Moving Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Additional (Accesorial) Services –

Services such as packing,appliance servicing, unpacking, or stair carries that are needed due to either your request or building regulations may result in additional charges.

Advanced Charges –

Charges for services performed by a third party at your request. The charges for these services are paid for by the mover and added to the charges on your Bill of Lading.

Agent –

A local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a larger, national company.

Appliance Service –

The cost of a complete disconnect of an appliance at the originating residence and a reconnect of the appliance at the new residence. Covered appliances include washers, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators. Certain movers charge a surcharge for this service while others simply charge the amount of time the actual service takes. If a particular mover does not perform this service or contracts with a third party, the field is marked “NA”.

Appliance Dolly –

Supplied by self-service movers to help you load and unload large items like appliances and oversized furniture.

Assessed Value Coverage –

This specifies how much money per$1,000 of assessed value you will need to pay to cover your household items to their fully assessed value. Purchasing this protection requires that a cash value be assigned to the items you will be moving. If a deductible is applied, that value is stated next to the cost-per-$1,000 figure. For example, 7.50/100 means that the consumer must pay $7.50 per $1,000 of assessed value to cover the load against loss, and the first $100 of damage is not covered. Some valuation policies are calculated on a sliding scale, where the price per $1,000 of coverage will vary depending upon the total amount of coverage. In such cases, carriers are requested to quote valuation prices based on $25,000 of coverage. Please note that most valuation policies require that the entire load be covered, not just specific items. Ask your carrier for terms.

B

Bill of Lading –

This is the contract between the mover and the customer. It also acts as a receipt. It is important to understand everything on the bill of lading before you sign it.

Binding/Non-Binding Estimate –

• Binding: The mover quotes a flat price based upon a given inventory. No matter how long the job takes, the flat price is always paid. It is given only when an onsite estimate is performed.
• Non-Binding: These estimates are based upon the movers’ previous experience of jobs similar to yours. As the name suggests, these estimates are subject to change.
• Hourly Rates: Customers are charged by the hour per man, per truck.

C

Carrier –

This is the mover with whom you’re working.

Certified Scale –

Any scale designed for weighing motor vehicles, including trailers or semi trailers not attached to a tractor, and certified by an authorized scale inspection and licensing authority. A certified scale may also be a platform or warehouse type scale that is properly inspected and certified.

C.O.D. – Cash on delivery –

This is when payment is required at the time of delivery. Make sure to ask if your payment should be in cash, credit or check.

Comments –

Any additional information about a listed company.

Cost of Move –

This addresses how much the specific move will cost, not including the various extra charges and insurance. All cost estimates are calculated based on information obtained from the listed moving companies during a signup interview. Although every effort is made to gather the most accurate information, customers should be aware of the fact that many factors affect the cost of a move. Make sure to ask about all of the movers involved costs, including things like flights of stairs, distance between your residence and the moving van (some charge extra if your belongings are a significant distance from the moving van).

D

Divider –

Many self-service movers will place commercial goods behind your household possessions on the trailer. A divider is installed between these separate shipments to keep them secure.

Divider Installation –

This specifies how much extra it will cost a consumer to have a divider (see definition) installed.

E

Expedited Service –

This is an agreement to transport goods by a set date in exchange for a higher rate.

F

Flight Charge –

This tells you the additional cost, if any, of a flight of stairs either at the point of origin or the destination. Please note that a third-floor walkup counts as two flights since you are starting on the first floor. Serviceable elevators (an elevator large enough to transport the household goods) eliminate the need to pay this fee.

Freight-Service –

A low-cost alternative to a full-service move, freight-service movers will move all of your household goods from your old address to your new address but will deliver the items only to the doorstep of your new home. Your items must all be boxed in advance, and your individual pieces of furniture will not be wrapped in blankets, as distinguished from full-service movers. See also Self-Service Mover and Full-Service Mover.

FULL (REPLACEMENT) VALUE PROTECTION –

This is the most comprehensive plan available for the protection of your goods. Unless you select the Alternative Level of Liability described below, your shipment will be transported under your mover’s FULL (REPLACEMENT) VALUE level of liability. If any article is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover’s custody, your mover will, at its option, either 1) repair the article to the extent necessary to restore it to the same condition as when it was received by your mover, or pay you for the cost of such repairs; or 2) replace the article with an article of like kind and quality, or pay you for the cost of such a replacement. An additional charge applies for this service; to avoid this additional charge, you must select the Alternative Level of Liability described below.

The exact cost for full value protection may vary by mover and may be further subject to various deductible levels of liability that may reduce your cost. Ask your mover for the details of their specific plan.

