Moving Terms Dictionary: Part 1

If you are getting ready to move to a new home, you should prepare in advance for a successful moving experience. You may decide to hire a professional moving company to handle the entire move and if you do so, you should become aware of the common moving terms so that you fully understand the process and the costs associated with your move. The Melbourne movers from All My Sons Moving & Storage provide you with the ultimate moving terms dictionary. Here is Part One:

Accessorial (Additional) Services: Services such as packing, unpacking, extra stop, or shuttle that you request to be performed. Charges for these services are in addition to the transportation costs.

Agent: An affiliated moving company approved to act on behalf of the van line. The agent may handle the booking, origin, hauling, and/or destination services that are included throughout your move.

Bill of Lading: Your receipt for goods and contract Bill of Lading - customer's receipt for goods and contract for transportation. The customer's signature acknowledges that the household goods can be loaded on the moving truck and "released to the carrier."

Binding/Non-Binding Estimate: A binding estimate is an agreement made in advance between the customer and the mover that guarantees the total cost of the move based on the quantities and services shown on the estimate. A non-binding estimate is the carrier's approximation of the cost based on the estimated weight of the shipment and the accessorial services requested.

Bulky Article: To ensure safe transportation, some articles included in a shipment (i.e., big screen TVs, motorcycles, hot tubs, etc.) require extra handling and/or blocking.

Carrier: The moving company providing interstate transportation of household goods under whose Department of Transportation registration the shipment is moved.

Claim: Statement of loss, damage, or delay to a household good shipment while in the care, custody, or control of the carrier.

COD (cash on delivery): Shipments where the customer pays the moving charges at the time of delivery.

DOT (Department of Transportation): The federal agency which, through the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) within the DOT, governs the interstate transportation industry, including movers of household goods.

Destination Agent: The agent designated in the destination area to be available to assist or provide information regarding the shipment to the customer or the moving truck driver.

Exclusive Use of Vehicle: Upon request and subject to availability, the customer may request and the carrier may provide an exclusive unit for a shipment.

Extra Labor: Hourly labor charge for performing any requested services for which specific fees are not published. This generally covers situations such as removing/placing items in attics/crawlspaces, packing/unpacking owner's furnished containers, etc.

Fuel Surcharge: The carrier's tariff provides for a percentage adjustment to the transportation charge to aid in the recovery of the increased cost of fuel. The surcharge, which can change monthly, is based upon the national average cost of diesel as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy.

High-Value Article Inventory Form: The carrier will have you fill out a high-value inventory form to list items included in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound to ensure they are protected and secured accordingly.

Inventory: A detailed descriptive list of the items in the shipment and their condition before the truck is loaded.