Avoiding Driver Hours-of-Service Violations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that hours-of-service violations were among the most common roadside violations in 2025.
UTC rules require moving company drivers operating in intrastate commerce to follow hours-of-service limits. These rules help prevent driver fatigue and improve safety on the road.
Movers can reduce crashes, injuries and inspection violations by training drivers and using clear procedures to make sure hours are recorded correctly.
Take time to learn, or review, the hours-of-service requirements for truck drivers.
For safety questions, contact the UTC Motor Carrier Safety team.
|
Tip: Reporting Estimates on the Annual Report
Carriers must report the total number of household goods moves and written estimates on Schedule 5 of the annual report.
When filling out the Regulated Intrastate Moves section, the number of written estimates should never be less than the number of moves. Tariff 15-C requires carriers to give customers a written estimate before a move.
In some cases, the number of estimates may be higher than the number of moves. This can happen if a customer chooses not to hire the company after receiving an estimate.
Reminder: Intrastate vs. Interstate Moves
Intrastate moves are household goods moves for pay that start and end in Washington. A move can still be intrastate even if the driver passes through another state.
Example: If a move starts in Washington, travels through Oregon, and ends in Washington, it is still considered intrastate.
Interstate moves are moves that start in Washington and end in another state, or start in another state and end in Washington.
|
Avoid Scams When Submitting Reports and Fees
Before sending emails to the commission or submitting payments, double-check the web or email address.
Official commission emails and payment pages will always include utc.wa.gov.
Maximum Rate Bands Increased
The commission approved updates to Tariff 15-C that increase the maximum rate band by 25%.
The new rates took effect Jan. 1, 2026.
New Household Goods Carrier Permits
The commission has issued new Household Goods Permits to the following companies in Washington:
- Flex Storage Inc
- Northwest Small Moving LLC
- Pardis Bros
- PDX Movers LLC
- Rockstar Moving Company LLC
- Trefethen & Co LLC
Online Self-Paced Trainings
The commission offers self-paced online training for passenger transportation companies and household goods moving companies. These courses allow you to start and stop at your convenience but must be completed within 30 days, including a final knowledge test.
Passenger transportation training covers topics like insurance requirements, driver qualifications, hours of service, and safety compliance. Household goods training includes consumer protection, annual reports, and transportation safety.
Access training modules from your dashboard and complete them on your schedule.
|
Live Virtual Trainings
The commission offers free training for household goods moving companies. Each training begins at 8:15 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.
Upcoming trainings:
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Wednesday, June 17, 2026
- Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026
- Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027
|
Looking for Forms or Information?
The commission’s website is your go-to source for essential documents, including laws, tariffs, rules, and commission-approved forms like the bill of lading and estimate and cube sheet inventory. Using incorrect forms can lead to penalties or violations. You can also access the Motor Carrier Safety Guide for helpful compliance resources.
Find these resources and more at www.utc.wa.gov/MovingCompanies.
|
