Moving industry know-how
Claims rules (49 CFR 370)
The federal deadlines for loss and damage claims on interstate moves — nine months to file, 30 days to acknowledge, 120 days to decide — what a claim must contain, and how MoveBoard keeps the clocks.
- 2 min read
- Checked against MoveBoard
- For owners & admins, dispatchers
On this page
When a customer's goods are lost or damaged on an interstate move, federal rules set how the claim is filed and handled: 49 CFR Part 370, with the filing window from the Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. 14706).
The customer's side
- Nine months to file. The customer has at least nine months from delivery to file a claim in writing. (If the shipment was never delivered, nine months from when it should have been.)
- In writing. A claim must identify the shipment, say what was lost or damaged, and ask for a specific or determinable amount of money. A phone call alone is not a claim.
- Signing the delivery receipt does not give up the right to claim later.
The mover's side
- Acknowledge within 30 days of receiving the claim, in writing (49 CFR 370.5).
- Decide within 120 days — pay, offer a settlement, or decline in writing (49 CFR 370.9).
- If it can't be decided in 120 days, tell the customer in writing every 60 days why it is still open.
- Investigate promptly, and keep a file on each claim.
How much is owed
That depends on the valuation the customer chose: 60 cents per pound per article under released value, or repair, replacement or its cost under full value protection. See Released value vs full value protection.
If they can't agree
Interstate movers must offer arbitration for claims — see Arbitration for interstate claims.
Local and intrastate moves
Your state sets the rules — often similar, sometimes with shorter windows. In Canada, the provincial conditions of carriage apply (for example a written notice within 60 days after delivery) — see Moving in Canada.
In MoveBoard
MoveBoard keeps the clocks on every claim: it acknowledges a claim by email the moment it is submitted, shows Decision due and status letters due on each claim, and counts Overdue decisions on the Claims page. The Filing window (9 months) and Decision due (120 days) are defaults you can change in Settings › Documents & bill of lading › Claims. See Claims deadlines.
Related guides
- ClaimsClaims deadlinesThe clocks MoveBoard keeps on every claim — acknowledge within 30 days, decide within 120, a status letter every 60 days after — and the customer's filing window.
- ClaimsHow claims workHow a claim moves from the customer's report to a signed settlement and payment — the Claims page, its stages, owners and clocks.
- ClaimsHow MoveBoard works out what is owedThe settlement under the customer's protection — released value by the pound, or Full Value Protection less the deductible — and when a person has to decide instead.
- Moving industry know-howReleased value vs full value protectionThe two levels of mover liability on an interstate move — 60 cents per pound per article, or full value protection with a declared value and deductible — and how MoveBoard offers them.
- Moving industry know-howArbitration for interstate claimsWhy interstate household-goods movers must offer arbitration, when it is binding, what the customer must be told, and how it fits with your claims process.
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