2023 New Mexico Statutes › Chapter 65 - Motor Carriers › Article 2A - Motor Carrier Act › Section 65-2A-25 - Household goods operations. (Effective July 1, 2024.)

A. The department shall establish a statewide tariff for household goods services, containing terms of service and maximum rates that household goods service carriers may charge the public.
B. A certificated household goods service carrier shall be responsible for acts or omissions of its agents that relate to the performance of household goods transportation services, including accessorial or terminal services, that are within the actual or apparent authority of the agent derived from or ratified by the certificated household goods service carrier.
C. A certificated household goods service carrier shall use reasonable care in selecting and retaining household goods agents who are sufficiently knowledgeable, fit, willing and able to provide adequate household goods transportation services, including accessorial and terminal services, and to fulfill the obligations imposed upon them by the Motor Carrier Act and by the certificated household goods service carrier.
D. If the department has reason to believe from a complaint or investigation that a household goods agent has violated Subsection G or H of Section 65-2A-33 NMSA 1978, or is consistently unfit, unwilling or unable to provide adequate household goods transportation services, including accessorial and terminal services, the department may issue to that household goods agent notice of the complaint, specific charges and the time and place for a hearing on the complaint. The hearing shall be held no later than sixty days after service of the complaint to the household goods agent. The household goods agent has the right to appear at the hearing and rebut the charges contained in the complaint.
E. If the household goods agent does not appear at the complaint hearing, or if the department finds that the household goods agent has violated Subsection G or H of Section 65-2A-33 NMSA 1978, or is consistently unfit, unwilling or unable to provide adequate household goods transportation services, including accessorial and terminal services, the department shall issue an order to compel compliance by the household goods agent. Thereafter, the department may issue an order to limit or prohibit the household goods agent from any involvement in the provision of household goods transportation services if, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, it finds that the household goods agent has failed to comply with the order within a reasonable time after the date of its issuance, but in no event less than thirty days after its issuance. A household goods agent may file a petition with the department seeking reconsideration of an order entered by the department pursuant to this section.
F. The department shall adopt rules for the following elements of household goods transportation services:
(1) methods of determining shipping charges;
(2) cost estimates, for which charges shall be subject to the antitrust laws of this state;
(3) inventory;
(4) weighing;
(5) receipts and bills of lading;
(6) liability based on value established between the motor carrier and the shipper;
(7) equipment stationing by, and joint transportation between, household goods service carriers;
(8) household goods agents; and
(9) service standards.
G. In adopting reasonable rules for intrastate household goods service carriers, the department shall balance the interests of shippers and carriers and consider and observe industry standards.
H. The antitrust laws shall not apply to discussions or agreements between a household goods service carrier and its authorized agents, whether or not an agent is also a household goods service carrier when related solely to:
(1) rates for the transportation of household goods under the authority of the principal carrier;
(2) accessorial, terminal, storage or other charges for transportation services incidental to the transportation of household goods transported under the authority of the principal carrier;
(3) allowances relating to transportation of household goods under the authority of the principal carrier; or
(4) ownership of a household goods service carrier by an agent or membership on the board of directors of any household goods service carrier by an agent.
History:
Laws 2003, ch. 359, § 25; 2013, ch. 73, § 23; 2013, ch. 77, § 23; 2023, ch. 100, § 51.
ANNOTATIONS
The 2023 amendment,
effective July 1, 2024, removed references to the public regulation commission due to the transfer of certain powers and duties to the department of transportation; and changed each occurrence of "commission" to "department" throughout the section.