| Moving Terms -- Glossary | ||||||||||||
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Glossary of Moving Terms
A
Accessorial (Additional) Services Services such as packing, appliance servicing, unpacking, extra pickup or piano stair carries that you request to be performed (or that are necessary because of landlord requirements or other special circumstances). Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges.
Advanced Charges Charges for services performed by someone other than the mover. A professional, craftsman, or other third party may perform these services at your request. The mover pays for these services and adds the charges to your bill of lading charges.
Agent A local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a larger, national company.
Appliance Service by Third Party The preparation of major electrical appliances to make them safe for shipment. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges.
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.
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B
Bill of Lading The receipt for your goods and the contract for their transportation. Note: It is your responsibility to understand the bill of lading before you sign it. If you do not agree with something on the bill of lading, do not sign it until you are satisfied that it is correct. The bill of lading is an important document. Do not lose or misplace your copy.
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 cars 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.
Broker A company that arranges for the truck transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation. A broker does not assume responsibility for the cargo and usually does not take possession of the cargo.
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C
Carrier The mover transporting your household goods.
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 by traveler’s check, money order, cashier’s check or credit card. If you use a credit card, you must arrange this with your origin agent because authorization is required before loading/unloading. Personal checks are almost never accepted.
Commercial Shipper Any person who is named as the consignor in a bill of lading contract who is not the owner of the goods being transported but who assumes the responsibility for payment of the transportation and other tariff charges for the account of the beneficial owner of the goods. The freight forwarder tendering a shipment to a carrier in furtherance of freight forwarder operations is also a commercial shipper. The Federal government is a government bill of lading shipper, not a commercial shipper.
Consignee The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered.
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D
Declared Valuation Your 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 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.
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E
Estimate - Binding An agreement made in advance with your mover, which guarantees the total cost of the move based upon the quantities and services shown on the estimate.
Estimate - Non Binding This is what your mover believes the cost will be, based upon the estimated weight of the shipment and the accessorial services requested. A non-binding estimate is not binding on the mover. The final charges will be based upon the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided, and the tariff provisions in effect. You must be prepared to pay 10 percent more than the estimated charges at delivery (110 percent rule).
Expedited Service An agreement with the mover to perform transportation by a set date in exchange for charges based upon a higher minimum weight.
Extra Stop If a mover is required to make an extra stop at either origin or destination other than the main pickup or delivery points, an extra charge will be assessed, the amount to be determined by the tariff.
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F
Flight Charge A charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges.
For-Hire Carrier A trucking company that is paid to transport cargo belonging to others.
Force Majeure A defense protecting the parties in the event that a part of the contract cannot be performed due to causes which are outside the control of the parties and could not be avoided by exercise of due care.
Freight Forwarder A company that arranges for truck transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation. A freight forwarder assumes responsibility for the cargo from origin to destination and usually takes possession of the cargo at some point during the transportation. Freight forwarders typically assemble and consolidate less-than-truckload shipments into truckload shipments at origin, and disassemble and deliver shipments at destination.
Full Value Protection Under this option, the mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods (as long as it doesn’t exceed the total declared value of the shipment). If you elect to purchase full value protection (FVP), and your mover loses, damages or destroys you articles, your mover must repair, replace with like items, or settle in cash at the current market replacement value, regardless of the age of the lost or damaged item. The minimum declared value of a shipment under this option is $5,000 or $4.00 times the actual total weight (in pounds) of the shipment, whichever is greater. For example, the minimum declared value for a 4,000 pound shipment would be $16,000. Your mover may offer you FVP with a $250 or $500 deductible, or with no deductible at all. The amount of the deductible will affect the cost of your FVP coverage. The $4.00 per pound minimum valuation rate may be increased annually by your mover based on changes in the household furnishings element of the Consumer Price Index established by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unless you specifically agree to other arrangements, the mover must assume liability for the entire shipment based upon this option. The approximate cost for FVP is $8.50 for each $1,000 of declared value; however, it may vary by mover. In the example above, the valuation charge for a shipment valued at $16,000 would be $136.00. As noted above, this fee may be adjusted annually by your mover based on changes in the household furnishing element of the Consumer Price Index.
