U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20590
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

FMCSA 12-10
Monday, August 30, 2010
Contact: Candice Tolliver
Tel: (202) 366-9999 or (202) 306-4580

FMCSA Fines Moving Van Lines, Inc. $281,000 for Violating Multiple Federal Regulations

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration today announced $281,000 in fines against Moving Van Lines, Inc. of Tampa, Florida for violating multiple federal regulations including holding consumers' property hostage and requiring moving fees in excess of the original binding contractual agreement.

"Consumers should not have to fear the loss of their property at the hands of fraudulent household goods movers," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Companies that violate federal regulations and take advantage of consumers will be held accountable and they will face serious legal and financial consequences."

"Ensuring that consumers can access safe, reputable household goods movers is a priority," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to expose unscrupulous movers and protect consumers."

FMCSA issued these citations and fines against Moving Van Lines, Inc. following an extensive investigation of consumer complaints against the moving company. FMCSA issued a final order on August 16, 2010, and found the company in violation of 28 counts of failing to relinquish possession of a household goods shipment (hostage load), and 1 count of collecting fees more than the original binding estimate.

FMCSA encourages consumers to file any complaints involving household goods or other commercial motor carriers through FMCSA's nationwide complaint hotline at 1-888-368-7238 (1-888 DOT-SAFT) and to visit the National Consumer Complaints Database at http://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov.

The agency also encourages consumers planning an interstate move to visit the federal government's "Protect Your Move" web site at http://www.protectyourmove.gov, which provides information on shippers' rights and responsibilities and information on how to research USDOT registered household goods carriers.

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