Glossery Of Moving Terms

Accessorial Service - A service incidental to the transportation.   Accessorial services include storage-in-transit, packing, unpacking, etc.

Agent - A local moving company that books long distance moves through a van line.  Agents usually perform local moves, intrastate moves, packing, storage, and perhaps other services.

Air Waybill - A receipt for the cargo and contract for the transportation between a shipper and an air carrier between points and/or airports as stated on the document.  This can either be negotiable or non-negotiable and does not guarantee that total transport will be by air carriage.

Bill of Lading - A document evidencing the receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in the business of transporting or forwarding goods.   All important and necessary pertinent information is found on a Bill of Lading.   This is the legal contract with a customer.

Binding Estimate - A quotation of cost to perform specified moving services which, if accepted by the customer, becomes the price that will be paid for identified services.  The word "estimate" is a misnomer, but is a reference to the traditional industry practice.

Booker - The agent who sold the move and registers it with the carrier.

Bulky Article - A charge to the customer to move an item that takes up excessive van space.  The item must specifically be listed in the tariff in order to charge.  Such items may include motorcycles, farm equipment, mowers, sheds, grandfather clocks, automobiles, hot tubs, etc.

Carrier - The company with authority to transport a shipment.   Also called Contract Carrier.

Carrier Liability - The financial liability for loss or damage of goods by the carrier based on the physical transportation and handling of the goods.

Carrier Packed (CP) on Inventory - A designation on the inventory showing cartons which are packed by the carrier.

Cash on Delivery (COD) - A shipment that is paid for by the individual at the time of delivery, prior to the unloading of the shipment.  Also called Collect on Delivery.

Cartons - Containers used for packing smaller odds and ends.   Breakables and non-breakables may be packed in cartons.

Certificate of Weight - An authoritative statement of the weight of a shipment prepared by a weigh master.

Claim - When a customer's goods suffer damage or are lost while being moved, the customer files a claim for compensation.

Complete Occupancy - When a single shipment, due to bulk completely occupies a van, it is charged on actual weight or seven pounds per cubic foot of the van, whichever is greater.  This does not apply to first proviso shipments.

Concealed Damage - Damage to the contents in a package without apparent damage to the package itself.

Consignee - The person at destination named as the receiver of the shipment.

Consignor - The person at origin who arranges for the transportation of the shipment.

Containerization - The use of a receptacle made of cardboard, steel, fiberglass, etc. into which the individual items of a shipment are loaded.  A container may be a box, carton, drum barrel, etc.

Crates - Wooden containers, made to order, for unframed mirrors, some pictures, glass and marble table tops.

CWT - An abbreviation for per 100 pounds specified weight.  It is always qualified as the type of weight involved, e.g., gross, net, gross chargeable, dimensional, etc.

DD1840/1840R - A Department of Defense form used on military moves to advise the carrier of loss or damage.

DD619 - A Department of Defense form prepared to support packing and Accessorial services.  It must be signed by the customer or authorized agent.

Delay Claim - A claim filed for expenses incurred as a result of late pick up or delivery, usually for motel and meal expenses.

Delivery Date - The actual date on which the goods were released to the customer or consignee.

Demurrage - Holding a container, box car, etc. beyond a certain time limit and incurring a penalty charge such as a daily rent after the free time ends.

Department of Defense (DOD) - The U.S. department that is in charge of ensuring national security and regulating military moves.

Department of Transportation (DOT) - The U.S. department that regulates the transportation industry.

Depreciation - A decrease in the value of property.

Destination - The town or city to which the customer is moving or goods are being shipped.

Destination Agent (DA) - The destination contact for the customer.  This also is the agent who, if shipment is to go to storage, is the authorized receiving agent and the agent nearest to the point of delivery of a shipment.

Dishpack - Carton for packing dishes.    Synonymous with barrel, dish carton or drum.

Door-to-Door Service - The service from resident at origin to residence at destination, exclusive of any storage-in-transit, customs duties, taxes, warehouse handling and any other charge for service so specified on a one-time, door-to-door rate quotation.

