49 U.S.C. § 13701 — Requirements for reasonable rates, classifications, through routes, rules, and practices for certain transportation

(a) Reasonableness.
(1) Certain household goods transportation^*; joint rates involving water transportation: A rate, classification, rule, or practice for a carrier^* under chapter 135's jurisdiction must be reasonable if it involves: (A) moving household goods; (B) a rate for moving goods by or with a water carrier^* in noncontiguous domestic trade^*; or (C) rates, rules, and classifications carriers set together under agreements approved under section 13703.
(2) Through routes and divisions of joint rates: Through routes and how joint rates get divided for that transportation must also be reasonable.

(b) Prescription by Board^* for Violations: When the Board finds it needs to stop or prevent a violation of (a), the Board must set the rate, classification, rule, practice, through route, or division of joint rates that should apply.

(c) Filing of Complaint: Someone can file a complaint with the Board claiming a rate, classification, rule, or practice in noncontiguous domestic trade breaks (a).

(d) Zone of Reasonableness.
(1) In general: A motor carrier's rate or division for noncontiguous domestic trade, or a water carrier's rate for port-to-port service in that trade, counts as reasonable if the total change is no more than 7.5% above, or 10% below, what it was one year before the new rate's effective date.
(2) Adjustments to the zone: Those percentages go up or down based on how much the Producers Price Index, published by the Department of Labor, changed in the most recent year before the rate took effect.
(3) Determinations after complaint: If a complaint is filed under (c) or section 13702(b)(6), the Board must decide whether a rate or division outside the range in (1) is reasonable.
(4) Reparations: If the Board finds a violation of (a), it must award the shipper who complained money equal to everything charged and collected above the reasonable rate. If a government agency complains and the Board finds a violation, the Board must issue orders requiring the carrier to pay back, as much as practical, everything it wrongly collected, plus interest.