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.