Door-to-Port Service - The service from residence at origin to free arrival of the vessel or aircraft at the destination port city or airport city, exclusive of any storage-in-transit, customs duties, taxes, warehouse handling and any other charge for service so specified on a one-time, door-to-port rate quotation.

Estimate - An approximate calculation of the size, value, cost and weight of a shipment, or the cost of transportation and services.

Estimated Charges Against Actual Charges - Estimated charges are what the consultant thinks the customer will have to pay.    Actual charges are based on the actual weight (the truck is weighed before and after loading) times the miles.  Also, packing, appliance service, etc.

Estimated Cost of Service - A written document used by the origin agent as a preliminary inventory of a shipment to determine approximate charges for weight and special services required.

Expedited Service - A special request for delivery of a less than 5,000 pound shipment of a specified date.  The customer pays for a 5,000 pound shipment, which is more than the actual weight of the shipment, so that faster service can be provided.

Extra Labor - Any out-of-the ordinary service performed for the customer is considered extra labor, and is charged by the hour, e.g. swing set disassembly.

Extra Pick Up or Extra Stop - When a van has to stop at another residence or address, other than the customer's loading address or destination address, this constitutes an extra pick up or stop and is charged accordingly.

Extended Liability - A valuation extension of a shipment in storage-in-transit.

Foreign Agent - An agent that is not an official member of a van lines organization.

Freight Bill - The document the carrier uses to set forth the charges applicable to the shipment.  The freight bill differs from the bill of lading in that the freight bill sets forth the charges applicable to the shipment while the bill of lading sets for the terms of the shipment and is a document of title.

Freight Forwarder - A person or firm engaged in the business of dispatching shipments on behalf of other firms or individuals in foreign or domestic commerce and of handling the formalities involved with such shipments, provided the person or firm has been duly licensed by the applicable federal agency to perform such services.  In addition to being a worldwide van line, Stevens is also a licensed freight forwarder.

Full Value Protection - A valuation option which holds the carrier liable to the customer for the repair or replacement value of articles lost, missing or damaged while in the carrier's custody.

General Services Administration (GSA) - The head of all government agencies that hands out the rules for government moves.  The GSA also grades all carriers on performance.

Government Bill of Lading (GBL) - The household goods contract for goods being transported for any agency of the federal government.

Hauler - The driver that actually performs the service of transporting the goods.

Hauling Agent - The agent whom the hauling driver represents.

Household Goods - The commodity we have authority to handle.  The term "household goods' embraces not only personal effects and property from a residence to residence, but also relocations of offices, museums or the transportation of displays, etc.

Household Goods Carrier - A carrier granted authority to transport household goods interstate or foreign commerce.

Household Goods Carriers' Bureau (HHGCB) - Publishers of the tariff - pricing structures.

Household Goods Transportation Act - Public Law 96-454 (1980) which was designed by the Federal government to increase competition and reduce regulation of the Household Goods Moving Industry.

Interstate - Move which has its origin and destination situated in different states.  This also includes moves which have origin and destination in the same state, but which pass through another state on their way.

Interstate Commerce - Interstate commerce means commerce between any place in a state and any place in another state, or between places in the same state through another state, whether such commerce moves wholly by motor vehicle or partly by motor vehicles, partly by rail, express or water.

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) - The previous regulatory body established by Congress to administer the Interstate Commerce Act and acts amendatory thereof.  The ICC was terminated in December of 1995.

Intrastate - A move which has its origin, destination and entire transportation within the same state.

Intrastate Commerce - Commerce having an origin, destination and entire transportation within one state.

Inventory (INV) - A listing of all goods contained in a shipment.  It is used as a condition report by claims and as a receipt of acceptance of the household goods by the customer.  Also called Household Goods Descriptive Inventory.

Invoice - Bill or list of charges for services rendered, sent to the commercial account to whom the move is charged.

Letter of Authority - If no purchase order or order for service is used on a credit account move, the commercial account paying for the move must write a letter authorizing or giving permission to move the employee and assuring that the company will pay for the said move.

Line Haul - The charge based on the weight for the number of miles transported.

Loading Date(s) - the date(s) that the van arrives that the customer's residence to load the furniture.

Local - Any move within a restricted geographical area, up to a certain mileage maximum.