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G
Guaranteed Pickup and Delivery Service An additional level of service featuring guaranteed dates of service. Your mover will provide reimbursement to you for delays. This premium service is often subject to minimum weight requirements.
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H
High Value Articles Items included in a shipment valued at more than $100 per pound. Note: These items should be disclosed to the mover to ensure that they are protected accordingly. Consideration of taking them with you should be given.
Household Goods The personal effects or property used, or to be used, in a dwelling. Transportation of the household goods must be arranged and paid for by the individual shipper or by another individual on behalf of the shipper. Household goods includes property moving from a factory or store if purchased with the intent to use in a dwelling and transported at the request of the householder, who also pays the transportation charges.
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I
Individual Shipper Any person who is the consignor or consignee of a household goods shipment identified as such in the bill of lading contract. The individual shipper owns the goods being transported and pays the transportation charges.
Interstate Move The transportation of goods in the
Intrastate Move The transportation of goods within one State that never crosses State lines or includes a segment outside of the same State.
Inventory The detailed descriptive list of your household goods showing the number and condition of each item.
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L
Line Haul Charges The charges for the vehicle transportation portion of your move. These charges, if separately stated, apply in addition to the accessorial service charges.
Long Carry Charge for carrying articles excessive distances between the mover’s vehicle and your residence. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges.
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O
One Hundred and Ten Percent Rule (110% Rule) Movers are required by law to deliver your goods for no more than 10 percent above the price of a non-binding estimate.
Operating Authority Registration issued by the Department of Transportation authorizing a carrier to move household goods between designated geographical areas.
Order for Service A document authorizing a mover to transport an individual shipper’s household goods.
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.
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P
Peak Season Rates Higher line haul charges applicable during the summer months.
Pickup and Delivery Charges Separate transportation charges applicable for transporting your shipment between the storage-in-transit warehouse and your residence.
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R
Released Value (Basic Value) This is the most economical protection option available. This no-additional-cost option provides minimal protection at best. Under this option, the mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound, per article. Loss or damage claims are settled based upon the pound weight of the article multiplied by 60 cents per pound.
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S
Shuttle Service Use of a smaller vehicle to provide service to residences that are not accessible to the mover’s normal line haul equipment (large moving vans).
Storage-in-Transit (SIT) The temporary warehouse storage of your shipment pending further transportation, with or without notification to you. If you (or someone representing you) cannot accept delivery on the agreed-upon-date or within the agreed-upon time period (for example, because your home is not quite ready to occupy), your mover may place your shipment into SIT without notifying you. In those circumstances, you will be responsible for the added charges for SIT service, as well as the warehouse handling and final delivery charges. However, your mover also may place your shipment into SIT if your mover was able to make delivery before the agreed-upon date (or before the first day of the agreed-upon delivery period), but you did not concur with early delivery. In those circumstances, your mover must notify you immediately of the SIT, and your mover is fully responsible for redelivery charges, handling charges, and storage charges.
Surface Transportation Board This agency within the Department of Transportation regulates household goods carrier tariffs among other responsibilites.
Survey The booking or origin agent’s examination of a customer’s goods to develop an estimate of charges.
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T
Tariff An issuance (in whole or in part) containing rates, rules, regulations, classifications or other provisions related to a motor carrier’s transportation services. The Surface Transportation Board requires that a tariff contain three specific items. First, an accurate description of the services the movers offers to the public. Second, the specific applicable rates (or the basis for calculating the specific applicable rates) and service terms for services offered to the public. Third, the mover’s tariff must be arranged in a way that allows you to determine the exact rate(s) and service terms applicable to your shipment.
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V
Valuation The degree of “worth” of the shipment. The valuation charge compensates the mover for assuming a greater degree of liability than is provided for in its base transportation charges. All movers are required to assume liability for the value of goods that they transport. Most movers offer two levels of liability -- basic and full value. “Basic value” is also referred to as “released value”.
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W
Warehouse Handling A charge may be applicable each time SIT service is provided. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges. This charge compensates the mover for the physical placement and removal of items within the warehouse.
Prepared by Mark Sponheim, Realtor -- www.Homes365.com | ||||||||||||
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