Know the Rules for Your Move in Puerto Rico
An authorization from the Puerto Rico Bureau of Transportation and Other Public Services for moving companies operating on the island, with federal rules applying to moves to and from the US mainland.
Before you rely on this
Puerto Rico is a US territory with its own transport regulator. Under the Puerto Rico Public Service Act (Ley Núm. 109 of 1962), a moving company that serves the public for pay is a regulated “public service company” and needs an authorization from the Negociado de Transporte y otros Servicios Públicos (NTSP), the Bureau of Transportation and Other Public Services, which replaced the former Public Service Commission. The NTSP also approves movers’ rates and requires insurance, and inspects the vehicles of movers that operate their own. Moves between Puerto Rico and the US mainland are interstate-type moves that include an ocean leg; they bring in federal registration rules for the companies involved and are covered on the International page. Always confirm current requirements directly before hiring a mover.
What kind of question is it?
An NTSP authorization as a moving company and approved rates. Where the mover operates its own vehicles: annual NTSP vehicle inspections, vehicle registration with the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP), and the correct DTOP driver’s licence category.
Puerto Rico →NTSP rules require a mover to use reasonable care, make it responsible for damage caused by its negligence or that of its agents, and require insurance covering the goods in transit and in storage.
Covered within the Puerto Rico pageComplaints against moving companies can be filed with the NTSP. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) is Puerto Rico’s general consumer protection agency.
Covered within the Puerto Rico pageFor moves to or from the US mainland: federal operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for the trucking and forwarding involved. For moves to or from other countries by sea: a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) licence for movers acting as ocean transportation intermediaries.
International: Puerto Rico →Select a page
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference only. Regulations may change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Negociado de Transporte y otros Servicios Públicos, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Federal Maritime Commission before hiring a mover.
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