Moving Words – Jargon
Timothy Brady
“I think we invent jargon because it saves time talking to one another.” – John Maynard Smith
Just like any industry, trucking and moving has its own jargon. My bet is most people reading this list will know the definition of each term listed. And some of you will have a better definition than the one listed. How many in your company or organization would have a working comprehension of these terms? Understanding the moving industry language is very important when communicating with others, whether within the industry or your customers and potential customers. It keeps everyone in the same lane.
This is by no means a complete list of moving terms, as there are additional ones which are used by van operators specific to the loading and unloading of their moving vans, packing terms, warehouse jargon, and dispatch lingo. Each area and department has their own language. And even your agent, van line or moving company will most likely have invented terms specific to your operation.
Accessorial Charges Charges by a moving company for services including but not limited to packing, unpacking, crating, or appliance disconnection; bulky articles, long carries, stair carries, shuttles, etc. These fees are added to the Line Haul amount.
Actual Charges The final cost of a move from start to finish including moving cost, valuation, warehouse, storage fees, and accessorial charges.
Adjuster A representative of the van line or moving company who settles claims against a moving company for damage or loss during a move of the shippers’ household goods and/or property.
Agent A moving company who is represented by a van line. The agent agrees to follow specific guidelines set by the van line. An agent has access to the warehousing and labor of other agents along with services for packing, loading, unloading unpacking and crating of shipments, shuttle and SIT.
Appliance Service A service provided by moving companies or a third party to prepare appliances like washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators for transportation. This service may not include the disconnection of plumbing or electrical services.
Assembly and Disassembly The procedure of disassembling household items so they are less likely to be damaged in transit and reassembling them at the destination.
Bill of Lading A legal document provided by the mover to the shipper that outlines the details of the move including the shipping date and PAD date. This document serves as an invoice of charges and as an agreement to ship the customer’s household goods with the moving company.
Bulky Article Charge Large items such as pianos, pool tables, automobiles, boats, RTVs, motorcycles, hot tubs, etc. that require extra handling are subject to an additional charge.
Carrier The moving company who transports the shippers’ belongings.
Cash On Delivery (C.O.D.) When a customer agrees to pay the entire cost of the move at destination.
Claim A written request filed for reimbursement of loss, damage, or delay in the delivery of household goods during any stage of the move or during warehousing.
Crating The process of building wooden crates to protect delicate or valuable items during transit. Items such as mirrors, artwork, chandeliers, taxidermy items, pool table slate, etc.
Cube Sheet A list of household goods and the amount of space (in cubic feet) they occupy in a truck. This is then converted into weight and used to determine the moving estimate. (Common number of pounds in a cubic foot is 7 lbs. in the moving industry).
Declared Value (high value items) If a move contains items that are of very high value, the shipper will want to declare the value of the total shipment. The shipper must provide the mover in writing prior to the move that there are items to be included in the shipment of very high value.
Delivery Window The time period in which a moving company is scheduled to deliver a shipment to its final destination. The delivery window will depend on the distance of the move and the weight of the shipment.
Destination Agent The agent responsible for coordinating the services required by the customer and moving company at the moving destination.
Diversion A route change to a shipment’s destination or an additional stop after a moving truck is already en route.
Elevator Charge An additional charge applied when a moving process includes moving items in an elevator.
Estimate, Binding An agreement made between a customer and a moving company that guarantees the total cost of the move based on the estimated weight of household items plus specific accessorial services as determined by a move survey completed by a representative of the moving company or agent.
Estimate, Non-Binding A non-guaranteed calculation of a moving cost based on the estimated weight of household items and any accessorial services anticipated for the move. The final cost of the move is based on the actual weight of the shipment and accessorial services provided.
Essentials Box A box of essential items that are not loaded onto the moving truck. Typically these are items the shipper needs access to while the rest of their belongings are in transit to their new home.
Full-Service Moving A service where a moving company completes the moving process from start to finish for the customer. This includes providing materials, packing, loading, transporting, unloading, unpacking, and the clean-up of household goods.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, is an agency within the Department of Transportation that regulates the operational requirements for moving companies, trucks, and equipment.
Full-Replacement Valuation Moving valuation is coverage for items that are lost, destroyed, or damaged during a move, and it is the carrier’s maximum level of liability. Valuation is a contractual limit of liability based on tariff rates available. It is based on a value of $6 per pound times the weight of the shipment.
Furniture Pads Soft, sturdy blankets designed to protect household appliances, furniture, banisters, doorways, and walls during the moving process.
Gross Weight The combined weight of a moving truck loaded with household goods.
Guaranteed Pickup and Delivery Service A premium moving service that guarantees specific pickup and delivery dates.
Household Items Inventory A detailed list of the quantity and condition of household items.
Impracticable Operations Conditions that prohibit a moving company from carrying out a pickup or delivery with their standard equipment and require special equipment or additional labor. These terms are defined in a moving company’s tariff.
Inherent Vice When the condition of an item prevents a moving company from moving the item without causing it damage. Think ‘fragile antiques.’
International Move Any move that involves crossing an international boundary, regardless of distance.
Interstate Commerce Commission The Interstate Commerce Commission, or ICC, was the federal agency governing interstate transportation. Their jurisdiction included moving companies. (The ICC was dissolved in the 1990s.)
