An interstate moving company must set up and maintain a tariff. A tariff is a document that contains all of a moving company’s rates, charges, and service terms for moving a customer’s household possessions. A tariff must be made available for a customer’s review. See 49 C.F.R. Part 1310. STB regulations require tariffs to be clear and easy to follow so that a customer can readily understand the applicable rates, charges and services terms. STB regulations concerning household goods moving tariffs can be found by clicking here.
Although STB regulations do not specify the format or content of tariffs, the Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance (OPAGAC) recommends that a tariff include the following parts:
1.) A “Title page” containing:
2.) A “Table of Contents.”
3.) A set of definitions for terms used in the tariff.
4.) Rates and charges presented in easy to follow tables or formulas, including:
5.) A clear statement of the moving company’s liability for loss and damage.
6.) Instructions for the filing of loss, damage, and overcharge claims, including a description of the moving company’s arbitration program.
7.) The terms and conditions of the moving company’s bill of lading.
Generally, a tariff should be no more than a few dozen pages in length. Sample calculations may be helpful to illustrate how rates and charges apply to a move. OPAGAC discourages a moving company from including extraneous information in a tariff.