WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it found 1,150 violations of federal regulations and assessed nearly $325,000 in fines during a recent strike force investigation involving nearly 350 moving companies located in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

"Interstate movers with fraudulent or rogue operations are hereby put on notice: Federal investigators will be knocking on your door in the future and you will face serious legal and financial consequences," said John H. Hill, FMCSA administrator. "During this strike force alone, six companies received federal fines in excess of $27,000."

From May 5 through May 16, FMCSA, in cooperation with state law enforcement and consumer protection agencies, conducted focused compliance reviews on carriers hired to transport consumers’ personal property across state lines.

The American Moving & Storage Association praised the move, saying in a statement, "AMSA supports the efforts of the federal government in working to eliminate rogue operators and to ensure good movers are in full compliance. We share this goal and continue to push for strong federal enforcement of interstate moves. AMSA has supported increased funding for FMCSA to properly carry out its enforcement responsibilities, and will again do so during consideration of the federal highway reauthorization legislation during the next session of Congress."

The strike force targeted states that received the most complaints in the National Household Goods Consumer Complaint database. In fiscal year 2007, FMCSA received nearly 4,000 complaints.

— from Truckinginfo.com