CMC Cargo Claim Filing & Resolution 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Carmack Amendment, what is the standard liability limit for a household goods carrier operating under released value protection?
- $0.60 per pound per article (Correct answer)
- $1.25 per pound per article
- $6.00 per pound per article
- Full replacement value per article
Correct answer: $0.60 per pound per article
The Carmack Amendment sets the default released value (minimum liability) at $0.60 per pound per article for interstate household goods moves.
Question 2: A shipper files a cargo claim 10 months after delivery. The carrier's tariff requires claims to be filed within 9 months. What is the most likely outcome?
- The claim is denied as untimely (Correct answer)
- The carrier must pay because federal law supersedes tariff rules
- The shipper can sue directly in court without filing a claim
- The claim is accepted under the discovery rule exception
Correct answer: The claim is denied as untimely
Carriers may deny claims filed after the tariff-specified deadline, and courts generally uphold these time limits as long as they meet minimum federal requirements.
Question 3: Which document serves as the primary evidence of the condition of goods at origin when a cargo claim is disputed?
- The inventory/exception sheet signed at pickup (Correct answer)
- The binding estimate
- The order for service
- The shipper's insurance policy
Correct answer: The inventory/exception sheet signed at pickup
The inventory or exception sheet signed by both parties at origin establishes the documented pre-move condition of the goods.
Question 4: When a mover offers a monetary settlement on a damaged item instead of repairing it, the settlement amount must be based on:
- The cost of repair or the depreciated value, whichever is less (Correct answer)
- The original purchase price of the item
- The current retail replacement cost
- The mover's standard rate card for similar items
Correct answer: The cost of repair or the depreciated value, whichever is less
Under released value protection, the mover's liability is limited to the lesser of the repair cost or the depreciated cash value of the item.
Question 5: A customer wants to file a claim for a box that was entirely lost during a move. What information is most critical for the carrier to process this claim?
- Inventory number, description of contents, and declared value (Correct answer)
- The customer's moving insurance policy number
- The weight of the box and the truck's load manifest
- Photos taken before the move
Correct answer: Inventory number, description of contents, and declared value
The carrier needs the inventory reference, a description of missing contents, and value to assess and settle a lost-box claim.
Question 6: What is the maximum time a carrier has to acknowledge receipt of a cargo claim under federal regulations?
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 120 days
Correct answer: 30 days
Federal regulations (49 CFR Part 370) require carriers to acknowledge receipt of a claim in writing within 30 days.
Question 7: A shipper signed a 'subject to count' notation on the delivery receipt for several boxes. How does this affect a subsequent cargo claim for missing items?
- It preserves the shipper's right to file a claim for shortage discovered after delivery (Correct answer)
- It waives the shipper's right to file any claim
- It transfers liability to the receiving party
- It requires the shipper to file within 48 hours
Correct answer: It preserves the shipper's right to file a claim for shortage discovered after delivery
'Subject to count' notations protect the shipper's claim rights when a full count was not possible at delivery.
CMC Cargo Claim Filing & Resolution 2
Under the Carmack Amendment, what is the standard liability limit for a household goods carrier operating under released value protection?