The moving process could be an event many of us have never experienced. Thus, often when faced with new experiences in life we are bounded by the fear of the unknown. Now we will shed some light on the many unfamiliar moving terms and moving terminology that may gotten you confused at some point of your moving. Becoming familiar with the moving terms glossary will help you ease your relocation. Moreover, it will help you understand your contract and all additional documents you have to sign at the day of move. There are some specifics about the moving industry and we are about to shed some light on them. We will keep updating our moving terms glossary, but for now we have summed the most important moving terms.
Important Moving Terms
- Additional Charges – these are exactly as what they mean, additional not included in the final estimate. You can pay additional charge for packing materials, piano stair carry fee or long carry fee. Consult with your moving company regarding any such charges.
- Advanced Charges (Third Party Services) – these are charges for services performed by third party provider. Any services such as disconnection gas supply line or any craftsman service are considered advanced and if necessary for the successful completion of the move, the movers will hire a contractor to do them. The mover pays for these extra services and adds the total amount to your Bill of Lading.
- Agent (Vanline Agent)- This is a smaller local moving company authorized to perform moves on behalf of a larger, national moving carrier.
- Appliance Service – Services, provided by a third party again, such as disconnection of electrical appliances or supply. These services are in addition to the relocation services and there will be an additional charge for them.
- Bill of Lading – This is you contract for the moving services you will receive and your receipt as well.
- Binding Estimate – A binding estimate is an agreement between the customer and the mover on the total charges based on the quantity of items intended for hauling, and the moving services requested. A binding estimate could be given only when a moving estimator performs an in-house estimate.
- Booking Agent - This is usually the sales agent who books your move. This agent may not be your point of contact at all time during the move. He/She may be at origin, but then you may talk to other agents at destination.
- Bulky items – This include anything from flat screen TV to motorcycles and hot tubs. To ensure safe transportation, these articles in most cases will require extra handling, which leads to additional charges.
- Carrier- This is a registered moving company providing you with relocation services.
- Claim – The statement of loss or damage, or delay of shipment of your goods while in the care of the moving company.
- Cash On Delivery (COD) – This is the money you have to pay upon delivery of your goods. You can pay them cash, or by money order or cashier’s check.
- Crates – Wooden containers used to store large, heavy and awkward items.
- DOT – Department of Transpiration- This is the US department that regulates the transportation industry. Every legit moving company should have a DOT number.
- Declared Value – This is the value of your shipment based on the weight of your possessions being shipped, thereby establishing the carrier’s maximum liability for los or damage to the shipment. If you don’t declare value then your inventory will be covered under the standard basic liability.
- Estimated weight – Approximate weight of your belongings, based on your inventory list or visual estimate from a relocation specialist.
- Estimate – This is an “educated guess” a mover makes for the cost of the items intended for moving based on their weight or cubic feet, on the distance and any additional services you may require such as packing. The estimate is also based on the movers’ expertise and experience moving households or businesses of your magnitude. Estimates for local and long distance moves differ greatly. There are three types of estimates – binding, non-binding and not-to exceed. Remember that anything added later, after the estimate was given will offset the initial quote.
- Extra pick up or delivery – You will be charged additional fee for any additional stop for pick up or delivery.
- Fuel surcharge – This surcharge is based on the national average cost of the fuel and can change often. A fuel charge usually applies for long distance moves and is being added in most providers tariff because of the increased cost of the fuel.
- Flight charge – Also called a stair carry fee is an additional charge for items such as pianos to a higher or lower floors.
- Full replacement value protection – This is a valuation program under which the value of your items will not depreciate in case of lost or damage, and you will be compensated for the full value of your belongings.
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Hourly Rates – Hourly rate usually applies for local moves. It is the rate paid by the hour per man and truck.
Bill of Lading - this is how is called the contract between you and the moving company.
- Hoisting – To lift and carry up with the help of some mechanical devices.
- Inventory - This is the list of your items, and their condition, intended for moving that you have released to the mover.
- Long carry – An additional charged assessed when a shipment must be moved more than 75 feet from the rear of the truck to the entrance of the house.
- Lowball estimate – This is an estimate that is purposely lower than most other moving companies would give in order to make the customer to commit to a contract. Generally, this type of estimates are given by rouge movers.
- Moving Dolly – A hand operated truck for easier boxes transportation.
- Order for service – The document authorizing the company to move and transport your goods.
- Overflow – The articles left behind due to insufficient space on the trailer. They are usually left for a second van to transport them.
- PBO or Packed By Owner – Items wrapped and packed by the shipper, not the carrier.
- Short haul – a move that is under 450 miles and it takes shorter time to execute.
- Storage in transit – This is when your items are stored in the carrier’s storage and are pending further transportation.
- Tariff – Established the carrier’s rates and additional fees for services performed during the course of moving a shipment.
- Non-Binding Estimate – This type of estimate is subject to change. When movers give an estimate that’s exactly what it means, they give an educated guess for the cost of your move based on your inventory and their previous experiences.
- Valuation – Valuation does not equal moving insurance. This is the shippers’ declaration of the value declared for the items, which establishes the carrier’s maximum liability for damage or loss.
- Weight ticket – The ticket you get when the van is weighted at the weight station after your items are loaded. You get a copy with the bill.
Moving Terminology Update
We have missed an important moving term? You want to add something to the moving terminology you think is essential? We constantly update the list to make sure it is always up to date. Contribute to our moving industry dictionary by sharing in the comments below.
