Booking Agent:
The booking agent or "booker" is the agent you choose as your mover. If they are a member of a van line, they register your move with the van line and coordinate all of the dates and services to be performed during your move. This agent oversees your entire relocation.

Origin Agent:
The origin agent may also be your booking agent. This is often the case with the exception of moves for corporate accounts that are handled by specific agents sometimes located in different cities. The origin agent handles costing your move, packing, crating, third party services, etc. and is your local contact for the preliminary portion of the move. They are responsible for advising your booking agent of any changes or problems which may arise during the move.

Destination Agent:
This is your local contact at destination who usually arranges a crew for your driver to assist in unloading, organizes your unpacking crew and reconnections and is one of your contacts for updates on the status of your shipment while in transit.

Consignee:
This is the person to whom the shipment is to be delivered.

Consignor:
This is the person from whom the shipment is to be picked up.

Order for Service:
You should receive this document or a detailed estimate from the mover prior to the move taking place. This will outline all services to be performed by your mover including the weight, pack, load and delivery dates, special services such as crating, third parties services, etc., as well as cost outlines. Some move costs are guaranteed within a certain percentage, some shipments are weighed in order to determine the cost (exclusive of additional services).

Bill of Lading:
This will arrive with the driver and crew on load day. It should list the terms and conditions agreed upon for the move including the delivery address, transit times, cost (if guaranteed), insured value of the shipment, etc. It is a contract that the driver will require you to sign prior to loading, acknowledging your agreement with the terms stated.

Registration Number:
This is the tracking and identification number assigned to your move by the mover. It should be printed on your Bill of Lading. Refer to the registration number whenever you are contacting your mover.

Inventories:
This is a numbered list of all items loaded onto the moving van with the condition of furniture pieces noted. Cartons will be noted as packed by the van line, or P.B.O. (packed by owner). A copy must be kept for your records.

Exceptions:
This is a section on the Inventory Sheet for you to note exceptions to the condition of your furniture or cartons upon delivery. Any damage or missing items should be noted in that section prior to signing for delivery. A copy must be kept for your records. (You have up to 60 days to inspect your goods for missing or damaged items)

Overflow:
Insufficient space on the moving van may result in some of your belongings being left behind for the next truck headed to your area. The items left behind for the next truck should be the least essential items. If there is a possibility of not getting all of your goods on the truck, be sure to leave the non-essentials for last.

Insured Valuation:
This is the amount you have decided to insure your shipment for. This should be written on your Bill of Lading. This indicates the maximum amount for liability due to loss or damage by your mover. Should you not opt to insure your shipment, coverage will extend only to the amount required by law under the tariff used for your move. This is often a sum such as $0.60 per pound per item based on a standard list of weight per article.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY INCLUDE:

Storage:
Should you be unable to accept delivery of your belongings within the standard transit time for the volume/distance of your shipment, you may require storage at your origin or destination agent's warehouse. The 2 types of storage are called Storage In Transit SIT - (up to 60 days from the date of loading), and Long Term Storage - LTS over 60 days from the date of loading.

Long Carry:
Should it be impossible for the rear of the moving van to come within a certain distance from the entrance of the home (usually 75 feet), additional charges may be applied based on the extra distance.

Shuttle Service:
If the assigned moving van is unable to get within a reasonable distance of your home, either at origin or at destination, a smaller truck may be required to shuttle your belongings to or from the moving van. This may be the case with very narrow, winding driveways, blocked access due to trees, steep and unstable roadways or weight and height restrictions on bridges and overpasses.

Stair Carry:
Ordinarily, carrying your belongings up or down 2-3 flights of stairs is included in the cost of your move. Additional flights of stairs will increase the time normally allotted for loading/unloading and will increase the charges.

Elevator Carry:
The cost for your move should normally include transporting your belongings within certain floors by elevator (usually 1-5 floors). Should your goods be moving to or from more floors, this will increase the time normally allotted for loading/unloading and will increase the charges.

Extra pickup or delivery:
Extra charges may be applied for any stops other than your origin and destination address, for pick up or delivery of additional items.

Hoisting:
This additional charge may be applied should any of your goods not fit through any doorways or staircases. Hoisting a piece of furniture through a window may be necessary in order to remove it, or place it in your home.

Bulky Articles:
Some items such as boats, cars, snowmobiles and trailers incur additional labor during the loading and unloading process. They also consume more space in the moving van in proportion to the actual weight of the item. Extra charges may apply to these items.

Third Party Service:
For services contracted out to someone other than your mover such as appliance servicing, waterbed service, and housecleaning additional charges may be applied.

Transportation Surcharge:
These are often applied when the pickup or destination locations are in very remote areas, causing loss of extra or return weight for the van line.