Under this option, movers are permitted to limit their liability for loss or damage to articles of extraordinary value, unless you specifically list these articles on the shipping documents. An article of extraordinary value is any item whose value exceeds $100 per pound (for example, jewelry, silverware, china, furs, antiques, oriental rugs and computer software). Ask your mover for a complete explanation of this limitation before your move. It is your responsibility to study this provision carefully and to make the necessary declaration.

Full Service Mover –

The most common form of moving company, the full service mover, willmove all of your household goods from your old address to your newaddress. The items are picked up from every room in your old home anddelivered to the appropriate rooms in your new home. Individual piecesof furniture are wrapped in blankets to protect them during shipment.Full service movers will also provide, at additional cost, full packingand unpacking services as well as appliance service (see definition).See also Self-Service Mover and Full-Service Mover.

G

Guaranteed Pickup and Delivery Service –

A premium service whereby dates of service are guaranteed, with the mover providingreimbursement for delays. This type of service is often subject tominimum weight requirements.

H

High Value Article –

These are items in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound.

Household Goods –

As used in connection with transportation, means the personal effectsor property used, or to be used, in a dwelling, when part of theequipment or supplies of the dwelling. Transporting of the householdgoods must be arranged for and paid by you or another individual onyour behalf. This may include items moving from a factory or store whenyou purchase them to use in your dwelling. You must request that theseitems be transported, and you (or another individual on your behalf)must pay the transportation charges to the mover.

Household Goods Motor Carrier –

A motor carrier that, in the ordinary course of its business ofproviding transportation of household goods, offers some or all of thefollowing additional services: (1) Binding and non-binding estimates,(2) Inventory, (3) Protective packing and unpacking of individual itemsat personal residences, and (4) Loading and unloading at personalresidences. The term does not include a motor carrier when the motorcarrier provides transportation of household goods in containers ortrailers that are entirely loaded and unloaded by an individual (otherthan an employee or agent of the motor carrier).

I

Individual Shipper –

1. is the shipper, consignor, or consignee of a household goods shipment;
2. is identified as the shipper, consignor, or consignee on the face of the bill of lading;
3. owns the goods being transported; and
4. pays his or her own tariff transportation charges.

Impracticable Operations –

Generally refer to services required when operating conditions make it physically impossible for the carrier to perform pickup or delivery with its normally assigned road-haul equipment; requires the use of smaller equipment and/or additional labor to complete pickup or delivery of a shipment. A mover may require payment of additional charges for impracticable operations, even if you do not request these services. The specific services considered to be impracticable operations by your mover are defined in your mover’s tariff.

Inventory –

The detailed descriptive list of your household goods showing the quantity and condition of each item.

Interstate Move –

Any move that crosses a state boundary, regardless of the number of miles. Distinguished from a Local Move and Intrastate Move.

Intrastate Move –

Any move which does not cross a state boundary, typically over 40 miles. Distinguished from Local Move and Interstate Move.

L

License –

Movers are required by law to obtain certifications necessary to transport household goods within state boundaries (i.e. local/intrastate) or across state lines (i.e. interstate). The license numbers shown are used to identify the status of the mover’s operating authority and insurance coverage. Individual states may require additional license information based on the type of move performed.

For a complete list of license information, please refer to the mover’s Profile/Estimate page.

Linehaul Charges –

Basic method of billing for long distance service. Linehaul charges are calculated by mileage and the weight of your shipment. Linehaul charges may not include fees for charges such as the ones noted in Additional charges.

Loading Ramp –

Provided by self-service movers to help you load your household goods onto the trailer.

Local Move –

A move within a state, typically 40 miles or less. Distinguished from an Intrastate Move and an Interstate Move.

Long Carry Charge –

An additional charge incurred when articles must be carried an excessive distance to the movers truck.

Local moving –

Local moving usually refers to moves of less than 100 miles within the same state. This type of move is based on hourly rates and is regulated by the states DOT (Department of Transportation) or other regulatory body.

M

Moving Company –

A Moving Company is the business offering your move program and that is in charge of transporting your belongings.

O

Order for Service –

The authorizing document allowing movers to move your goods.

Order Number Also known as the Bill of Lading. –

It’s the number used to identify and track your shipment.

P

Price –

This tells you how much the specific move will cost, not including the various extra charges and insurance. All cost estimates are calculated based on information obtained from the listed moving companies during a signup interview. Although every effort is made to gather the most accurate information, customers should be aware of the fact that many factors affect the cost of a move.

Packing Service –

Many full-service movers provide customers the option of having all of their possessions packed before the move and later unpacked at the destination.

Peak Season Rates –

A premium rate that is charged at certain times of the year. This rate is generally applied in the summer months.

Phone –

Usually the phone number for the sales department of each listed mover.