Local Moves - A move within a particular geographic area, e.g. a town or district instead of a state of country.

Local Rates - Charges ordinarily based on an hourly rate for moving within a municipality.  These rates will vary since they are usually regulated by a public service commission or railroad commission.  Also, these are rates that apply over the lines or routs of only one carrier.

Log Book - A daily record of the hours worked and the route traveled by a driver.

Long Carry - Carrying goods the distance from the van to the outside entrance of a home or inside entrance of an apartment in excess of 75 feet.  Each 50 feet, or fraction thereof, is chargeable.  See Elevator, Stair Carry and Long Carry Charge.

Mileage Guide - A Rand McNally computer system giving mileage from point to point using the shortest route available for the trucking industry, not necessarily the route actually driven.

National Account (NA) - A company that uses a carrier's moving services to transport the household goods of one of its employees to another location after that employee is transferred.

National Account Shipment - A shipment paid for by a company.

New Products - Unfinished items to be transported to manufacturer and completed product or finished items that do not come under the classification of the special products tariff.

Normal Origin Service - The proper packing, wrapping and inventory preparation of a shipment of household effect of the origin residence, with such residence readily accessible from a public thoroughfare; the containerization of the goods, with such containerization being performed either at the origin residence or at the warehouse facility of the origin agent, dependent upon applicable procedures or commitments made for the handling of a specific shipment.    the final handling and stenciling of the container(s) or units to make the container(s) suitable for dispatch from the dock of the origin agent's warehouse, and the loading of the container(s) onto or into the truck designated for the pick up of the containerized shipment from the origin agent.  It also will include preparation of designated documentation for the specific shipment to normally include a Thru-Bill of Lading, Inventory/Packing list, weight certificates, and Inland Straight Bill of lading.

Notification Address - Destination contact address of customer (motel, friend, relatives).

OCP-100 - "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" a publication required by the Surface Transportation Board that a carrier is required to give all customers before the Order for Service is signed.

110% Collection Option - On a COD shipment, if the actual cost of the shipment exceeds the estimated cost, the carrier may collect the estimate plus 10% from the customer before delivery.  The remaining balance is due within 30 days.  Also called Maximum Collection Option.

Option Date, Pattern of Service, Transit Times, Etc. - All long distance vans come in from out of town.  Because of mechanical failure, driver's illness, or other unforeseeable delays, it is hard to always have a van in a city on a given date.  Therefore, a loading date is usually set over a period of two or more days.  This is called the option.  The option given to customers will vary with the weight of the load, the destination, suitable connection, etc.  If possible, the customer should be notified in advance of the time the shipment will load.

Origin - The point from which the customer is moving.

Origin Agent (OA) - The agent at origin who handles the estimating, scheduling, conducting of a survey, packing and loading of a shipment at the place of departure.  The origin agent and booking agent may or may not be one and the same.

Origin Service - Service provided by the origin agent at the origin of a shipment such as packing, arranging for appliance servicing, maid service, etc.

Overflow (OF) - Portion of a shipment which cannot be loaded on one van or into a container due to lack of available space.    Another van(s) is assigned to load overflow portions.

Overtime - A CWT charge to the customer where, because of customer convenience, laws, or ordinances, the shipment is delivered after normal business hours of Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  It cannot be charged if it is for the carrier's convenience.

Owner/Operator - The driver or the legal owner of the tractor.

Packed by Carrier (PBC) - The carrier packs the goods at origin.

Packed by Owner (PBO) - The owner packs the goods at origin.

Packing Date - The day set for packing - usually one day before loading the goods.

Perishable Articles - The Department of Transportation does not authorize the hauling of explosives, including ammunition, frozen foods, plants or other perishable items.

Pickup and Hold - A shipment picked up at origin by an agent other than the hauler and held until a truck is available.

Property Damage - Damage to the home, lawn, driveway, landscaping or other property of the customer by the driver during the loading or unloading of the shipment or damage to property due to an accident.

Permanent Storage - Storage for an indefinite time with no long distance move involved.

Purchase Order - Written authority for billing a moving job to a company.  Used sometimes in place of an Order for Service.

