PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(RCW 34.05.310)
Agency: WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
Subject of possible rule making:  
Rules relating to motor carriers of household goods and transportation 
brokers.  All provisions currently codified in chapter 480-12 WAC might be 
affected.  New rules related to entry of household goods carriers and 
protection of consumers will be considered.  Rules will be reviewed for content 
and readability pursuant to Executive Order 97-02.  Docket No. TV-971477.
(a) Statutes authorizing the agency to adopt rules on this subject:
RCW 80.01.040; 81.80.130; 81.80.140
(b) Reasons why rules on this subject may be needed and what they might 
accomplish:
1) Executive Order 97-02 requires agencies to review significant rules against 
specified standards.
2) In Docket No. TV-941290, the Commission limited existing chapter 480-12 WAC 
to a small segment of the motor carrier industry -- household goods movers and 
transportation brokers -- and created new chapter 480-14 for all other motor 
carriers.  That left chapter 480-12 with some rules that appear less relevant 
in today’s environment, or which may be unnecessarily complex or ill-suited for 
regulating the carriers that remain subject to the chapter. 3) Federal 
preemption of most aspects of the regulation of transportation brokers has made 
other rules irrelevant. 4) The definition of “household goods” in WAC 
480-12-400 differs from the federal definition, resulting in confusion. 5) The 
applicability of the rules to “pack and load” services needs to be clarified. 
6) Deficient consumer protection rules for household goods customers hampers 
the Commission’s ability to assist consumers. 7) Current application of the 
“public convenience and necessity” standard may no longer be appropriate under 
emerging market and legal conditions. Rule changes could streamline and clarify 
household goods rules, provide more effective consumer protection, ease carrier 
entry and reduce costs associated with entering this market.
(c) Identify other federal and state agencies that regulate this subject and 
the process coordinating
     the rule with these agencies:
None.
(d) Process for developing new rule (check all that apply):
         Negotiated rule making
         Pilot rule making
      X  Agency study
         Other (describe)
The Commission will call for initial written comments, and will provide the 
opportunity for additional comments.  The Commission will schedule one or more 
workshops with representatives of affected constituencies in a manner designed 
to develop consensus regarding any rule proposal.
(e) How interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new 
rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication:
    (List names, addresses, telephone, fax numbers of persons to contact;
    describe meetings, other exchanges of information, etc.)
SEE ATTACHMENT
NAME (TYPE OR PRINT)

STEVE McLELLAN