Glossary of Moving Terms

Accessorial Charges
Fees for accessorial services. Also called Additional Services.

Accessorial Services
Those services other than transportation of household goods, including, but not limited to elevators, stair carries, bulky articles, etc., that are necessary to complete the relocation or that are requested by the shipper.

Actual Charges
The total cost of the move from start to finish.

Addendum
Revisions made to the Bill of Lading after it is signed by the shipper and the carrier.

Agent
An independent moving company that is under contractual agreement with a van line. Agents usually perform local moves, intrastate moves, packing, storage, and other services.

American Moving and Storage Association
An alliance of moving companies dedicated to the advancement of the moving and storage industry.

Appliance Service
Preparation of appliances (washers, ice makers, etc.) to make them safe for transportation. This does not include the disconnecting of any plumbing or gas lines.

Arbitration
A dispute settlement program, where two parties unable to resolve their differences submit their dispute to an impartial third party rather that the court system.

Assembly/Disassembly
The process of taking household goods apart for transportation and reassembling them at destination.

Bill of Lading
The shipping contract between the carrier and its shipper, that lists the dates, services, and actual charges involved in a move and receipt for the shipper’s belongings.

Binding Estimate
The charges are based on an estimate, given not more than 60 days prior to loading, specifically stating the required services and their corresponding charges. This barring any additional charges at destination, which cannot be bound, will be the final price that the shipper or account pays to have household goods relocated.


Booker
The agent who has sold the move and registers it with the carrier.

Booking
The registering of an order with a carrier to provide transportation.

Bottomline Discount
This pricing option allows the charges to the customer to be discounted equally based on actual weight and services, except, valuation, storage-in-transit, and third party service.

Bulkhead
A cargo restraining separation within a vehicle or container used to prevent shifting of the cargo during transit.

Bulky Article
A charge to the shipper for articles that require excessive space in the van or container. The item must be specifically listed on the inventory in order to apply the charge. Such articles could be motorcycles, doghouses, riding mowers, or grandfather clocks.

Carrier
The company with a certificate of “Public Convenience and Necessity” or the authority to transport shipments, either Intrastate or Interstate. Also called a contract or common carrier.

Carrier Liability
The financial liability for loss or damage of goods by the carrier based on the physical transportation and handling of the goods.

Cartage
The service of or rate charged for transporting goods.

Claim
A written report a shipper files with a carrier requesting payment for loss or damage to property alleged to have been damaged while the shipment was in possession of the carrier. Claims may also be filed for an excessive delay in picking up or delivering a shipment.

Common Carrier
A carrier with Interstate Commerce Commission (now DOT) authority to transport goods.

Consignee
The person at destination named as the receiver of the shipment, usually the shipper.

Contract
A written agreement between two parties (company and carrier) to achieve the transportation of numerous shipments for more favorable terms.

Cube
A common measure of the capacity or cubic space available in a container or truck. The industry average is 7 pounds per cubic foot of space.

Department of Transportation
The United States government agency that regulates all aspects of the transportation industry.

Destination Agent
The destination contract for a shipment. Also, the agent with whom goods will be stored if necessary.

Estimate
An approximate calculation of the costs and services that are necessary to complete the movement of freight or effects.

Estimated Cost of Services
A written document used by origin agent as a preliminary contract for a shipment to determine approximate charges for weight and services required.

Estimated Weight
An approximate weight of a shipment determined by multiplying the cubic footage by an expansion factor.

Full Value Protection
A valuation option which holds the carrier liable to the customer for repair or replacement at current market value for articles lost or damaged while in the carrier’s custody.

Hauler
The driver that actually performs the service of transporting the goods or effects.

Intrastate
Movement of goods within the boundaries of a single state.

110% Collection Option
On a C.O.D. shipment, if the actual cost of the shipment exceeds the written estimated cost, the carrier may collect the estimate plus 10% from the shipper before delivery. The remaining balance is due within 30 days. This does not forgive the shipper’s debt, but prevents a driver from holding a shipment hostage.

Order for Service
A written agreement between the C.O.D. customer and the carrier, authorizing the carrier to move the shipper’s goods. This is not the contract, but is used as supporting document to the Bill of Lading.

