While most people do not move often enough to become familiar with the language of moving, knowing a few basic terms will make it easier to work with your moving company to set up a move that is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Here are a few terms that will help you to better work with your mover:
Accessorial services include services other than the transportation of the customers goods. Services including packing, unpacking and extra pickup are performed by the carrier at the customer's request. Charges for these services are in addition to the transportation costs.
Advanced Charges (aka “3rd Party Service”) are charges for services of others engaged by an agent or the carrier at your request. These charges are advanced to your bill of lading charges. For example; having a pool table dismantled by 3rd Party service provider is a 3rd party service
The agent is an affiliated moving company authorized to act on behalf of the van line. The agent may handle the booking, origin, hauling and or destination services.
Auxiliary service (shuttle) is used if the assigned over-the-road van is unable to make a normal pickup or delivery because of physical constraints (extremely narrow road, inadequate parking area for the truck, weak bridge, etc.). An auxiliary service is the use of a secondary, smaller vehicle to complete the pickup or delivery. Charges for this service are based on the weight of the shipment and the area of the country where the service is performed.
The Bill of Lading is the customer's receipt for goods and contract for transportation. The customer's signature acknowledges that the household goods can be loaded on the van and "released to the carrier."
The booking agent accepts the order for the customer's move and registers it with the van line. The booking agent may or may not be the origin or destination agent.
Bulky articles include such items as boats, snowmobiles, golf carts and campers. These "bulky" items usually carry an extra charge to compensate the hauler for the difficulty of loading and unloading, as well as for their unusual bulk or low-weight density.
The carrier is the moving company providing transportation for the household goods under whose Department of Transportation registration the shipment is moved.
A claim is a statement of loss or damage to any household goods while in the care, custody or control of the carrier or its affiliated agent.
C. O. D. (cash on delivery) shipments are those where the customer pays the moving charges at the time of delivery. For C. O. D. shipments, payment is required in cash or by traveler's check, money order or cashier's check. If a credit card is used, it must be arranged with the booking agent because authorization is required prior to loading.
The consignee is the person to whom the shipment is to be delivered.
The customer is the person whose household goods are being moved.
CWT (abbrv.) is 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.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the federal agency which, through the Surface Transportation Board within the DOT, governs the interstate transportation industry, including movers of household goods.
The destination agent is the agent designated in the destination area to be available to assist or provide information to the customer or the van operator regarding the shipment.
An estimate is an approximation of the probable cost of the move based on factors such as the van space required, the weight of the household goods and the origin and destination of the shipment. The two basic types of estimates are binding and non-binding.
An Extra Stop (Extra Pickup or Delivery) occurs when a van operator is required to make an extra stop at either origin or destination (other than the main pickup or delivery points). An extra charge is assessed - the charge is determined by the tariff
Gross weight is that of the van and its contents after goods are loaded.
A high-value inventory is used for items of "extraordinary value" such as antiques, coin collections and jewelry included in the shipment. Items worth more than $100 per pound per article are considered articles of extraordinary value.
The inventory is a detailed list of the items in the shipment and their condition before the van is loaded. The van operator will present the inventory to the customer after the van is loaded and again when the shipment reaches the customer's new home. The customer's signature on the inventory acknowledges that the goods have been delivered in the same condition as received by the mover for transportation.
Net weight is the gross weight minus the tare weight.
Non-Allowables are items that should not be included in the household goods shipment, including hazardous materials such as poisons, corrosives and flammables. Unless special arrangements are made, perishables such as refrigerated and frozen foods are not allowed. All non-allowables are prohibited by law.
The Order for Service is a document authorizing the moving company to transport the customer's household goods.
An order number is used to identify the customer's shipment and appears on the upper right corner of the Order for Service and the Bill of Lading. This number should be used whenever the carrier is contacted.
An origin agent is the agent designated in the origin area to be available for preliminary readying of the shipment before movement or to provide information regarding the customer's move.
Origin and Destination Service Charge is 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 (aka “Leaveover”) happens when articles to be shipped are left behind due to insufficient space on the primary van. A second van is then utilized for transportation and delivery.
PBO (packed by owner) occurs when articles are packed by the customer for moving.
A reweigh is a second weighing of shipment performed at destination at the shipper's or the carrier's request.
Storage-in-transit is the temporary storage of the customer's household goods in the warehouse of the carrier's agent, pending further transportation at a later date.
A straight truck is generally one half the size and capacity of a tractor-trailer. Straight trucks are single cab and body vehicles (as opposed to a tractor-trailer on which the cab can be separated from the trailer).
A surcharge is a charge above the usual or customary freight charges.
A survey is performed by an agent to examine the customer's goods in order to develop an estimate of move charges.
Tare weight is that of the van and its contents before the customer's goods are loaded.
A tariff is the carrier's provisions, including rates, for services performed, applicable to the customer's move.
Third-party services are performed by someone other than the carrier at the customer's request or required by federal, state or local law (e.g., appliance servicing).
Unpacking includes removing the customer's 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.
Valuation is NOT insurance. It is a tariff based coverage for a customer's household goods while they are in the care, custody and control of the carrier.
The van operator oversees the loading, hauling and unloading of the customer's possessions.
Waiting Time is the time at which no one is at the residence to release or accept household goods, giving the driver the option to wait for a resident. There is a charge for labor and unit.
Warehouse Handling is 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
A Weight Ticket (aka “Scale Ticket”) is 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 a load. It also is used when ordering permits.
©1999-2008 Hughes RelocationAmerican Way Moving Systems. All rights reserverd.
Relocation Services: Residential | Corporate | Commercial | International | Special Commodities
More Links: Home | About Us | Contact & Locations | Employment | Site Map | Tracking | Glossary Of Terms | Request A Quote