U.S. Code » Title 49 » Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART B— MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › Chapter CHAPTER 147— ENFORCEMENT; INVESTIGATIONS; RIGHTS; REMEDIES

49 U.S.C. § 14706

Liability of carriers under receipts and bills of lading

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(a)General Liability.—(1)Motor carriers and freight forwarders.—A carrier providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 shall issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it receives for transportation under this part. That carrier and any other carrier that delivers the property and is providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 or chapter 105 are liable to the person entitled to recover under the receipt or bill of lading. The liability imposed under this paragraph is for the actual loss or injury to the property caused by (A) the receiving carrier, (B) the delivering carrier, or (C) another carrier over whose line or route the property is transported in the United States or from a place in the United States to a place in an adjacent foreign country when transported under a through bill of lading and, except in the case of a freight forwarder, applies to property reconsigned or diverted under a tariff under section 13702. Failure to issue a receipt or bill of lading does not affect the liability of a carrier. A delivering carrier is deemed to be the carrier performing the line-haul transportation nearest the destination but does not include a carrier providing only a switching service at the destination.(2)Freight forwarder.—A freight forwarder is both the receiving and delivering carrier. When a freight forwarder provides service and uses a motor carrier providing transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135 to receive property from a consignor, the motor carrier may execute the bill of lading or shipping receipt for the freight forwarder with its consent. With the consent of the freight forwarder, a motor carrier may deliver property for a freight forwarder on the freight forwarder’s bill of lading, freight bill, or shipping receipt to the consignee named in it, and receipt for the property may be made on the freight forwarder’s delivery receipt.(b)Apportionment.—The carrier issuing the receipt or bill of lading under subsection (a) of this section or delivering the property for which the receipt or bill of lading was issued is entitled to recover from the carrier over whose line or route the loss or injury occurred the amount required to be paid to the owners of the property, as evidenced by a receipt, judgment, or transcript, and the amount of its expenses reasonably incurred in defending a civil action brought by that person.(c)Special Rules.—(1)Motor carriers.—(A)Shipper waiver.—Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (B), a carrier providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 may, subject to the provisions of this chapter (including with respect to a motor carrier, the requirements of section 13710(a)), establish rates for the transportation of property (other than household goods described in section 13102(10)(A)) under which the liability of the carrier for such property is limited to a value established by written or electronic declaration of the shipper or by written agreement between the carrier and shipper if that value would be reasonable under the circumstances surrounding the transportation.(B)Carrier notification.—If the motor carrier is not required to file its tariff with the Board, it shall provide under section 13710(a)(1) to the shipper, on request of the shipper, a written or electronic copy of the rate, classification, rules, and practices upon which any rate applicable to a shipment, or agreed to between the shipper and the carrier, is based. The copy provided by the carrier shall clearly state the dates of applicability of the rate, classification, rules, or practices.(C)Prohibition against collective establishment.—No discussion, consideration, or approval as to rules to limit liability under this subsection may be undertaken by carriers acting under an agreement approved pursuant to section 13703.(2)Water carriers.—If loss or injury to property occurs while it is in the custody of a water carrier, the liability of that carrier is determined by its bill of lading and the law applicable to water transportation. The liability of the initial or delivering carrier is the same as the liability of the water carrier.(d)Civil Actions.