The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a new web site at www.protectyourmove.gov.

The site was established to help people avoid getting caught scams that involve household goods being held hostage by a rogue mover. Rogue movers, many of whom advertiser on the Internet, offer lowball estimates and then demand more money than originally agreed upon in violation of federal regulation.
“This site gives consumers the help they need to avoid scams before they
get started,” said FMCSA Administrator Annette Sandberg.
The web site is part of an effort to rein in household moving scams. The FMCSA began ramping up enforcement of household goods consumer protection regulations last year, following FMCSA’s successful congressional budget request for additional enforcement funds. The American Moving and Storage Assn. lobbied Congress to increase enforcement-related funds and also supports tightening laws against rogue movers.
The new web site provides a list of properly registered and insured movers, brokers and freight forwarders, details about regulations governing professional moving companies, information about how to file a complaint in the event of a problem and moving tips.
The site will show visitors how to spot a rogue mover before trouble strikes, and offers links to local Better Business Bureaus, consumer protection agencies, state attorneys general and moving associations.
Sandberg said that federal, state and local agencies get thousands of complaints about fraudulent movers.