Interstate Move Any move that involves crossing a state boundary, regardless of distance.
Intrastate Move A move where the origin and destination are located in the same state.
Line-Haul Charges Charges calculated by the mileage and weight of a shipment; specifically for long-distance moves.
Load Date The date on which the shipment is to be picked up by the moving truck.
Local Move A short-distance move, typically 40 miles or less.
Long Carry Charge A charge applied when a moving company carries items an excessive distance from a home to the moving truck or vice versa. This distance is determined by the moving company.
Long-Term Storage Storage of household items in a warehouse for an extended period of time, typically three months or longer.
Moving Cost The cost for a moving company to transport household items to their final destination. This does not include additional services or valuation costs.
Moving Process All moving related actions from beginning to end. Divided into pre-move preparations, moving day procedures, and post-relocation tasks.
Net Weight The weight of a shipment; obtained by subtracting the tare weight (the weight of the moving truck) from the gross weight (the weight of the fully-loaded moving truck).
Non-Allowable List (prohibited items) A list of items that moving companies will not handle because they may contaminate or damage the moving company’s property or the property of the customer. For example, items infested with bugs, household chemicals, and propane tanks are subject to this list.
Notification of Delay Notice to a customer that a delivery will be delayed and includes the reason for the delay, the last known location of the truck, and a new delivery date.
Order for Service A document authorizing a moving company to move your items.
Order Number A number used to identify a customer’s move. This number appears on the Order for Service and the Bill of Lading.
Origin Agent The agent responsible for coordinating information and preparing the necessary documentation for the customer and moving company at the moving origin.
Overflow When items are left behind due to insufficient space on the primary moving truck. An additional truck is then utilized to transport the leftover items.
Packing Service A service offered by moving companies or third-parties where professionals pack items before moving day and unpack them upon delivery.
Packing Supplies Also known as packing materials, these are cardboard boxes, stretch wrap, packing paper, bubble wrap, foam sheets, packing peanuts, packing tape, and other equipment used to protect or contain household items.
Pallet A portable platform for holding material for storage or transportation.
PBO Stands for Packed By Owner. A term used by moving companies to designate when items are packed by a customer.
Peak Season Rates Prices for moves that take place during the busiest season for moving companies. Typically between May 15 and Sept. 30.
Permanent Storage Storing items in a warehouse indefinitely.
Pre-Existing Damage Existing damage to an item that is not associated with the move.
Preferred Arrival Date (PAD) The date a customer requests for delivery.
Quote The price of a moving company’s services. Based on a customer’s in-home estimate and their specific moving needs.
Reweigh A reweigh of the items on the moving truck may be requested by a customer upon delivery. If a reweigh is requested, charges will be calculated based on the new net weight.
Released Value Valuation A basic moving valuation policy required by federal law and offered at no additional charge. This policy insures your belongings for 60 cents per pound per item regardless of the item’s value.
Stair Carry An additional charge for a moving professional to carry items up or down one or multiple flight(s) of stairs. This charge only includes stairs outside of a residence or apartment. Typical Stair Carry must have a minimum of 7 steps to be considered a stair carry.
Shuttle Service The use of a smaller vehicle to load or unload items from the origin or destination address that is not accessible to a large moving van. There is an additional charge for this.
Storage-In-Transit (SIT) A request for temporary storage in a warehouse if the destination is not ready to receive the items. SIT service is up to 180 days and the customer is responsible for the cost of the service as well as any warehouse handling, access and delivery fees.
Stretch-Wrap A heavy-duty plastic stretch-wrap utilized to protect upholstered furniture.
Survey Also referred to as an in-home estimate, a survey is a process where a moving professional visits a customer’s home and uses a cube sheet to create a list of furniture and estimate its total weight. They will also inquire about additional moving services and then provide a quote for the estimated cost of the move.
Tare Weight The weight of the moving truck, equipment, and packing materials without a customer’s items. This weight helps determine the net weight of a customer’s move.
Tariff A comprehensive list of a moving company’s rates, rules, and regulations. There are separate tariffs for different types of moves such as long-distance and short-distance moves.
Transit Time The time spent in transit between a customer’s old home and their destination.
Updater Certified Moving Company Updater Certified Moving Companies meet a strict set of criteria regarding their reliability and customer service.
USDOT Number A USDOT number serves as registration for any vehicle that transports cargo across state lines (which includes moving trucks). This number is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under the US Department of Transportation.
Valuation A valuation is the estimated value of a customer’s belongings. Before the Bill of Lading is signed, a customer will declare the monetary total value for all of the items included in their move. A moving company will use this number to determine their liability for damage to, or loss of, an item.
Van Line Van lines coordinate teams of local agents across the country to provide moving services for customers. Van lines are national brands and their agents perform household moves on behalf of their van line.
Warehouse Handling Warehouse Handling fees that occur each time a SIT (temporary storage in a warehouse) service is provided. These include temporary warehousing, loading and unloading of items, and the final delivery of items to their destination.
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move A government issued document to help anyone who is moving understand every step of the moving process. Information about moving paperwork, estimates, claims, and insurance are all outlined in this document. Every mover is required to provide this document to each shipper prior to signing any moving agreement
“Language is essentially tribal, so jargon can actually be a really good thing because it unites people.” – Susie Dent
