94-1042. Practices of Motor Common Carriers of Household Goods; Performance Reports  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
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    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-1042]
    
    
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    [Federal Register: January 14, 1994]
    
    
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    INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
    49 CFR Part 1056
    
    [Ex Parte No. MC-19 (Sub-No. 42)]
    
     
    
    Practices of Motor Common Carriers of Household Goods; 
    Performance Reports
    
    AGENCY: Interstate Commerce Commission.
    
    ACTION: Final rules.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Commission is adopting modifications to the Annual 
    Performance Report, Form OCP-101 (OCP-101), which sets forth 
    requirements that relate to carrier performance information given to 
    prospective individual shippers of household goods. This proceeding was 
    instituted to address concerns expressed by consumer groups and the 
    moving industry regarding the quality and reliability of the 
    information provided by household goods carriers in the OCP-101. The 
    modified OCP-101 requires objective disclosure by carriers of their 
    performance to prospective shippers and verification of accuracy of the 
    data contained in the reports.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: The revised rules are effective February 13, 1994.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles E. Wagner (202) 927-5530 or 
    John Fristoe, (202) 927-5520. (TDD for hearing impaired: (202) 927-
    5721.)
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Currently, the Commission's rules require 
    household goods common carriers that transport 100 or more shipments to 
    individual shippers, as defined in the Commission's rules, to provide 
    information annually to the Commission about their previous year's 
    performance by filing an Annual Performance Report (Form OCP-101). 
    Under the new rules adopted in this decision, all household goods 
    common carriers will be required to file the OCP-101 annually. However, 
    only carriers that deliver 100 or more individual C.O.D. shipments will 
    be required to complete the major portion of the form (Part B) and 
    provide copies of it to prospective shippers. Part B of the OCP-101 
    shows a carrier's performance in the areas of estimating, on-time 
    performance, and claims handling in a calendar year for C.O.D. shippers 
    only. The OCP-101 must be filed with the Commission's Office of 
    Compliance and Consumer Assistance by March 31 of the following 
    calendar year.
        A notice of proposed rulemaking was published on February 3, 1993, 
    at 58 FR 6912. Additional information is contained in the Commission's 
    decision. To obtain a copy of the full decision, write to, call, or 
    pick up in person from Dynamic Concepts, Inc., room 2229, Interstate 
    Commerce Commission Building, Washington, DC 20423. Telephone: (202) 
    289-4357/4359. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available 
    through TDD services (202) 927-5721.]
    
    Energy and Environmental Consideration
    
        We conclude that modification of the regulations governing Form 
    OCP-101 will not significantly affect either the quality of the human 
    environment or the conservation of energy resources.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
    
        Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), we conclude that our action in this 
    proceeding will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
    number of small entities. We are modifying the OCP-101 requirements 
    that relate to a carrier's performance information given to prospective 
    individual shippers of household goods by motor common carriers of 
    household goods transporting 100 or more C.O.D. individual-type 
    shipments. The modified form will require verification of the data in 
    the report by a company official. The regulations will have some impact 
    on the administrative costs of preparing and duplicating the OCP-101 
    for smaller carriers (i.e., Class II and III carriers) of household 
    goods. The information required for completing that form is the type of 
    information already kept by such entities and the time required to 
    compile the data for that form should be minimal and vary 
    proportionately with the number of shipments transported by the 
    carrier. Although transportation consumers should benefit from the 
    availability of this information, the cost to small carriers should be 
    relatively minimal. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the economic 
    impact on these small entities will be significant within the meaning 
    of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    
    List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1056
    
        Advertising, Consumer protection, Freight, Insurance, Motor 
    carriers, Moving of household goods, Reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements.
    
        Decided: January 4, 1994.
    
        By the Commission, Chairman McDonald, Vice Chairman Simmons, 
    Commissioners Phillips and Philbin.
    Sidney L. Strickland, Jr.,
    Secretary.
        For the reasons set forth in the preamble, title 49, chapter X, 
    part 1056 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
    
    PART 1056--TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN INTERSTATE OR 
    FOREIGN COMMERCE
    
        1. The authority citation for part 1056 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 49 U.S.C. 10321, 11109, 11110 and 5 U.S.C. 553.
    
        2. In Sec. 1056.2, paragraph (a)(3) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1056.2  Information for shippers.
    
        (a) * * *
        (3) A copy of Form OCP-101, Annual Performance Report, most 
    recently filed with the Commission, as prescribed in Sec. Sec. 1056.18, 
    if the carrier is required to complete part B of that form.
    * * * * *
        3. Section 1056.18 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1056.18  Preparation and filing of annual performance report.
    
