What Is Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and What Does It Do?

The US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be one of your most trusted companions during the move. It’s a valuable source of information about ways you can protect yourself during the transportation of your belongings from one place to another. So, let’s look at what is Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA for short, and what does it do?

When You’re Moving Cross-Country, Understanding Safety Regulations Is One of the Most Important Things

The United States is a huge country connected by an equally huge network of roads. If you wish, you can move all the way from the West Coast to the East using this road infrastructure. But no matter how long the distance, or the time of the year you’re moving, staying safe should be the top priority.

Maybe you’re moving with your family, or maybe you’re looking to relocate your business to another state. Whatever the reason for your move, ensuring that everyone and everything is safe is one of the most important things to think about. That means staying safe on the road, as well as knowing your belongings are taken care of. That’s exactly where the FMCSA comes in handy when you’re organizing your move.

A Brief History of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Their Main Goal

The FMCSA is a government agency that was founded on January 1, 2000, within the U.S. Department of Transportation (also known as DOT). This government agency works on regulations of the trucking industry in the United States. Their official mission is to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities that involve commercial vehicles (CMV) and high-risk carriers on the road.

The agency’s headquarters are in Washington, DC, and there are over a thousand employees stationed in all fifty states, including the District of Columbia. They work directly with different Federal, State, and local agencies toward their main goal of ensuring the protection of commercial vehicles. Besides regulating the trucking industry, they work on improving CMV technologies, providing information, and spreading awareness about this issue. Check out this video to learn more about their mission:

That’s All Very Nice – But What Does It Have to Do With Your Long-Distance Moving Services?

You’re probably wondering – what does this agency have to do with me moving to another state? Actually, it’s quite important to familiarize yourself with this agency when you’re planning to move to another city. Because they regulate the trucking industry, every legitimate long-distance moving company needs to be registered with them. Thanks to that, reputable moving services are held to a certain standard and keep on improving day by day. The same can be said for other aspects of the move, such as the packing services.

The FMCSA Website Is One of the Most Useful Tools and Resources When It Comes to Moving Within the USA

In order to keep improving the moving industry in the United States, this department offers plenty of helpful resources that will help you move safely. That’s why it’s important to use their site as a source of information even before you start thinking about choosing a moving company. Their official site will offer valuable info you should know about to avoid fraud during the relocation and search for reputable cross-country movers to do the job.

One of the most important resources that will help you in this is their program Protect Your Move, where you can browse a list of registered and reliable cross-country moving companies. By using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) national registry, you can search the database by typing the name of the company, as well as verify their USDOT number, and also look through complaints filed against them, if there are any.

Do Your Research and Double-Check Everything – It’s Better to Be Safe Than Sorry

If you’re preparing to move, one of the most important things you can do to move efficiently is to do your research thoroughly. If you’re moving for the first time, you should definitely put research at the top of your to-do list. So, avoid this common relocation mistake and get informed about the industry practices well in advance. The FMCSA website is a great place to start – since it’s an official government site, you know that all of the information is legitimate.

So, search for the company you have in mind and check if they’re registered and have a USDOT number, and also look through their reviews and any possible complaints. While their site is a good starting point, we suggest not ending the research here. The more information you have about the moving industry practices, the lesser the chances of you getting caught in a scam. The government and these types of agencies help combat these frauds, but you need to do your part by researching on your own.

It’s Also Important to Learn About the Responsibilities You Hold Up on Your End of the Bargain

Your chosen cross-country moving services are responsible for following regulations and securing your belongings, but that doesn’t mean that everything falls under their responsibility during the move. The customer has rights, but he also holds a few responsibilities, and it’s important to inform yourself of them in order to understand your legal rights.

There is a booklet called “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” available on the FMCSA website, and it will inform you about everything that’s expected of you during this process. You should definitely check it out for more detail, but let’s list some of the most important responsibilities you will have during your move:

• Reading all documents your mover issued – this should go without saying, but carefully going through papers before signing them is your responsibility.
• Being available for the pickup and the delivery of your shipment – if you’re not available for some reason, you should appoint someone close to you as a representative to act on your behalf.
• Notifying your mover if anything changes concerning your shipment – you should contact your company and inform them if anything changes, such as move dates or maybe bringing additional items.
• Making payment in the required amount and in the form agreed to with the mover – you will know everything is in order if you’re well informed about the documents you’ve signed.
• Filing claims for loss, damage, or delays with your mover – leaving a complaint against a moving company if it turned out to be disreputable will help others avoid what you’ve been through.

Learn About the Different Liability Options to Make Sure Your Stuff Is Safe During and After the Move

Now that we’ve covered how this agency can help you prepare for the move, let’s talk about the information they provide to help you understand your options if any damage happens to your belongings during the move. The possibility of having your precious items damaged while they are in transport can add to the moving stress, and that’s why it’s important to know all of your options regarding liability.

So, let’s look over the liability options you will be offered by your chosen reputable movers:

If Any Problems Happen During the Process – FMCSA Can Help You Even After the Move

Maybe this text finds you too late, and you have already had a bad experience with a moving company. You’ve moved into a new apartment, and started checking your household inventory list, only to find out that some of the stuff is missing or damaged. You’ve filed a liability claim, but the settlement offer made by the mover is not what you agreed upon. Even though the agency doesn’t have the authority to resolve claims against companies, they will provide you with useful help if you contact them to file a complaint.

Leave Feedback on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Site to Help Others Avoid What You’ve Experienced

Leaving a complaint against a company that didn’t do the job correctly and in the way you agreed will surely help other people avoid hiring their service. The most common complaints against a mover include holding the shipment until the client pays more than what was agreed upon, not keeping up the arranged pick-up and delivery dates, as well as refusing to pay for damages or losses that happened during transportation.

So, take time to sit down and write a detailed report of your experience. Contact not only this agency but other entities as well, such as Better Business Bureau and The American Moving and Storage Association. It’s good to try and bring something good out of a bad experience, and a few minutes of your time will surely help someone have a stress-free relocation.

If You’re Shipping Your Vehicle, FMCSA and DMV Are Your Most Trusted Companions

If you’re thinking about transporting your car cross country, deciding on the company whose auto-transport services you will invest in is especially important. Cars are usually one of the most expensive things people own, and there is a lot to think about when it comes to protecting them during transport. But the Administration, as well as the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), are here to help.

On the websites of these agencies, you will find all of the necessary information, as well as be able to check the legitimacy of both auto brokers and transporters. They should be registered and have a unique six-digit MC Docket number, and auto-transporters should also have a seven-digit USDOT number. It’s very important to check these numbers because it will ensure that the company you go for has the required license to do this job.

It’s Time to Move in the Safest Way Possible

Now that you understand in which ways this government agency can help you, you will be able to plan your move to another city in the safest way possible. After all, being safe should be your number one priority, especially if you’re moving with kids. So, do your research thoroughly and plan out everything in advance, from the moving budget to the unpacking process. If you do your part of the job, everything else will come easily. You will be in your new dream house, unscathed and unbothered, in no time!