—(1)Against delivering carrier.—A civil action under this section may be brought against a delivering carrier in a district court of the United States or in a State court. Trial, if the action is brought in a district court of the United States is in a judicial district, and if in a State court, is in a State through which the defendant carrier operates.(2)Against carrier responsible for loss.—A civil action under this section may be brought against the carrier alleged to have caused the loss or damage, in the judicial district in which such loss or damage is alleged to have occurred.(3)Jurisdiction of courts.—A civil action under this section may be brought in a United States district court or in a State court.(4)Judicial district defined.—In this section, “judicial district” means—(A) in the case of a United States district court, a judicial district of the United States; and(B) in the case of a State court, the applicable geographic area over which such court exercises jurisdiction.(e)Minimum Period for Filing Claims.—(1)In general.—A carrier may not provide by rule, contract, or otherwise, a period of less than 9 months for filing a claim against it under this section and a period of less than 2 years for bringing a civil action against it under this section. The period for bringing a civil action is computed from the date the carrier gives a person written notice that the carrier has disallowed any part of the claim specified in the notice.(2)Special rules.—For the purposes of this subsection—(A) an offer of compromise shall not constitute a disallowance of any part of the claim unless the carrier, in writing, informs the claimant that such part of the claim is disallowed and provides reasons for such disallowance; and(B) communications received from a carrier’s insurer shall not constitute a disallowance of any part of the claim unless the insurer, in writing, informs the claimant that such part of the claim is disallowed, provides reason for such disallowance, and informs the claimant that the insurer is acting on behalf of the carrier.(f)Limiting Liability of Household Goods Carriers to Declared Value.—(1)In general.—A carrier or group of carriers subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 may petition the Board to modify, eliminate, or establish rates for the transportation of household goods under which the liability of the carrier for that property is limited to a value established by written declaration of the shipper or by a written agreement.(2)Full value protection obligation.—Unless the carrier receives a waiver in writing under paragraph (3), a carrier’s maximum liability for household goods that are lost, damaged, destroyed, or otherwise not delivered to the final destination is an amount equal to the replacement value of such goods, subject to a maximum amount equal to the declared value of the shipment and to rules issued by the Surface Transportation Board and applicable tariffs.(3)Application of rates.—The released rates established by the Board under paragraph (1) (commonly known as “released rates”) shall not apply to the transportation of household goods by a carrier unless the liability of the carrier for the full value of such household goods under paragraph (2) is waived, in writing, by the shipper.(g)Modifications and Reforms.—(1)Study.—The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine whether any modifications or reforms should be made to the loss and damage provisions of this section, including those related to limitation of liability by carriers.(2)Factors to consider.—In conducting the study, the Secretary, at a minimum, shall consider—(A) the efficient delivery of transportation services;(B) international and intermodal harmony;(C) the public interest; and(D) the interest of carriers and shippers.(3)Report.—Not later than 12 months after January 1, 1996, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study, together with any recommendations of the Secretary (including legislative recommendations) for implementing modifications or reforms identified by the Secretary as being appropriate.(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 907; amended Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(38), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3392; Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4207, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1757.)Editorial NotesPrior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in sections 10730 and 11707 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

