Moving Company Lingo

Interstate Move: A move where items are transported across state lines. An Interstate move is regulated by the FMCSA and DOT.

FMCSA: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

DOT: Department of Transportation.

STB: The Surface Transportation Board is an agency within the DOT which regulates interstate moving tariffs.

Intrastate Move: A move where items are transported within your state. Some states are regulated where licensing is required and other states are deregulated and require no licensing.

FVP: Full Value Protection. Mover takes on Full Replacement value of shipment. Mover reserves the right to repair, replace, or compensate. Additional charges usually apply for this coverage.

ACV: The actual cost of the item after depreciation is calculated. Additional charges usually apply for this coverage.

Valuation: Moving companies are not Insurance Companies. They cannot sell insurance. However, they can offer you Valuation, whereas the company agrees to take on additional liability past the standard Release Rate. Companies such as Movinginsurance.com and Baker's International can offer actual Insurance.

Release Rate: The Release Rate is the minimum dollar amount your items are valued for based on Federal or State Guidelines. Items have a Designated Weight Value based on the AMSA Joint Military/Industry Table of Weights and Depreciation Guide. Usually $0.60 per pound per article.

AMSA: American Moving and Storage Association.

HVA: High Value Article. Any one item in a shipment valued at more than $100 per pound.

PBO: Packed by Owner. Typically, anything packed by the Shipper. Moving Companies are generally not liable for anything not packed by the Moving Company themselves.

Shipper: The shipper is the person moving.

SIT: Storage in Transit. Would apply if there is a scheduled delay from the point in which shipment was loaded until the shipment was unloaded. Shipment can be warehoused or remain on truck.

Shuttle: A shuttle service would occur if the origin or destination address can not accommodate a larger truck and the shipment must be transferred.

In House: Furniture moved within a home or office.

Load Only: Service where the moving company loads a rental truck or container.

Unload Only: Service where the moving company unloads a rental truck or container.

Cube: The amount of Cubic Space your belongings will occupy within a truck.

Physical Survey: An estimate where a representative from the moving company inventories belongings in your home or office.

Estimate: An approximation of how long your move will take or how much your shipment will weigh.

Binding Estimate: A firm price based on a physical inventory taken. (Keep in mind, if your inventory increases, your price can change)

Do Not Exceed: A cap on the amount you will pay based on a physical inventory. (Keep in mind, if your inventory increases, your price can change) If your inventory is less than the physical inventory taken, your price can go down.

Accessorial Charges: Additional services such as packing, unpacking, and handling fees for items such as pianos, pool tables, and spa's.

Bill of Lading: Contract between shipper and mover for transportation services.

Tariff: An annual or semi-annual issuance to a government agency of rates, rules, and regulations.

Arbitration: Third party agency used to resolve disputes between shipper and mover.