BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

In the Matter of Amending    )   DOCKET TV-980092
Washington Utilities and Transportation  )
Commission      ) ORDER CANCELING
Tariffs Relating to Transportation  ) TARIFFS NO. 10 AND 15
of Household Goods in Washington  ) ORDER ADOPTING THE
Interstate Commerce,     ) RAND MC NALLY
      ) MILEAGE GUIDE AS A
      ) GOVERNING DOCUMENT 
      ) AND ESTABLISHING 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ) TARIFF 
NO. 15-


  On January 20, 1998, the Washington Movers Conference (WMC), on behalf of its 
member carriers, filed a petition with the Washington Utilities and 
Transportation Commission (Commission) requesting extensive amendment to 
Commission-published Tariffs 10 and 15.  The petition also contained a proposed 
redraft of Tariff 15.

  The Commission is required by RCW 81.80.150 to compile, publish, and 
distribute tariffs containing rates, charges, classifications, rules, and 
regulations to be used by all common carriers.  At the present time, the 
Commission publishes two tariffs.  The first is Tariff 10, a mileage circular 
that sets out the constructive mileage between all points in the state of 
Washington.  The second is Tariff 15, a tariff containing rates, charges, 
rules, and regulations for the transportation of household goods.  Both tariffs 
may be amended, following notice and hearing, on petition by carriers or on the 
Commission’s own motion.

  A decision was made during initial review of Docket TV-980092 that the 
proposal should be used as an opportunity to completely examine the tariffs 
governing transportation of household goods.  The draft tariff submitted by the 
WMC would be the starting point for a total rewrite of the tariff that would 
result in a document that:
 
  • Was written in more clearly understood language;
  • Was easier to use, by various audiences;
  • Contained little or no technical jargon;
  • Was relevant, with outdated material removed, and new explanatory material 
added;
  • Reflected the current status of the moving industry; and 
  • Incorporated changes needed as a result of newly-adopted rules.
  
  Commission Staff worked with the petitioner and other interested parties to 
complete a review of Tariffs 10 and 15.  This process involved various phases 
including Staff development of an alternate proposed tariff; discussion with 
interested parties; and a series of meetings in which interested parties were 
invited to participate.  Interested parties included WMC members, carriers who 
were not members of WMC, consumers, and a representative of the Office of State 
Procurement.   Commission Staff and stakeholders developed a proposed tariff 
that is attached to, and by reference, made a part of this order.

  Following completion of the review and analysis process, Commission Staff 
recommended:

  1.  The Commission cancel Tariff 10, the mileage circular.  This tariff is 
outdated to such a degree that updating it would be a lengthy and expensive 
proposition.  Further, maintaining it following update would be problematic and 
require considerable expenditures of Commission resources.  Acceptable 
alternatives to Tariff 10 are available on the open market.

  2.  The Commission adopt use of the Rand McNally Mileage Guide in place of 
canceled Tariff 10.  Rand McNally is an industry standard; most carriers 
already use it for their interstate shipments.  Adopting Rand McNally for use 
in Washington will foster uniformity between interstate and intrastate 
transportation.  This will lead to decreased costs to the carriers as they will 
no longer need to purchase and maintain two separate mileage guides.  Further, 
they will not have to sustain the costs of training their employees in using 
two mileage guides.

  3.  The Commission cancel Tariff 15 and adopt in its place proposed Tariff 
15-A. The proposed tariff is the result of lengthy analysis, discussion, and 
negotiation between Staff and stakeholders.  The proposed tariff, however, 
contains so many suggested changes from the currently-effective tariff that it 
is more cost-effective to cancel the current tariff and adopt an entirely new 
tariff.

  4.  Tariff 15-A become effective on February 1, 2000.  Delaying effectiveness 
until that date will allow sufficient time for carriers to familiarize their 
employees with the provisions of the new tariff, adjust computer programming, 
and be prepared to effectively use Tariff 15-A.

  5.  Carriers holding shipments in storage-in-transit be required to handle 
those shipments subject to the rules, definitions, rates and charges in effect 
at the time the shipment was placed in storage.  

  6.  Carriers be required to review estimates issued before February 1, 2000, 
applying on shipments that will take place after February 1, 2000, and, if 
necessary, issue new estimates or provide supplemental estimates.

FINDINGS OF FACT

  1.  On January 20, 1998, Washington Movers Conference filed, on behalf of its 
member carriers, a petition requesting amendments to Commission Tariffs 10 and 
15.  

  2.  Washington Movers Conference is a Washington corporation, licensed to do 
business in the state of Washington, whose membership consists of carriers 
engaged in the business of transporting household goods in the state of 
Washington.

  3.  The Commission is required by RCW 81.80.150 to compile, publish, and 
distribute tariffs containing rates, charges, classifications, rules, and 
regulations to be used by all common carriers.  

  4.  Based on the petition and on Staff recommendation, the Commission finds 
that the tariffs applying for the transportation of household goods in the 
state of Washington should be amended as recommended.

O R D E R 

  IT IS ORDERED That:

  1.  Effective February 1, 2000, Tariff 10, the mileage circular currently 
published by the Commission, is canceled.   

  2.  Effective February 1, 2000, the Rand McNally Mileage Guide is adopted as 
the governing mileage guide.   Language adopting the Rand McNally Mileage Guide 
shall be included in the Commission’s household goods tariff.  Adoption of 
additional or alternate mileage guides shall be accomplished in the future, 
following notice and hearing, through amendment of the Commission’s Household 
Goods Tariff.

  3.  Effective February 1, 2000, Tariff 15 is canceled.  

  4.   Effective February 1, 2000, proposed Tariff 15-A, attached to this order 
and by this reference made a part of the order, is adopted for use by all 
carriers transporting household goods in the state of Washington that are 
subject to Commission regulation.  

  5.  Shipments that have been placed into storage-in transit prior to February 
1, 2000, shall continue to be handled under rates and rules in effect on the 
date the shipment was placed into storage.

  6.  Carriers must review estimates made prior to February 1, 2000, applying 
on shipments to be transported after February 1, 2000.  If application of the 
provisions of Tariff 15-A will result in increased costs to the shipper, the 
carrier must issue a new estimate or provide a supplemental estimate to the 
shipper.

  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this           day of January, 
2000.

  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


      
      MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman



      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner