HB248 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Millican

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Thomas JacksonCharles O. NewtonRon JohnsonAlan BootheElaine BeechKurt WallacePaul Beckman

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder, fuel surcharges of, certain fuel cost disclosures and fuel cost reimbursements required, false or misleading information prohibited, certain information regarding timber and timber products required, Good Faith and Fair Practices Act

Summary

HB248 would require fuel cost disclosures and reimbursements by motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders; forbid false fuel surcharge representations; create civil remedies; and impose detailed timber-hauling charge disclosures.

What This Bill Does

If a carrier, broker, or freight forwarder uses fuel they do not bear the cost, they must reimburse the fuel cost to the party bearing it and provide an itemized written list of all charges at payment. It also bans knowingly presenting false or misleading information about fuel surcharges. Violations can lead to civil actions with potential treble damages. For timber-related work, the bill requires detailed itemization of rates, mileage, minimum haul rates, fuel adjustments, and any special conditions, and it requires disclosure and remittance of fuel surcharges to the fuel-cost bearer.

Who It Affects

• Motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders would face new disclosure, reimbursement, and anti-fraud requirements (and potential civil liability).
• People or entities that bear the cost of fuel (and other parties to the transaction) and timber industry stakeholders (loggers, truckers, mills, and buyers of timber products) would be affected by required disclosures and remittance of fuel surcharges and by timber-specific charge reporting.

Key Provisions

• If the carrier/broker/freight forwarder uses fuel they do not bear, they must reimburse the fuel cost to the cost-bearing party and provide a written, itemized list of charges including freight, brokerage, and fuel surcharges at payment.
• No one may knowingly present false or misleading information about a fuel surcharge to any party to the transaction.
• Violated disclosures or misrepresentations about fuel surcharges can lead to a civil action with the possibility of treble damages.
• Timber/hardwood harvesting and hauling statements must itemize cut/haul rates, mileage, minimum haul rates, and fuel adjustments, plus note any special conditions; those collecting fuel surcharges must disclose and remit them to the fuel-cost bearer.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is enacted.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles