7 CSR 10-25.040
Notice to be Given to Consumers by
Household Goods Carriers—Timing of Delivery, Form and
Contents
PURPOSE: This rule requires motor carriers of household goods
to provide an informational pamphlet to customers or potential
customers at appropriate times, informing them of their rights and
obligations as consumers of intrastate household goods carriage
services. The intent of the rule is to better inform consumers and
reduce the likelihood of disputes arising between household goods
carriers and their customers.
(1) Motor carriers transporting or offering to transport household
goods in intrastate commerce on the public roads of this state
shall provide a notice of consumer rights and obligations as set
forth herein to their shipper customers or potential customers.
(2) The notice shall be provided to the shipper customer or
potential customer at the first occurrence of the following
events between the carrier and the shipper customer:
(A) When the carrier presents to the shipper customer any
binding or non-binding estimate of charges for carriage of
household goods in intrastate commerce;
(B) When the carrier takes any action in furtherance of
assuming the carriage rights and responsibilities of any
other carrier, which has become incapable, for any reason,
to complete a shipment of household goods in intrastate
commerce;
(C) When the carrier presents to the shipper customer any
contract or offer to provide for carriage of household goods.
(3) The notice to be provided shall be delivered by hand delivery,
in person, when the contact with the shipper customer or
potential customer as described in section (2) above is in
person contact. When the contact with the shipper customer
or potential customer is by telephone or mail, the notice to be
provided shall be delivered by depositing the notice brochure,
enveloped and addressed properly to the shipper customer
or potential customer, into United States mail, first class
postage prepaid, within two (2) working days of the telephone
or mail contact. Carriers may send the notice via facsimile
TRANSPORTATION
transmission, e-mail, or any other electronic medium which
accurately duplicates the prescribed form and content of the
notice, within two (2) working days after an event described
in section (2) of this rule. Carriers shall send the notice by
such an electronic medium, if available, whenever the shipper
customer or potential customer has requested notice via that
medium, or has contacted the carrier by that medium and has
not requested notice by a different medium.
(4) Motor carriers of household goods shall maintain a
permanent written record which certifies that they delivered
the required notice pamphlet to the shipper customer or
potential customer as required by this rule, including the
date and manner of delivery. This record shall be kept at the
carrier’s principal place of business or terminal of operations
responsible for that move.
(5) The notice of customer rights and obligations shall contain
words and phrases set forth in the current form of notice
printed by the Department of Transportation (MoDOT), in
not less than nine (9)-point type, in a readily legible format.
The Department of Transportation shall make copies of the
notice available in reasonable quantities at no cost to the
household goods carriers registered for intrastate carriage
in this state. The notice can be found on the MoDOT Motor
Carrier Services website located at: http//www.modot.mo.gov/
mcs.
(6) Motor carriers of household goods in intrastate commerce
shall, prior to delivery of the notice brochure required by
this rule, insert or affix their company name, address and
telephone number by imprint, stamp or decal affixed to the
blank space provided for such information in the notice form
prescribed by MoDOT.
(7) Motor carriers of household goods in intrastate commerce
shall maintain records of delivery of the notice required by
this rule at their principal place of business or terminal of
operations responsible for the move, for a minimum period
of twelve (12) months following the contact with the shipper
customer or potential customer, and shall produce such records
for inspection upon demand at any time by authorized Motor
Carrier Services Inspectors or other authorized personnel from
the Department of Transportation.
(8) Nothing in this rule shall be construed to cause, work,
provide or effect any representation, guarantee, warranty,
indemnification or other assurance by the state of Missouri,
the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission or
the Missouri Department of Transportation, of the services,
representations or compensations for damages of any motor
carrier to any shipper customer or potential customer of any
motor carrier.
AUTHORITY: sections 226.008, RSMo Supp. 2005 and 387.060,
RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed Aug. 16, 2004, effective March 30,
2005. Amended: Filed May 11, 2006, effective Nov. 30, 2006.
*Original authority: 226.008, RSMo 2002 and 387.060, RSMo 1939, amended 1996.