        (a) Filing requirement. Each motor common carrier for household 
    goods as defined in Sec. 1056.1(b) that delivers interstate shipments 
    to individual C.O.D. shippers, during any calendar year shall, on or 
    before March 31 of the following year, file with the Office of 
    Compliance and Consumer Assistance, Interstate Commerce Commission, 
    Washington, DC 20423-0001, a report of the service performed during the 
    report year. The report shall be submitted on Form OCP-101, and its 
    accuracy must be verified by an official of the carrier. All carriers 
    must complete part A of Form OCP-101, and those carriers transporting 
    100 or more shipments also must complete part B.
        (b) Prescribed Annual Performance Report Form OCP-101.
    
    Interstate Commerce Commission
    
    Office of Compliance and Consumer Assistance
    
    Annual Performance Report for Year Ended December 31, 19--
    
    Carrier's Name---------------------------------------------------------
    Carrier's Address------------------------------------------------------
    ICC Number-------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Part A
    
        During the year, the total number of household goods shipments 
    (1st proviso) delivered for each type of shipper was:
    
    
    1. C.O.D. shipments delivered under your common carrier                 
     authority (excluding all Government, Freight Forwarder,                
     and Interline shipments)..................................   __________
    2. All other 1st proviso shipments (including all                       
     Government, Freight Forwarder, and Interline shipments)...   __________
    3. Total of Lines 1 and 2 (NOTE: Total must agree with                  
     total 1st proviso shipments reported in your ICC Annual                
     Report, Schedule 600, Line 7, Column d, if you are                     
     required to file that report).............................   __________
                                                                            
    
    Part B
    
        Complete part B only if the C.O.D. delivered shipments reported 
    in part A, Line 1, equals or exceeds 100 shipments. The questions 
    and answers below deal only with the shipments reported in part A, 
    Line 1.
    
    
    4. Number of C.O.D. shipments where the order for service               
     was based upon a written binding estimate (included are so-            
     called hybrid estimates such as Guaranteed Price and Price             
     Protection)...............................................   __________
    5. Number of C.O.D. shipments where the charges were based              
     on a written non-binding estimate.........................   __________
    6. Number of C.O.D. shipments where the charges were based              
     on other than a written binding or non-binding estimate...   __________
    7. Total of Lines 4, 5, and 6 (NOTE: Total should equal the             
     shipment count reported in part A, Line 1)................   __________
    8. Percentage of shipments delivered where the final                    
     charges exceeded the initial written binding estimate.....   __________
    9. Percentage of shipments delivered where the final                    
     charges exceeded the initial written non-binding estimate              
     by 10% or more............................................   __________
    10. Percentage of shipments that were picked up after the               
     last date for pickup listed on the order for service or                
     bill of lading............................................   __________
    11. Percentage of shipments that were delivered after the               
     last date of delivery specified on the order for service               
     or bill of lading.........................................   __________
    12. Percentage of shipments delivered where there was a                 
     claim filed (in excess of $200) for property damage or                 
     loss......................................................   __________
    13. Percentage of shipments delivered where there was a                 
     claim filed (in excess of $200) for damages resulting from             
     late pickup or delivery...................................   __________
    14. Average number of days required to settle a claim (in               
     excess of $200)...........................................   __________
    15. Percentage of claims (in excess of $200) that were                  
     resolved through the use of an arbitration program........   __________
    16. Percentage of claims (in excess of $200) that were                  
     resolved after the carrier received a legal notice of a                
     lawsuit filed by the shipper..............................   __________
                                                                            
    
    Carrier's Oath (Must be Completed by a Carrier Official)
    
        I, (name and title of company official), verify under penalty of 
    perjury, under the laws of the United States of America, that all 
    information supplied on this form or relative to the data contained 
    in the form is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, 
    correct and complete, based on all the information required to be 
    included therein, of which I have any knowledge, and these 
    representations are made in good faith. Further, I certify that I am 
    qualified and authorized to certify the accuracy of the data. I know 
    that willful misstatements or omission of material facts constitutes 
    Federal crime violations punishable under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 by 
    imprisonment up to 5 years and fines up to $10,000 for each offense.
    
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    Signature
    
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    Title
    
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    Date
    
        (c) Instructions for Preparation of Annual Performance Report, Form 
    OCP-101.
    
    Instructions for Preparation
    
    General Instructions
    
        1. Data for completion of Form OCP-101 may be obtained by random 
    sampling providing that in every instance, the universe sampled is 
    all shipments delivered under your common carrier authority 
    (excluding Government, Freight forwarder, and Interline traffic) 
    during the report year or all claims arising out of the 
    transportation of those shipments that were received or settled, as 
    appropriate, during the report year.
        2. When random sampling is used, the minimum sample size in 
    every instance shall be 400 shipments or claims, as appropriate, in 
    replicates of 100 shipments or claims each. All samples must conform 
    to standard deviation with a 95% confidence level.
        3. Carriers submitting Form OCP-101 shall retain and make 
    available for review by an authorized Commission employee all 
    working papers, notes, and other files relating to the preparation 
    of each report for a period of not less than 24 months following the 
    date of filing such a report.
        4. The data in Form OCP-101 must be verified by a sworn 
    statement signed by an official of the company.
    