Piano –

This specifies the additional cost to move a single 42-inch piano as part of the total household. This is not the cost to move the piano if that is the only item being moved.

Pickup and Delivery Charges –

This is an additional charge that is applied when you have to transport your shipment between the Storage in Transit warehouse and your residence.

R

Reasonable Dispatch –

The performance of transportation on the dates, or during the period of time, agreed upon by you and your mover and shown on the Order for Service/Bill of Lading. For example, if your mover deliberately withholds any shipment from delivery after you offer to pay the binding estimate, or 110 percent of a non-binding estimate, plus any charges for additional services you requested, or permissible charges for impracticable operations that were not included in the estimate, your mover has not transported the goods with reasonable dispatch. The term ‘‘reasonable dispatch’’ excludes transportation provided under your mover’s tariff provisions requiring guaranteed service dates. Your mover will have the defense of force majeure, i.e., the contract cannot be performed owing to causes that are outside the control of the parties and that could not be avoided by exercise of due care.

A document prepared by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) to inform consumers of their rights and responsibilities as a shipper of household goods.

S

Self-Service Mover –

Companies in this category will provide a trailer for you at your old home. You load the trailer yourself and the company returns to move the trailer to your new destination. You then unload the trailer yourself and call the mover to remove the empty trailer. This type of move is becoming increasingly popular with consumers because it saves money in two ways. First, you do not pay for any of the loading/unloading labor. Second, the self-service mover will often load commercial goods on the trailer behind your household goods, to help defer the cost of the total shipment. See also Full-Service Mover and Freight-Service.

Services Provided – (used with Auto Movers)

Auto shippers are able to transport a variety of vehicles. The following service types are used to demonstrate services offered by each auto shipper:

Auto Shipping: The moving company primarily transports automobiles.

Motorcycle Shipping: The moving company primarily transports motorcycles or vehicles of similar size.

International Auto Shipping: The moving company offers overseas auto shipping services.

International Motorcycle Shipping: The moving company offers overseas motorcycle shipping services.

Shuttle Service –

Occurs when a smaller vehicle is used to haul goods to a location that is not accessible to large moving trailers.

Stair-Carry Charge –

An extra charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs.

Standard Coverage –

Movers, by law, are required to provide a minimum amount of free coverage. This number, typically 60 cents, refers to the amount of money you will receive per pound of damaged goods. This coverage is a bare minimum and should not be relied upon to cover you for any significant damage. For example, if you have a -priceless vase which weighs two pounds, you would only be entitled to $1.20 of compensation if the vase is damaged in transit.

Storage-In-Transit (SIT) –

Temporary warehousing of your goods pending further transportation or transportation to your new home if it isn’t ready for occupancy. You may not exceed a total of 180 days of storage, and you are responsible for the added SIT charges as well as the warehouse handling and final delivery charges.

Surface Transportation Board –

An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates household goods carrier tariffs, among other responsibilities. The Surface Transportation Board’s address is: 395 E Street, NW Room 1192 Washington, DC 20423 (202) 245-0282.

T

Tariff –

The mover’s required, published price list of rules, regulations, rates and charges for the performance of interstate moving services.

Transport Type: (used with Self-Service Movers) –

Moving companies may transport your household goods using a variety of transport methods. Each transport type possess unique benefits:

Truck:

The moving company will deliver a unibody truck to your home. The truck will remain at your residence until you have completed loading it and request pick-up from the moving company.

Trailer:

The moving company will deliver just the trailer section of the truck to your home. The trailer will remain at your residence until you have completed loading it and request pick-up from the moving company.

Truck and Trailer:

The moving company will deliver an entire truck (both cab and trailer) to your home. The truck and trailer will remain at your residence until you have completed loading it and request pick-up from the moving company.

Mobile Container:

The moving company will deliver large storage containers or units to your home. The storage containers will remain at your residence until you have completed loading them and request pick-up from the moving company.

V

Valuation –

Valuation is not insurance. Valuation offered by your moving company is a tariff level of carrier liability based on the weight of your goods. Valuation covers your property by assessing as explained above (Full Replacement Value Coverage and Standard Coverage). In a nutshell, Valuation is an amount that reflects “what your goods are worth.”

Valuation only covers your goods for damage or loss if you can prove negligence on the part of the carrier. IT DOES NOT cover any loss or damage due to Acts of God, (high winds, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes) riots, strikes, civil commotion, etc. and all claims are settled by employees of the carrier that damaged your goods. The valuation charge compensates the mover for assuming a greater degree of liability than that provided for in the base transportation charges.

W

Warehouse Handling –

An additional charge applicable each time SIT service is provided. This charge compensates the mover for the physical placement and removal of items within the warehouse.