ODOT and Medford Police cite illegal household movers in Southwest Oregon
Nov. 3, 2021
MEDFORD – The Oregon Department of Transportation and Medford Police Department cited three illegal household goods moving companies in violations in an operation in Southwest Oregon on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
The companies were cited for failure to obtain a certificate for commercial transportation of property required under Oregon Revised Statute 825.100. All were found in violation of other commercial trucking or commercial driver licensing regulations.
“Regulation in the household goods industry is an important consumer protection measure that protects the public’s personal safety as well as their assets,” Oregon Trucking Association President Jana Jarvis said. “When individuals move from one home to another, they need to work with fully licensed household goods movers in order to protect themselves from the unscrupulous companies that take advantage of being in possession of their belongs in order to extort additional fees, or even worse, steal their belongings. These operations conducted by the Commerce & Compliance Division of ODOT, serve not only to catch these unethical companies, but highlight to the public the value of working with companies that can be trusted.”
In Wednesday’s operation, the ODOT Commerce and Compliance Division invited companies that advertise household goods moving services to a house southwest of Phoenix. Representatives of ODOT, Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration greeted the companies and provided the movers with information on how to become legal movers in the state.
Companies cited in Wednesday’s operation and violations found:
Advanced Moving Solutions, LLC
- ORS 825.100 Operating without proper authority.
- ORS 811.182 Driving while suspended.
- FMCSR 391.41(a)(1) Operating without a medical certificate.
- FMCSR 393.95(a) Did not have required fire extinguisher.
- Driver was placed out of service.
Almighty Movers
- ORS 825.100 Operating without proper authority.
- FMCSR 392.9b(a) Operating without an active USDOT number.
- FMCSR 393.95(a) Did not have required fire extinguisher.
Rogue Valley Professional Movers
- ORS 825.100 Operating without proper authority.
- ORS 811.175 Driving while suspended.
- FMCSR 391.41(a)(1) Operating without a medical certificate.
- FMCSR 392.9b(a) Operating without an active USDOT number.
- FMCSR 393.95(a) Did not have required fire extinguisher.
- FMCSR 393.95(f) No warning devices.
- Driver was arrested for a federal probation violation – weapons offense.
Why movers must be certified in Oregon
Oregon regulates household goods movers to protect consumers. Under state law, any company or person offering transportation of household goods must be certified by ODOT. The certification process requires the applicant to demonstrate that they are fit, willing, and able to perform the service.
“The rules have been established to both provide oversight and monitoring of regulated and licensed companies operating in the market, as well as to identify and prevent operations conducted by unlicensed and, in some cases, unscrupulous individuals that use the access to a consumer’s home necessary to perform moving services as an opportunity to steal or otherwise hold an owner’s belongings hostage in order to receive excessive payment for services rendered,” said Diane DeAutremont of Lile Moving & Storage. “Operations conducted by ODOT are a valuable tool used periodically to identify, eliminate, and discourage these unethical practices and these efforts are enthusiastically supported by the Oregon Moving & Storage Association.
Illegal movers have been known to damage goods, demand extra money before unloading personal property and sometimes disappear with the property altogether.
Before you hire a household goods mover
ODOT recommends anyone looking to use a household goods mover first:
Check for certification. Intrastate movers must apply for certification of authority through ODOT’s Commerce and Compliance Division here: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/mct/pages/householdgoodsmoving.aspx. The certificate requires movers to go through criminal background checks and charge rates approved by ODOT.
Hire movers with vehicles in good working condition. Both the vehicle and driver must be properly registered with the state, and meet minimum insurance requirements.
Read reviews and gather information. Illegal movers often have no storefront, provide little information and offer no recourse for settling disputes.
Victims of illegal movers can file a complaint with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division at www.doj.state.or.us.
How to become a certified mover
If you are interested in becoming a certified household goods mover in Oregon, find out how here: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/mct/pages/householdgoodsmoving.aspx
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Newsrooms: For DMV media inquiries contact: David House at david.j.house@odot.state.or.us or 503-945-5270.
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