A moving tariff is an official document that shows the service rates of a moving company. This includes the price of transportation and any other services included in the package. Normally a moving company charges their clients for weight in pounds or per cubic footage. The pricing guidelines are set by the state department of transportation and can vary from state to state. Your moving company must hold a New York Moving Tariff if you are moving within the state of New York, and the same goes for the other states. All the moving companies are legally required to get a moving tariff for all kinds of services they are offering. The department of transportation can do an inspection at any time to check a moving company’s tariff, and if it is not valid, they can face serious repercussions.
How Is a Moving Tariff Created?
The tariff of a moving company should be built with its owner involved so that the services and fees of the operations don’t drift away from the business model. Also, a moving company must stay updated with the latest laws that apply to the tariff. The department of transportation changes the laws for moving tariffs regularly, and the carriers are expected to apply the changes as soon as possible. If the department of transportation comes for an inspection and you tell them that you didn’t know about the update, then it is not going to work. You must also understand how the tariff works because most moving companies do not even understand their own tariff, and that wouldn’t give a good impression during an inspection. So, it would not hurt you to learn more about moving tariffs for your company’s betterment.
Can You Get a Moving Tariff Online?
Yes, you can get a moving tariff online, but it begs the question — is worth it or not? Online moving tariffs have become quite accessible, and you can easily get one for your company as well. However, as convenient as they might sound, they are not that effective. Most online tariffs would not match the policy of the company. You will be using a moving software, and it will take a lot of time to match the software’s pricing with the company’s pricing. That is why it is highly advised that you publish your moving tariff the official way. A lot of people in the industry might tell you that online tariff is the way to go, but they will be telling you that just to get into your pocket. Also, there is always a risk of miscommunication, which can cause more problems for you if the department of transportation comes to inspect your tariff.
What’s the Significance of Moving Tariffs for Moving Companies?
Moving tariff is not optional, and if a mover wants to do the business the legal way, they will have to get it. As a mover, you must hire a tariff provider that will write the tariffs for you, keeping your business model in mind. That way, you will not have to change your business policies just because of the tariffs. Following state laws and involving the taxes and terms of services is also necessary, and a good tariff provider will never ignore that. The following are some of the items that should be included in a good tariff:
- Moving costs from one state to another (per cubic foot or per pound)
- Shuttle moving services cost
- Location rates
- Packing materials cost
- Time schedules for delivery
- Bulk articles price
- Hoist price
- Additional stops
- Accessorial fees
What Are the Consequences of Violating a Tariff?
The consequences for violating a tariff can come in a couple of ways. A moving company will either charge their clients a higher or a lower rate. In both cases, you will have to face the consequences as you simply cannot change the price mentioned on the tariff. If you don’t follow your tariff, you will be charged with a civil infraction. But this is not where it ends! You will also have to pay a fine of $100,000 for each violation you have done. In some cases, you might even face a prison sentence of up to two years. That is why it is vital for you to respect your moving tariff.
