A
Additional 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 -
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.
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
Depreciated Value Coverage -
See Assessed Value Coverage.
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 of Stairs -
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 Coverage -
This specifies how much money per $1,000 of value, you will need to pay to
protect your household items for their full replacement value. Full replacement
value is the amount of money it will cost to purchase a new replacement for a
damaged item, regardless of how old the damaged item was. 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 declared
replacement 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 were 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.
Full Service Mover -
The most common form of moving company, the full service mover, will move all of
your household goods from your old address to your new address. The items are
picked up from every room in your old home and delivered to the appropriate
rooms in your new home. Individual pieces of furniture are wrapped in blankets
to protect them during shipment. Full service movers will also provide, at
additional cost, full packing and 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
providing reimbursement for delays. This type of service is often subject to
minimum weight requirements.
H
High Value Article -
These are items in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound.
I
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.
Line haul Charges -
Basic method of billing for long distance service. Line haul charges are
calculated by mileage and the weight of your shipment. Line haul 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 Movee -
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
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move -
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.
T
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 & 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 value in three different ways explained above
(Assessed Value Coverage, Full Replacement Value Coverage & 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.