Glossary of Moving Terms
ACCESSORIAL SERVICES: Services, other than transportation, performed by the agent at your request (packing, unpacking, extra pickup, etc.). Charges for these services are in addition to transportation costs.
ADVANCED CHARGES: Charges for services of third parties engaged by moving companies at your request, and added to your charges reflected on the Bill of Lading.
AUXILIARY SERVICE (SHUTTLE): If the assigned over-the-road van is unable to make a normal pick-up/delivery because of physical constraints or conditions and a second, smaller vehicle is needed, this is considered Auxiliary Service. Physical constraints include situations such as a narrow road, bridge restrictions, low-hanging power lines, inclement weather and/or the inability to park the moving van within a reasonable distance of the pickup/delivery site. Charges for the service are assessed to you at a flat tariff rate.
BILL OF LADING: The receipt for your goods and contract for their transportation and declared valuation. Your signature acknowledges that your household good can be loaded on the van and "released to the carrier."
BINDING ESTIMATE: An estimate that specifies in advance the exact cost of moving, based on all services determined necessary at the time the estimate is prepared.
BULKY ARTICLE: Items such as boats, snowmobiles, golf carts and campers usually carry a bulky article charge to compensate the hauler for the difficulty of loading and unloading such articles, and their unusual bulk or low weight density. In some cases, a "weight additive" is applicable.
CLAIM: Statement of loss or damage to any of your household goods while in the care, custody and control of the carrier or its agents. All claims for loss or damage must be filed and received by the carrier within nine months from the date of delivery.
COD (CASH ON DELIVERY): Shipment where customer pays moving charges at destination before delivery. For COD shipments, payment is required in cash or traveler's check, money order, cashier's check or credit card. If you use a credit card, you must arrange this prior to your move because authorization is required before loading. Personal checks are not accepted.
CONSIGNEE: The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered.
DECLARED VALUATION: Customer's declaration of the value of possessions being shipped, thereby establishing the carrier's maximum liability for loss or damage to the shipment. The interstate motor carrier provides various released rate tariff levels of valuation options from to which you may choose to release your shipment. If no value is declared on the Bill of Lading, the liability is then controlled by the tariff under which the shipment is being handled.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT): The federal regulatory agency that, through the Surface Transportation Board within the DOT, governs the interstate transportation industry, including movers of household goods.
ESTIMATE: An "educated guess" as to the van space requirements, weight of household goods and cost of the move determined by the agent's physical survey of shipment; the form on which the survey information is recorded. Estimate can be binding or non-binding depending on the circumstances of your move.
EXPEDITED SERVICE: For an additional charge, allows specific delivery date to be requested.
EXTRA STOP: If you require an extra stop at either your origin or destination, other than the main pickup or delivery points, an extra charge is assessed. The amount is determined by the tariff.
FULL-VALUE PROTECTION: A valuation option that does not incorporate depreciation as a factor in the settlement of a claim for loss or damage.
HIGH-VALUE INVENTORY: Items of "extraordinary value," such as antiques, coin collections and jewelry, included in a shipment. Items worth more than $100 per pound are articles of extraordinary value. We recommend that you transport these items yourself.
INVENTORY: The list and condition of your household furnishings, including the number of packed containers prepared at origin and checked off by you at delivery.
NON-ALLOWABLES: Items that should not be included in your household goods shipment, including hazardous materials such as poisons, corrosives, explosives and flammables, perishables such as refrigerated and frozen foods, unless special arrangements are made; and other items prohibited by law.
ORDER FOR SERVICE: The document authorizing the moving company to transport your household goods.
ORDER NUMBER: The number used to identify your shipment. It appears in the upper right corner of the Bill of Lading and on the Estimate/Order for Service. The customer should provide it when contacting the carrier.
ORIGIN AND DESTINATION SERVICE CHARGE: A hundredweight rate that applies based on the weight of the shipment and the location where the shipment is picked up and delivered; compensates the carrier for basic handling and servicing of the shipment.
OVERFLOW: Articles to be shipped that are left behind due to insufficient space on a van, to be loaded on a second van for transportation and delivery.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES: Services, such as connecting or disconnecting appliances, performed by someone other than the carrier at your request or as required by federal, state or local law.
UNPACKING: Per your advance request, removing your goods from containers and placing them on a flat surface, as well as the disposal of such containers and packing materials. If ordered, unpacking service must be performed at the time of delivery unless requested otherwise.
VAN OPERATOR: The driver of the vehicle carrying your household goods.
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