Reasonable Dispatch - The performance of transportation during the period of time agreed to by a carrier and the customer.

Register - To provide the van line all pertinent information regarding a shipment so that arrangements can be made to handle the shipment from start to finish.

Registration Number - A reference number assigned to a shipment for the purposes of identification.  The number will appear on all documentation and correspondence.

Released Value - The lease amount of liability a carrier assumes for loss or damage when transporting goods.  It is calculated at $.60 per pound per article.

Released Value Rates - A rate predicted on the value of the shipment as declared by the customer.  As we have seen, on interstate moves with a value not in excess of $.60 per pound per article, the linehaul transportation charge is not increased.  If the shipment is released with a valuation of $1.25 per pound per article or with a higher lump sum valuation, the customer is assessed a valuation charge based on each $100.00 of valuation requested.

Relocation Management Company - A business used to administer a company's relocation policy.  This third party makes fair value offers to purchase the homes of transferees and counseling as well as aid in the home search.  A relocation management firm also can coordinate shipments, write corporate relocation policies and offer lease management options.  These are all services available through Stevens Worldwide Van Lines.

Replacement Cost - The cost of replacing a property damaged or lost with similar property.

Replacement Value - The cost to replace an item on the present market.  In claims, the payment of full replacement cost with no deduction for depreciation.

Reweigh - When there is doubt about the origin weight, a reweigh may be requested by the shipper at destination.  There is no charge for the reweigh.  However, charges are calculated on the reweigh weight.

Rider to Inventory - A form used by drivers and warehousemen to list any damages, missing items or conditions different from the original inventory.

Scale Ticket - A voucher providing the weight scale reading for tare weight and/or gross weight of a van.

Self Haul - The booking agent performs all services using his/her own personnel and equipment.  A booking agent has the choice to self haul any national account, any COD up to 1500 miles, any military shipment up to 66 miles and is required to haul any shipment booked (for find a hauler) traveling under 400 miles, unless prior arrangements are made with dispatch. 

Semi Trailer - A freight-carrying, powerless truck trailer with one or more axles and constructed so that the front end rests upon a truck tractor.

Set Up - A piece of furniture that is put together in its complete state.  See Knocked Down.

Shipment - Property made available for transportation by a shipper to a carrier.

Shipper - The person paying for the move, the employee moving for a national account or the member moving by the military or government.

Short Haul - Shipments moving less than 400 miles.

Spread Date - Two or more successive days designated by dispatch as the period during which a specific shipment will be loaded or delivered.

Stair Carry - Moving a shipment up or down a flight(s) of stairs.

Storage-In-Transit - The holding of the shipment in the warehouse of the carrier or its agent for storage, pending further transportation, effected only at the specific request of the customer or when the impracticable operation rule in the tariff is in effect.

Table of Measurements - A document used to determine the cubic feet that furniture, appliances, cartons and miscellaneous articles occupy in the van.  By converting the cubic feet into pounds, an estimated weight is acquired which is used in calculating the estimated cost for a move.

Tare Weight - The weight of a truck including all essential loading equipment and packing materials before a shipment is loaded.

Tariff - A publication containing the rates, charges, classification rating, rules and regulations (or any of them) for a common carrier.  It may be in the form of a rate tariff, classification of articles or commodities, or a tariff containing rules and regulations or incidental charges.

Tariff Item - Individual sections filed within the tariff which list the rules and application of the charges for each specific service.

Third Party Service - Services performed by someone other than the agent, driver or carrier.

Waiting Time - the time at which no one is at the residence to accept household goods, giving the driver the option to wait for a resident.  National accounts must authorize waiting time.  There is a charge for both the labor and the unit.

Warehouse Handling - An additional charge applicable each time storage-in-transit service is provided.  This charge compensates the carrier for the physical placement and removal of items within the warehouse such as stacking, un-stacking, preparing a separate inventory, etc.

Wardrobes - Cardboard closets, dust proof, in which clothing hangs as in a closet.

Weight Ticket - A certificate needed to show the weight of a shipment.  It shows the weight of each shipment weighed on certified scales and the weight of the vehicle without the load.  It is also used when ordering permits.  Also called Scale Ticket.