Notice of Opportunity to Comment on Rate Band
Workshop in October
The UTC is considering changes to the minimum and maximum rate bands contained in Tariff 15-C. Any changes to the rate bands will be determined following a review of industry expenses, market analysis, and comments provided by household goods companies or other interested parties. Stakeholders are strongly encouraged to submit written comments by Sept. 27 and attend the workshop on Oct. 17 at UTC headquarters. For details on the workshop and instructions for submitting written comments, click here.
Q&A
Do I have to issue a written estimate before starting a move?
Yes. You must do a visual inspection of the goods to be moved and issue a written estimate, signed and dated by both you and your customer, prior to beginning the move. You must complete a household goods inventory sheet (also called a cube sheet) with every written estimate. You can use real-time technology such as Skype to do the visual inspection. You cannot use pre-recorded video or pictures.
WAC 480-15-630 allows you to provide an estimate based on a customer-completed website calculation or customer-completed hard-copy calculation sheet. That means your customer has to provide an inventory of all items to be moved along with the cubic-footage of each item. You may issue only a non-binding estimate if the customer completes the inventory sheet. On the day of the move, if you determine your customer failed to include all items to be moved or services to be provided, you’ll need to complete a supplemental estimate for the additional items to be moved or work to be performed.
Does each employee and the hours they worked have to be listed on the bill of lading separately?
Yes. Tariff 15-C, Item 95, 1., m., states that for an hourly-rated move, you must include the time the vehicle leaves your terminal and the time it returns to the terminal—or when you were released to go to another customer—and the start, stop, and any interruption time for each employee involved in the move. The BOL template provided by the commission has room for three employees. You may use a separate sheet of paper for additional employees. You need to retain that paper with the other move documents for three years.
New HHG permits issued: May 1 - July 31, 2019
- Victory Moving & Labor LLC
- A Perfect Mover LLC
- Doceo, LLC
- iHaul, LLC
- Kingdom Mover LLC
- South Sound College Hunks LLC
- Marsik Movers LLC
- Miracle Man Movers LLC
- A1 Hauling LLC
- Seattle Piano Moving and Storage LLC
- Established Moving & Storage of Spokane Inc.
- Pulley & Mr. Haul Specialty Logistics LLC
- We Got It Local Mover LLC
- Smooth Movers, LLC
- White Glove Moving LLP
Email April Gilson at april.gilson@utc.wa.gov to register.
In August, an administrative law judge at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission ordered the companies to stop providing residential moving services until they obtain the required permits.
Auburn-based Ben’s Moving Services, owned by Cuong T. Bui, received a $5,000 penalty for operating as a moving company without the required permit. The company failed to appear at the hearing. The commission found the company in default and ordered the company to immediately stop operating without a permit.
Seattle-based Brothers Moving, owned by Samuel Svarny, received a $5,000 penalty for operating as a moving company without the required permit. The company failed to appear at the hearing. The commission found the company in default and ordered the company to immediately stop operating without a permit.
Spanaway-based Moving Pros Northwest 6, owned by Michael C. Robertson, received a $5,000 penalty for operating as a moving company without the required permit. The company failed to appear at the hearing. The commission found the company in default and ordered the company to immediately stop operating without a permit.
Port Angeles-based Amazing Movers 360, owned by Nathanael Hirst, received a $5,000 penalty for operating as a moving company before receiving the required permit. The company has obtained a temporary permit, and the commission suspended $4,500 of the $5,000 penalty on the condition the company refrains from operating should it lose its permit.
|
