Moving Companies Industry Terminology

“The stair carry and shuttle were billed as accessorials.” “Your quote excludes accessorials discovered on move day.” “Debris pick-up is an accessorial we can schedule for tomorrow.”

“The building requires to be listed as additional insured on your COI.” “Add the HOA as additional insured with a $2M aggregate.” “Without the additional insured endorsement, security won’t let us load the elevator.”

“Use the appliance dolly with straps for the fridge.” “The safe exceeds a standard dolly; bring the appliance dolly.” “Stair climber treads on the appliance dolly will protect the steps.”

“As an interstate carrier, we must offer a neutral arbitration program for loss/damage disputes.” “The shipper elected arbitration instead of court.” “Our tariff explains how to file for arbitration.”

“Please sign the BOL before we load.” “The BOL governs valuation and terms for your shipment.” “Reference the BOL number when filing a claim.”

“Your binding estimate is a fixed price for the listed inventory.” “Charges change only if scope or access changes.” “We’ll convert to binding after the in-home survey.”

“With GNTE, if the weight is lower, you pay less—but never more than the estimate.” “We recommend GNTE for uncertain inventories.” “The GNTE protects you if we come in underweight.”

“We’ll bubble-wrap glass shelves before boxing.” “Use small-bubble for dishes, large-bubble for frames.” “Bubble wrap is an accessorial packing material charge.”

“File your cargo claim within the required time frame.” “Include photos and the BOL with your claim.” “We acknowledged the claim and will provide a settlement offer.”

“Our driver holds a Class A CDL.” “Air-brake and hazmat endorsements are on his CDL.” “You’ll need a CDL to operate a 26,001+ lb GVWR truck.”

“The building won’t allow the move without a COI.” “List the landlord as additional insured and waive subrogation.” “Send the COI to the property manager by Friday.”

“We’ll barcode crates to maintain chain of custody.” “The lab requires documented transfer for specimen freezers.” “Photos at origin establish chain of custody for high-value items.”

“This is a COD move—payment is due at delivery.” “We require certified funds for COD balances.” “On a non-binding COD, we can collect up to the regulatory limit at delivery.”

“We noted pre-existing scratches on the dining table.” “Sign the condition report with the inventory.” “The condition report supports claim adjudication.”

“Your goods will travel as a consolidated shipment to reduce cost.” “Groupage may extend transit time but saves money.” “We’ll separate lots via tagged vaults.”

“The cube sheet shows 1,200 cubic feet of household goods.” “We convert cube to weight to plan line-haul capacity.” “Update the cube sheet after the survey adds the piano.”

“Our destination agent will schedule delivery out of SIT.” “The destination agent will reassemble the beds.” “Call the destination agent for your delivery window.”

“Dispatch assigned a three-man crew and a 26-foot truck.” “Call dispatch for your ETA update.” “Dispatch is balancing HOS limits with tomorrow’s schedule.”

“Our USDOT number is displayed on both cab doors.” “Interstate carriers must register for a USDOT number.” “Check the company’s USDOT safety record online.”

“Strap the sofa to the E-track at two points.” “We need more E-track shoring beams for this load.” “The trailer’s E-track helps prevent load shift.”

“We reserved the service elevator from 9–12 with pads.” “The building requires a COI before confirming the elevator.” “Missing the elevator window will trigger waiting-time charges.”

“Your ETA is between 1–3 pm.” “Dispatch will call if the ETA slips.” “The crew updated the ETA after traffic delays.”

“A weekly fuel surcharge applies to the line-haul.” “Our fuel surcharge follows the DOE diesel index.” “The FSC changed this week, updating your invoice.”

“Under FVP, we repair, replace, or pay current value.” “Choose your deductible level to adjust the premium.” “High-value items must be declared for FVP coverage.”

“The gross weight at the scale was 34,500 lbs.” “We’ll subtract tare to get net weight.” “Get a reweigh if the gross seems high.”

“Stack book boxes on the hand truck.” “Use the hand truck, not the appliance dolly, for totes.” “A rubber wheel hand truck protects hardwood floors.”

“The sofa won’t fit the stairs; we’ll need a hoist.” “Hoisting requires extra crew and insurance approval.” “We scheduled a rigger for balcony hoisting.”

“HOS rules cap daily drive time.” “Our ELD shows we’re at the 14-hour limit.” “We planned layovers to stay within HOS.”

“We’ll do a virtual survey to scope your inventory.” “A binding estimate requires a completed survey.” “The survey notes access issues like stairs and long carries.”

“Because we cross state lines, this is an interstate move.” “Interstate moves require USDOT/MC authority.” “Arbitration and valuation rules follow federal regs.”

“This is intrastate, so state rules apply.” “We’re licensed with the state PUC for intrastate work.” “The tariff and forms differ for intrastate jobs.”

“Item 112, dresser, condition ‘SC’ at origin.” “Match box tags to the inventory numbers.” “The inventory supports both delivery check-off and claims.”

“We provide room-of-choice last-mile for the retailer.” “White-glove last mile includes unpack and debris removal.” “Our TMS optimizes last-mile routes by ZIP.”

“Use a liftgate for the 600-lb copier.” “The site has no dock; dispatch a liftgate truck.” “Liftgate service is an accessorial charge.”

“The line-haul is priced by weight and miles.” “Fuel surcharge applies to the line-haul only.” “Accessorials are billed separately from line-haul.”

“A 200-foot walk from truck to door triggers long-carry fees.” “Measure the path to estimate long-carry units.” “Shuttle can reduce long-carry distance.”

“Our MC number shows we have operating authority.” “Verify the MC status with FMCSA.” “Display USDOT and MC on paperwork and marketing.”

“Pack framed art in mirror cartons with corner protectors.” “Use two telescoping mirror cartons for tall pieces.” “Label the mirror carton ‘Fragile—Glass.’”

“Net weight equals gross minus tare.” “The weight tickets determine your interstate charges.” “Request a reweigh if you question the net weight.”

“Final charges on a non-binding estimate are based on actual weight and services.” “At delivery, we can collect up to the regulatory threshold; the balance is billed later.” “We recommend GNTE instead of non-binding for budget certainty.”

“The origin agent will handle packing and load day.” “They’ll secure parking permits as the origin agent.” “Contact the origin agent to confirm pack materials.”

“The load is assigned to an owner-operator.” “Owner-operators are paid a percentage of line-haul.” “As an O/O, you cover your own maintenance and insurance.”

“Wrap dishes in packing paper, not newspaper.” “Use crumpled paper to fill voids.” “We’ll add packing paper to materials on the invoice.”

“Mark customer-packed cartons as PBO on the inventory.” “Internal damage may be excluded if it’s PBO with no external damage.” “We can repack PBO boxes to ensure coverage under FVP.”

“Peak season runs summer through early fall.” “Rates and lead times tighten during peak season.” “Book your elevator well ahead in peak.”

“RVP provides minimal coverage at a per-pound rate.” “Under RVP, that 10-lb item would be valued very low.” “Consider upgrading from RVP to FVP.”

“We’ll shuttle because the tractor-trailer can’t access the street.” “Shuttle adds handling and time, so it’s an accessorial.” “A 26-foot box truck will serve as the shuttle.”

“Your goods will go into SIT for 45 days before delivery.” “SIT handling and daily storage charges apply.” “After SIT expires, the shipment converts to permanent storage.”

“Two flights up will incur a stair-carry fee.” “We’ll protect handrails and charge per flight.” “Elevator access eliminates the stair-carry.”

“Our tariff defines rates, rules, valuation, and claims.” “We priced your move according to the published tariff.” “The tariff outlines the arbitration process.”