Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a) Personnel Standards
1) No household goods carrier shall permit
any driver, helper, and/or packer to be used in the transportation of any
household goods shipment or in the performance of accessorial services unless
that person is trained in the movement of household goods.
2) No household goods carrier shall knowingly
permit drivers, helpers and/or packers to go on duty who are under the
influence of alcoholic beverages or liquors of any kind, or narcotics, or
habit-forming drugs not prescribed by a physician. Nor shall the use of these
substances be allowed while the employees are on duty. Knowledge by the carrier
is deemed to exist if known to the foreman or other manager of the
crew.
b) Equipment
Standards
1) Equipment and facilities
utilized by a household goods carrier for the transportation of household goods
shall be maintained in a manner that is sufficient to protect the goods from
damage or breakage. The interior of those vehicles used to transport household
goods shipments shall be clean and free from vermin and debris.
2) For shipments transported at hourly rates,
the household goods carrier shall determine the number of men and the size and
the number of motor vehicle equipment that is appropriate to provide safe and
timely transportation services for the requested movement. If the carrier
deviates from its initial determination as stated in the carrier's written
estimate, the shipper shall not be charged for any resulting excess charges in
unless the shipper is informed and agrees in writing. A notation shall be
placed on the bill of lading indicating the number of men and motor vehicles
initially estimated and the number actually furnished and used for the
move.
c) Advertising
Standards
1) For purposes of this Section,
the term "advertisement" means any advertisement, solicitation, or other
communication with the public in relation to the offer or sale of Illinois
intrastate household goods transportation service. The term shall include
advertisement by radio, television, internet, computer media or any other
medium. The term shall not include a simple listing of household goods
carriers' names, addresses, and telephone numbers, as in a telephone
directory.
2) Each household goods
carrier shall include, and shall require each of its agents to include, in
every advertisement the full name of the originating household goods carrier as
it appears on the carrier's license from the Commission. The advertisement
shall also identify the carrier by showing the characters "ILL.C.C." followed
by the license number assigned to the household goods carrier by the
Commission.
3) Household goods
carriers who are duly authorized agents for other licensed carriers, including
carriers operating under the jurisdiction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, may advertise and represent themselves as such an
agent.
4) The following advertising
practices shall not be conducted by household goods carriers:
A) Household goods carriers shall not
advertise rates unless the following caveats are included in the advertisement:
i) "Rates effective (date), subject to
change"; and
ii) "Actual charges
governed by applicable tariffs, this advertisement notwithstanding";
B) Household goods carriers shall
not misrepresent the scope of services offered and made available to the public
under authority of the license issued by the Commission;
C) Household goods carriers shall not
advertise that their operations are conducted at addresses or locations where
duly authorized employees are not on duty during all business hours. The
location of a telephone answering service does not constitute an address or
location where duly authorized employees are on duty;
D) Household goods carriers shall not
advertise or otherwise offer to provide insurance or storage of personal
property for compensation unless the carrier is duly licensed to engage in the
offered activity by the appropriate agency of the State of Illinois;
and
E) No applicant for household
goods authority shall advertise by any means until authority to operate has
been issued by the Commission.
d) Standards for Forms of Payment
1) Household goods carriers shall accept
payment tendered in the following forms:
A)
Cash;
B) Cashier's check;
or
C) Money order.
2) A household goods carrier may
accept payment in other forms, including personal checks and credit cards, if
to do so does not result in a practice that circumvents the statutory
requirement that a carrier charge no more or less than the rate in the
applicable tariff. No household goods carrier shall accept barter as
payment.
3) A household goods
carrier shall not refuse to accept any ordinary form of payment unless, before
rendition of the service, the carrier has advised the shipper, in writing, that
it would not accept payment in the form tendered.
e) Notification of any delay in pickup or
delivery shall be given to the shipper by telephone, e-mail, fax, or in person,
at the carrier's expense, as soon as it becomes apparent that the delay will
occur, provided the shipper has given information sufficient for the
communication.
f) All household
goods carriers shall hold themselves out to provide a guaranteed delivery
service at the tariff charge. The term "guaranteed delivery" shall mean that a
carrier providing service shall perform delivery on a specified date.
g) No household goods carrier shall accept a
shipment of household goods for transportation that is subject to the minimum
weight, distance, or time provisions of the carrier's tariff without first
having advised the shipper of the minimum weight, distance, or time provisions.
Failure to advise the shipper, in writing, of the provisions shall void the
minimum rate application.
h) All
household goods carriers shall maintain on file with the Commission all
required insurance coverage including, where applicable, insurance in
compliance with the Workers' Compensation Act [820 ILCS 305 ].
