Moving Company Laws - signing blank documents

Law Offices of Michael Garcia

Transportation law • Tariff Publishing • Regulatory Compliance • Consumer Protection

Law Offices of Michael Garcia

2900 Gordon Ave. Suite 100-60

Santa Clara, California 95051

Telephone: 408-730-5683

Legal compliance for interstate moving companies:

Can a consumer be required to sign blank or incomplete documents?

In some cases, yes. An estimate for moving services is not a contract or a guarantee. Since the final charges for the moving services cannot be determined until after the goods have been loaded and weighed (when based upon weight) many of the documents a consumer shipper is required to sign at origin will be incomplete and not contain the final charges. Federal law governing interstate moving specifically states in 49 CFR section 375.501(d):

It is not illegal or unusually for a consumer shippers to be required to sign shipping documents at origin that do not contain the final charges; or incomplete. However, the estimate or revised written estimate must never be signed blank or incomplete. At the time the estimate or revised written estimate is signed it must contain an itemization of all services charges, and the total charge. A consumer shipper should never sign an estimate or revised written estimate that does not list the total estimated charges.

Note: In addition to the above general requirements, an interstate moving company must continue to follow all provisions of federal law governing interstate moves. Federal laws regulating moving companies are designed to help protect consumers and create an even playing field for moving companies. By following the law, moving companies can avoid government fines, lawsuits, and provide better service to their customers.

[The motor carrier] may provide the individual shipper with blank or incomplete estimates, orders for service, bill of lading, or any other blank or incomplete documents pertaining to the move… You may require the individual shipper to sign an incomplete document at origin provided it contains all relevant sipping information except the actual shipment weight and another other information necessary to determine final charges for all services performed.