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Moving Glossary

A - C    D - F    G - K    L - O    P - S    T - Z

A

• Access – Basically, how accessible is the property? The room to park a vehicle, the distance from vehicle to front door, the availability of lifts, how many floors the building has, and so on, all have an influence on access
   
• Accessorial Charges - Fees for accessorial services. Also called Additional Services Charges
   
• Accessorial Services - Those services (other than the transportation of household goods) like packing, custom-crating, elevator, stair and long carry, bulky articles and appliance servicing that are either necessary to complete the move or are requested by the customer
   
• Additional Services - Services such as packing, appliance servicing, unpacking, or stair carries that are needed due to either your request or building regulations may result in additional charges
   
• Advanced Charges - Charges for services performed by a third party at your request. The charges for these services are paid for by the mover and added to the charges on your Bill of Lading
   
• Agent - Usually another moving company appointed to act as a partner in your move. The most likely situation is that your mover will appoint someone at destination to receive your shipment, clear it through Customs and arrange final delivery. The agent’s services will be included in your quotation
   
• Amendment to the Order for Service - A form used to record any changes to the shipment such as additional packing or other services, destination location, valuation or agreed pickup and delivery dates
   
• Auxiliary Service - A service provided when a shipment cannot be serviced, picked up or delivered by a road van, and a smaller unit must be employed for movement to or from the road van. The fee is chargeable to the customer. Also called Shuttle Service
   
• Appliance - The cost of a complete disconnect of an appliance at the originating residence and a reconnect of the appliance at the new residence. Covered appliances include washers, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators. Certain movers charge a surcharge for this service while others simply charge the amount of time the actual service takes. If a particular mover does not perform this service or contracts with a third party, the field is marked "NA"
   
• Appliance Dolly - Supplied by self-service movers to help you load and unload large items like appliances and oversized furniture

• Bill of Landing (BL) - The original shipping contract that lists the dates, services and actual charges involved in a move and the receipt for a customer's belongings
• Billing Weight - The weight on which all charges are based
• Binding/Non-Binding Estimate -
  • Binding: The mover quotes a flat price based upon a given inventory. No matter how long the job takes, the flat price is always paid. It is given only when an onsite estimate is performed
  • Non-Binding: These estimates are based upon the movers' previous experience of jobs similar to yours. As the name suggests, these estimates are subject to change
• Bingo Sheet - A form that allows a van operator or customer to easily check off items as they are delivered. Also called a Check Off Sheet
• Bona Fide - Made in good faith without fraud or deceit
• Bonded Warehouse – A warehouse that meets with local Customs specifications, and allows shipments to be stored pending clearance by Customs
• Booker - The company which you have chosen to be in charge of your move
• Bulky Article Charge - A charge to the customer to move an item that takes up excessive van space. The item must specifically be listed in the tariff for the charge to apply. Such items include motorcycles, farm equipment, mowers, sheds and grandfather clocks

• Carrier - This is the mover with whom you're working
• Carrier Liability - The financial liability for loss or damage of goods based on the value placed on the goods
• Carrier Packed - Cartons packed by the carrier
• Cartage - Transporting goods to or from storage
• Cash on Delivery (COD) - A shipment that is paid for by the individual at the time of delivery prior to the unloading of the shipment. Also called Collect on Delivery
• Catastrophic Coverage - Insurance protecting against a warehouse fire and other catastrophic occurrences
• Clean Receipt/Clean Bill of Lading - A bill of lading for goods received in apparent good condition with no damage or missing items
• Concealed Damage - Damage to the contents of a package without apparent damage to the package itself
• Consignee - The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered
• Container – A modular steel box (usually 20-ft or 40-ft) for moving goods securely. Usually used on ships but increasingly linked to road and rail transport
• Containerization - The use of a standard box, carton, drum or barrel to transport freight
• Corporate Account – Your employer company, which is responsible for the removal charges
• Cost of Move - This addresses how much the specific move will cost, not including the various extra charges and insurance. All cost estimates are calculated based on information obtained from the listed moving companies during a signup interview. Although every effort is made to gather the most accurate information, customers should be aware of the fact that many factors affect the cost of a move. Make sure to ask about all of the movers involved costs, including things like flights of stairs, distance between your residence and the moving van (some charge extra if your belongings are a significant distance from the moving van)
• Cost per cubic meter/cubic feet – A rate given on the estimated space your belongings will fill on a truck /container
• Cost per 100 lb. – A rate given on the estimated weight of your belongings
• Crate – A timber case for an overseas shipment (often referred to as a lift-van)
• Cube Sheet (CU) - A sheet containing written measurement of household goods items. Also called Table of Measurements
• CWT - This abbreviation stands for the rate or charge per 100 pounds