORT" on thier undertaking.

Guess what? There has been no progress! Reason given? They are still collecting information. So,DOT ,if nothing else, is consistent. They have an "Enforcement and Compliance Dept" which cannot arrest and/or imprison criminals and they issue progress reports when there is no progress to report!

This would be funny if it wasn't so tragic!

If you are a "live" victim of Highway Hijacking (Live:meaning your moves are currently still being held by your mover) Please do not believe I am being flip. I am trying here on an almost daily basis to alert thousands of other consumers who will become victims in the new few weeks.

A DOT which cannot move in with a SWAT TEAM and arrest Highway Highjackers while they are holding your goods hostage and demanding ransom from you is a disgrace to this country and the media and/or other Government Watchdogs need to expose them.