What This Guide Covers
The consumer-protection framework FMCSA applies to household-goods (HHG) carriers under 49 CFR Part 375 — the estimate, bill-of-lading and arbitration requirements built around the individual shipper, not general property-carrier operating rules.
How This Area Fits Your Operation
A carrier becomes subject to Part 375 based on the nature of what it transports and the services it offers (binding/non-binding estimates, packing/unpacking or loading at a personal residence) for an 'individual shipper' — there is no separate HHG operating-authority form; an HHG carrier registers as a standard for-hire property motor carrier. Before executing a bill of lading, the carrier must furnish a written estimate, notice of tariff availability, a summary of its arbitration program, and its complaint-handling procedure. The written estimate itself must be retained as an actual attachment to the bill of lading, not filed separately.
- Source49 CFR 375.103 — Definitions — eCFR· Federal · checked 2026-09-16
Records To Organize
- Binding or non-binding written estimates, retained as an attachment to the bill of lading
- The bill of lading itself, containing the items Part 375 requires (carrier identity, USDOT number, shipper information, payment terms, pickup/delivery dates)
- Signed weight tickets for any shipment that is weighed
- Proof the shipper received required disclosures (estimate, tariff notice, arbitration summary, complaint procedure) before the bill of lading was executed
- Arbitration-program documentation
- Source49 CFR 375.213 — Required Disclosures Before the Estimate/Bill of Lading — eCFR· Federal · checked 2026-09-16
- Source49 CFR 375.211 — Arbitration Program — eCFR· Federal · checked 2026-09-16
- Source49 CFR 375.505 — Bill of Lading Requirements — eCFR· Federal · checked 2026-09-16
Dates That May Require Attention
- Most Part 375 obligations are per-shipment (attached to a specific move), not calendar-recurring — the carrier's general USDOT/MCS-150 and operating-authority dates (see the DOT Registration guide) still apply on their own schedule
- Source49 CFR 375.403 / 375.405 — Binding and Non-Binding Estimates — eCFR· Federal · checked 2026-09-16
How DOT Serenity Fits
This area is in development. Today, DOT Serenity organizes general company, driver and vehicle records — it does not yet have dedicated recordkeeping for household-goods-specific documents like estimates, bills of lading or arbitration-program records.