Moving Terms your Austin Movers Want You to Know

The moving industry is filled with terms that many homeowners may not be aware of, leading to unheard-of charges that aggravate customers. In order to make the waters less murky and clearer, the Austin movers at All My Sons Moving & Storage have a common glossary of moving terms that you should be aware of before embarking on the moving process.

Intrastate Move - An intrastate move is more commonly known as local moving. Keep in mind that intrastate moves can still be determined long-distance if you are moving across the state.

Interstate Move – Interstate moves require the moving company to travel across state lines; this is also known as long-distance moving.

Linehaul Charges – Linehaul charges are associated with long-distance moves, and are calculated by mileage and weight of the moving truck with all of your belongings inside. Austin movers will weigh the truck empty, then weigh it loaded and ready for transport in order to calculate the final charge of your shipment.

Fuel Charge – The cost of fuel should already be calculated into your estimate and not be an additional charge; it should come in the form of price per mile.

Flight Charge – If your Austin movers have to travel up and down flights of stairs during the moving process, whether at your current residence or moving destination, they will most likely add a flight charge to your moving quote.

Elevator Carry Charge – When movers have to use a service elevator during the moving process.

Extra Stop Charges – If you are moving to Austin and have a storage unit that needs to be emptied, or need your movers to bring some of your belongings to a storage facility, you will be charged an extra stop charge; these charges can run you roughly $75 per stop.

Full-Service Moving & Packing – Austin full-service moving and packing companies will disassemble, wrap, pack, load, transport, unpack, and reassemble all of your furniture and belongings. Essentially, they handle the entire moving and packing process so that you do not have to do anything.

Binding Moving Estimate - Binding estimates are not as typical as non-binding, as they give an estimate for service that cannot be altered.

Non-Binding Moving Estimate - Estimates that may be altered due to unforeseen obstacles and items along the way, such as an elevator charge or flight charge that the movers were unaware of prior to moving day.

Bill of Lading / Moving Tariff – A moving tariff is the document that outlines the price per pound of your shipment, the legal implications such as company policy, fine print of the bill of lading, and service order. The Bill of Lading is your receipt, which you should only sign in the presence of your Austin movers and only after reading all of the fine print.

USDOT Number – Companies like All My Sons Moving & Storage, which operate commercial vehicles that transport cargo across state lines, must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and have a USDOT Number.

FMCSA – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is where your copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move is from, which your movers should give you a copy or have a downloadable version on their website.

Moving Season – If a moving company tells you that rates are higher due to it being peak moving season, they are most likely telling the truth. Peak moving months for Austin moving companies and movers around the nation are June, July, and August.