(a) Print advertising. A household goods carrier shall include the following information on print advertisements primarily addressing a local market within this state:
- (1) the name of the household goods carrier as shown on the certificate of registration;
- (2) the street address of the household goods carrier's or its agent's place of business in this state; and
- (3) the household goods carrier's certificate of registration number in the following form, "DMV No. _______".
- (b) Use of household goods agent's name. A household goods carrier may include the name of its household goods agent as filed with the department in its print advertisements.
(c) Items not considered to be print advertisements. For the purposes of this section, print advertisement shall not include:
- (1) promotional items of nominal value such as ball caps, tee shirts, and pens;
- (2) business cards;
- (3) internet websites;
- (4) listings not paid for by the household goods carrier or its household goods carrier's agent;
- (5) nationally placed billboards; and
- (6) single-line listings of a carrier name, address, and telephone number in a directory or similar publication.
- (d) Internet websites. A household goods carrier shall provide the department's toll-free telephone number (1-888-368-4689) and the household goods carrier's certificate of registration number on any website operated by or for the household goods carrier.
(e) Identifying markings on household goods carrier's vehicles.
(1) A household goods carrier or its agent shall display the following information on both sides of either the power unit or trailer:
- (A) the name of the carrier as it appears on the motor carrier certificate of registration; and
- (B) the carrier's registration number as it appears on the motor carrier certificate of registration.
- (2) The markings required by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall have clearly legible letters and numbers at least 2 inches in height.
(3) This subsection does not apply to vehicles:
- (A) required to comply with Transportation Code, Chapter 642; or
- (B) operated under a short-term lease.
- (f) Prohibited advertisements. For the purposes of this subsection, an advertisement is any communication to the public in connection with an offer or sale of an intrastate transportation service. A household goods carrier and its household goods agents may not use any false, misleading, or deceptive advertisements.
Source Note:The provisions of this §218.52 adopted to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 663.