    Specific Instructions
    
    Part A
    
    Line 1: Only report those 1st proviso C.O.D. shipments moved under 
    your common carrier authority after excluding all Government, 
    Freight forwarder and Interline traffic.
    Line 2: Report all other 1st proviso shipments, including those 
    moving under contract carriage provisions and all Government, 
    Freight forwarder and Interline traffic.
    Line 3: Sum lines 1 and 2. The total should agree with total 1st 
    proviso shipments reported in your ICC Annual Report, Schedule 600, 
    Line 7, Column d, if you are required to file that report.
    
    Part B
    
        It is not necessary to complete Part B if the total of C.O.D. 
    shipments reported on Part A, Line 1, did not equal or exceed 100 
    shipments. If completion of Part B is not required, sign the 
    Certification and return the form to the Interstate Commerce 
    Commission.
    
    Line 4: Report only those C.O.D. shipments where the order for 
    service was signed after the receipt of a written binding estimate. 
    Include in this computation all so-called hybrid estimates (e.g., 
    Guaranteed Price and Price Protection options).
    Line 5: Report the total number of C.O.D. shipments where the order 
    for service was signed after the receipt of a written non-binding 
    estimate. In the case of non-binding estimates, the actual charges 
    are determined after the shipment has been picked up and weighed.
    Line 6: Report only those C.O.D. shipments where there was no 
    requirement for the preparation of a binding or non-binding written 
    estimate by the carrier. As with non-binding estimates, the charges 
    here are determined after the shipment has been picked up and 
    weighed.
    Line 7: Sum of Lines 4, 5, and 6. The number of shipments reported 
    on Line 7 should be the same as those reported in Part A, Line 1.
    
    Computation of Percentages or Averages
    
        You must determine the number of shipments falling into each of 
    the categories described in Lines 8 and 9, respectively, and divide 
    these shipments by the number of shipments reported on Lines 4 and 
    5, respectively.
        You must determine the number of shipments falling into each of 
    the categories described in Lines 10 through 16 and divide these 
    shipments by the number of shipments reported on Line 7. (Exception: 
    Line 13 is an average, not a percentage.)
    
    Line 8: Compute the percentage of those shipments delivered where 
    the final charges exceeded the written estimate initially provided 
    to the shipper because of changes agreed to by the carrier and 
    shipper in commodities transported and services provided.
    Line 9: Compute the percentage of those shipments delivered under a 
    non-binding written estimate where the final charges exceeded the 
    written estimate provided to the shipper by 10% or more. The 10% 
    figure is used because every C.O.D. shipper is required to have 
    available 110% of the estimate at the time of delivery.
    Line 10: Compute the percentage of those shipments where the actual 
    pickup date occurred after the last date for pickup promised on the 
    order for service or bill of lading.
    Line 11: Compute the percentage of those shipments where the actual 
    delivery date occurred after the last date for delivery promised on 
    the order for service or bill of lading.
    Line 12: Compute the percentage of those shipments where there was a 
    claim filed within 60 days of the actual date of delivery to the 
    residence. Only count those claims where the dollar value of the 
    amount claimed by the shipper exceeded $200 and resulted from 
    property damaged or lost. This excludes claims for late pickups and 
    deliveries which are reported on line 13.
    Line 13: Compute the percentage of those shipments where there was a 
    claim filed within 60 days of the actual date of delivery to the 
    residence. Only count those claims where the dollar value of the 
    amount claimed by the shipper exceeded $200 and resulted from a late 
    pickup or delivery. Late pickups and deliveries are defined in 
    Instructions 10 and 11.
    Line 14: Enter the average number of days required to pay, decline, 
    or make a firm compromise offer of settlement of all claims 
    exceeding $200 during the report year. For the purpose of this 
    report, a claim shall be considered to be a ``claim filed'' if it 
    meets the criteria set forth in Lines 11 and 12, and shall be 
    considered as paid, declined, or compromised on the date on which a 
    written offer is mailed or delivered in person to a claimant.
    Line 15: Compute the percentage of the claims exceeding $200 arising 
    out of the transportation of shipments which were resolved during 
    the report year through the use of a dispute resolution or 
    arbitration procedure maintained or participated in by the carrier.
    Line 16: Compute the percentage of the claims exceeding $200 arising 
    out of the transportation of shipments which were resolved during 
    the report year as a result of legal notice of suit to recover being 
    filed by the shipper.
    
    [FR Doc. 94-1042 Filed 1-3-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7035-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
2/13/1994
Published:
01/14/1994
Department:
Interstate Commerce Commission
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Final rules.
Document Number:
94-1042
Dates:
The revised rules are effective February 13, 1994.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: January 14, 1994, Ex Parte No. MC-19 (Sub-No. 42)
CFR: (2)
49 CFR 1056.2
49 CFR 1056.18