Overtime
A charge to the shipper where, because of shipper convenience, laws or ordinances, the shipment is delivered after normal business hours of Monday-Friday, 8:00 to 5:00. Overtime cannot be charged if the delivery is made at carrier’s convenience.

A Few of My Favorite Places in Dallas, TX

Growing up as the only girl between two brothers I have a sense of appreciation for sports that some do not. Above all others I would have to say that baseball is my favorite sport to play and watch. My grandparents used to live in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas,so I was here all the time for summers; in between baseball tournaments for my brothers. Since we lived near Houston, TX I frequented the Astro Dome, when it was home to the Astros. Now living here one of my favorite places to go is the Ballpark at Arlington to watch the Texas Rangers play. I still love my ‘Stros, but I have a passion for baseball so I like going to the ballpark to watch any team play. If you like watching baseball then you have to go and watch a game at this stadium. Believe it or not there is not a bad seat in the house you can pretty much see everything no matter what angle you are at.

Besides watching baseball another one of my favorite things to do in Dallas is going to the Texas State Fair. Even though it only happens once a year I love going. There is just something about going and eating your way around the fair grounds, from the corn dogs to the funnel cakes there is nothing like it. You walk in and there is the giant man, Big Tex, greeting you, hundreds of people walking around playing games, watching shows, riding the rides it makes you relive your childhood.

Shopping and Dallas go hand in hand, so naturally it is one of my most desired past times. I do not get to do it as often as I would like to but when I do I spend hours doing it. I get to spend the most time shopping when my mom comes to town. Her favorite malls to go to are North Park, Willow Bend in Plano or Grapevine Mills. There are many shops to choose from at each location so any budget can handle it. Anyone who knows how to shop knows that eating out comes with the territory. One of my most loved memories is when my grandmother would take me to eat lunch at the café inside the store, and then afterwards she would let me pick out something small from the store. Even though it is a long trek from any of these malls, if you love Mexican food then you have to go to Tejano’s in Oak Cliff. It is one of the last restaurants in this area that still serves authentic Mexican food. So if you find yourself in the area and wanting Mexican food, be sure to check out Tejano’s and try their puffed tacos or enchilada’s.

There are multiple attractions in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area these are just a few of my favorites. If you are planning on visiting family or coming to Dallas for business or pleasure take time to go out and visit some of our unique hot spots.

Now Introducing All My Sons of Dallas Staff

I have been writing this blog for a couple months now and thought it was about time that I introduce some of my fellow members of All My Sons of Dallas. It was kind of a hard choice to only pick one but I finally decided to tell you about one of our lead estimators, LeVanuel Montgomery. LeVanuel has been with All My Sons for a little over two years now. He came to us from his own moving company and started training to become a salesman. His job is to go out and be the face of All My Sons of Dallas. He specializes in local and long distance moves. What he does is come out to your residence, do a physical walkthrough of your home, and based off the information you give him he gives you a written estimate for your move.

LeVanuel recently got married this past December and lives in Desoto, TX with his wife. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a very proud Longhorn fan. Not only is he one of our top salesmen every week,he works very hard at his job and building that personal relationship with each and every one of his customers. One principle I have tried to install in our salesmen is that once you make contact with the customer they are yours until the end. LeVanuel takes this to heart from the first time he speaks with you. You are his responsibility and he makes sure that he does everything in his power to make your move as smooth as possible.

Why I Love Working For All My Sons of Dallas

I have worked for All My Sons of Dallas for a little over two years now and I have to say the best thing about working here is the people. This is the first time in my life that after working in one place for this long I do not wake up each morning wishing that I did not have to go in. Even though we are one of the busiest Dallas movers, there are only five of us in the office. I started working here as an administrative assistant and worked my way up to being the office manager which brought on many new responsibilities. That is another thing that I love about my job at All My Sons; I constantly get new responsibilities, like writing this blog, as well as others, book keeping, payroll, and much much more.

Writing this blog as been a little difficult for me, every time I start writing it, it sounded ridiculous. However, I really do love my job and what I do. It is by no means what I planned on doing as my career but it is funny how things happen and you seem to just fall into something you did not even know you would love.