Glossary of Moving Terms

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.

A

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 full 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 that you are working with.

C.O.D. - Cash on delivery

This is when payment is required at the time of delivery.

Cost of Move

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 effect the cost of a move.

All listed information is based on weekday moves during the current season.

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 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 also Self-Service Mover and Freight-Service.

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. Interstate Move -

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

H

High Value Article

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

I

Intrastate Move

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

Inventory

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

L

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 above in 'additional charges'.

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.

Long Distance

Intra State: This is a move of more than 100 miles within the same state.

Inter State: This is a move from one state to another and is billed by weight and distance. This type of move is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation.

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 or Interstate Move.

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

Peak Season Rates

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

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.

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 effect 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. The cost here refers to the cost of packing the amount of household items as specified by the weight.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Standard Coverage

Movers, by law, are required to provide a minimum amount of free coverage, listed in our tables under the Std. column. 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 2 pounds, you would only be entitled to $1.20 of compensation if this vase is damaged in transit.

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).

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.

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.