§ 198 — Dispute settlement

§ 198. Dispute settlement. 1. One or more motor carriers providing\ntransportation of household goods subject to the jurisdiction of the\ncommissioner or an industry association or associations representing\nmotor carriers providing transportation of household goods shall be\nencouraged by the commissioner to establish a program to settle disputes\nbetween such carriers and shippers of household goods concerning the\ntransportation of household goods. Applications to establish such\nprograms shall be submitted to the commissioner under such rules and\nregulations as the commissioner may promulgate. No such program shall\nbecome effective until approved by the commissioner. Any carrier that\ndoes not establish its own program to settle disputes or join a dispute\nsettlement program of an industry association shall submit disputes with\nshippers to an alternative mechanism or mechanisms for resolving\ndisputes sanctioned by the commissioner pursuant to rules and\nregulations.\n 2. The commissioner may investigate at any time the functioning of any\nprogram approved under this section and, after notice and an opportunity\nfor a hearing, may suspend or revoke the approval of such program.\n 3. No program for settling disputes concerning the transportation of\nhousehold goods may be approved under this section unless the\ncommissioner finds that such program contains adequate protection for\nthe consumer and that the program establishes an expeditious process for\nthe handling and resolution of disputes.\n