Amendments

2005—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–59 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added pars. (2) and (3).

1996—Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted “January 1, 1996” for “the effective date of this section”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.

Review of Liability of Carriers

Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4215, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1760, provided that, not later than 1 year after Aug. 10, 2005, the Surface Transportation Board would complete a review of Federal regulations regarding liability protection provided by motor carriers that provided transportation of household goods and revise such regulations, if necessary, to provide enhanced protection for loss or damage.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 717 cases (241 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case: Essex Ins. Co. v. Barrett Moving & Storage, Inc., 885 F.3d 1292 (11th Cir. 2018).
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Essex Ins. Co. v. Barrett Moving & Storage, Inc., 885 F.3d 1292 (11th Cir. 2018). · cites it 4× “Nationwide and its insurer, Essex Insurance Company, brought suit against both transportation companies to recover for the loss of the MRI under the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 et seq ., which makes motor carriers in interstate commerce strictly liable to shippers for…”
OneBeacon Ins. v. Haas Indus., Inc., 634 F.3d 1092 (9th Cir. 2011). · cites it 8× “(“Haas”), under the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 , to recover for goods lost during shipping.”
Exel, Inc. v. S. Refrigerated Transp., Inc., 807 F.3d 140 (6th Cir. 2015). · cites it 8× “The district court awarded Exel the replacement value of the lost goods pursuant to the transportation contract between Exel and SRT, rejecting SRT’s argument that its liability was limited under the Car-mack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 , and the…”
BINL, Inc. v. United States, 106 Fed. Cl. 26 (Fed. Cl. 2012). · cites it 10× “Plaintiffs also argue that the freight refund terms violate general liability principles for the interstate shipment of household goods under the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 (2006), which plaintiffs assert provides a liability ceiling for the loss or destruction of…”
Heniff Transp. Sys., L.L.C. v. Trimac Transp. Servs., Inc., 847 F.3d 187 (5th Cir. 2017). · cites it 9× “The district court dismissed Heniff s state law claims, finding that they were preempted by the Carmack Amendment, codified in relevant part at 49 U.S.C. § 14706 et seq., which establishes a federal liability regime for claims concerning goods damaged or lost during…”
5K Logistics, Inc. v. Daily Express, Inc., 659 F.3d 331 (4th Cir. 2011). · cites it 9× “OPINION WILKINSON, Circuit Judge: • The Carmack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 , sets up a framework for the timely filing *334 of claims against carriers for damaged cargo.”
Eva Hall v. North Am. Van Lines, Inc. George Correa All City Moving & Storage, 476 F.3d 683 (9th Cir. 2007). · cites it 4× “The district court concluded that it had removal jurisdiction over Plaintiff-Appellant Eva Hall’s complaint because her claims were completely preempted by the 1906 Car-mack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 . The district court denied Hall’s…”
Werner Enter., Inc. v. Westwind Mar. Int'l, Inc., 554 F.3d 1319 (11th Cir. 2009). · cites it 7× “(‘Werner”) to recover the full value of a shipment of lost cell phones under the Carmack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 (“Carmack Amendment”). The district court, in a summary judgment ruling in favor of Werner, sustained Werner’s limitation of its…”
Smallwood v. Allied Van Lines, Inc., 660 F.3d 1115 (9th Cir. 2011). · cites it 6× “The district court denied AVL’s motion to compel arbitration, concluding that the shipment was governed by the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 , and that the statute precludes enforcement of foreign arbitration clauses.”
Sassy Doll Creations, Inc. v. Watkins Motor Lines, Inc., 331 F.3d 834 (11th Cir. 2003). · cites it 6× “The dispute, which is governed by the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 , resulted in a bench trial and a decision by the district court in Sassy Doll’s favor for the full value of the shipment.”
REI Transp., Inc. v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., 519 F.3d 693 (7th Cir. 2008). · cites it 5× “Robinson counterclaimed under the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706 , arguing that REI Transport was required to pay for the lost DVD players even if it was not ultimately responsible.”
Hoskins v. Bekins Van Lines, 343 F.3d 769 (5th Cir. 2003). · cites it 3× “§§ 1331 and 1337 and 49 U.S.C. § 14706 (the “Carmack Amendment” to the Interstate Commerce Act).”
Show all 717 citing cases →
— 49 U.S.C. § 14706(1) — 1 case
Bullocks Express Transp., Inc. v. XL Specialty Ins., 329 F. Supp. 2d 1246 (D. Utah 2004).
— 49 U.S.C. § 14706(a) — 1 case
Rehburg v. Bob Hubbard Horse Transp., Inc. (C.D. Cal. 2020).
— 49 U.S.C. § 14706(a)(1) — 4 cases
Distribuidora Mari Jose, S.A. De C v. v. Transmaritime, Inc., 738 F.3d 703 (5th Cir. 2013).
Sompo Japan Ins. Co. of Am. v. Yang Ming Marine Transp. Corp., 578 F. Supp. 2d 584 (S.D.N.Y. 2008).
Certain Lloyds Underwriters Subscribing to Policy No. MC-13159 v. Baldwin Distrib. Servs., Ltd., 540 F. App'x 579 (9th Cir. 2013).
Traction Tire, LLC v. Bok Logistics, Inc. (E.D. Pa. 2020).
— 49 U.S.C. § 14706(e)(1) — 1 case
Debra Skanes v. FEDEX (11th Cir. 2018).
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