---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 13704"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "13704"
heading: "Household goods rates—estimates; guarantees of service"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/13704"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 137 — Rates and Through Routes"
---

# §13704. Household goods rates—estimates; guarantees of service

- (a) **In General.—**
  - (1) **Authority.—** Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md) may establish a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) which is based on the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3)’s written, binding estimate of charges for providing such [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9).
  - (2) **Nonpreferential; nonpredatory.—** Any [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) established under this subsection must be available on a nonpreferential basis to shippers and must not result in charges to shippers which are predatory.
- (b) **Rates for Guaranteed Service.—**
  - (1) **Authority.—** Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md) may establish [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) which guarantee that the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) will pick up and deliver such [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) at the times specified in the contract for such services and provide a penalty or per diem payment in the event the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) fails to pick up or deliver such [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) at the specified time. The charges, if any, for such guarantee and penalty provision may vary to reflect one or more options available to meet a particular shipper’s needs.
  - (2) **Authority of secretary to require nonguaranteed service rates.—** Before a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) may establish a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for any service under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may require such [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) to have in effect and keep in effect, during any period such [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) is in effect under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for such service which does not guarantee the pick up and delivery of [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) at the times specified in the contract for such services and which does not provide a penalty or per diem payment in the event the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) fails to pick up or deliver [household goods](/usc/49/13102.md?p=10) at the specified time.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 872.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10735 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.