Vocabulary Flashcards
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move
A government-required publication given to all COD customers. Learn more about Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.
Crating
Refers to the process of building a custom wood crate for the purpose of protecting certain items during transport.
Pro Mover Program
A certification program created by the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA). The program gives consumers an easy way to separate reputable, professional movers from rogue movers. ProMovers must meet stringent requirements and agree to comply with the regulations set forth by AMSA as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Bekins and all its agents are certified ProMovers.
Registration Number
The number used to identify and track your shipment. The number appears on all documentation and correspondence. Also referred to as the Order (Bill of Lading) Number.
Purchase Order
A written authorization for billing a relocation to a company. It is sometimes used in place of the Order for Service.
Flight Charge
An extra charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs.
Permenant Storage
The warehousing (link to Storage) of a shipment for an unspecified duration.
Load Spread
Agreed pick-up dates.
Agent
A local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a national van line. The agent may handle the booking, origin, hauling and/or destination services.
American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA)
The trade organization for the moving industry.
Bill of Lading
The receipt for your goods and the contract for their
transportation. It is your responsibility to understand the Bill of Lading before you sign it. If you do not agree with something on the Bill of Lading, do not sign it until you are satisfied that it is correct. The Bill of Lading is an important document. Don’t lose or misplace your copy.
Spread Dates
The combined dates for the agreed pick up and the agreed delivery.
Consignor
The person at origin who arranges for the transportation of the shipment.
Unpacking
Services required to remove or undo packing of goods at the end of a shipment’s transportation
Shuttle Service
Use of a smaller vehicle to provide service when the residence is not accessible to the mover’s normal equipment. Shuttle service involves offloading the goods from the original equipment and reloading to a smaller vehicle. Depending on the weight of the shipment, this could involve several trips with the smaller vehicle. The shuttle charge is based on a rate-per-hundred weight. Also referred to as auxiliary service.
Inventory
The detailed descriptive list of your household goods showing the number and condition of each item. Also referred to as a household goods descriptive inventory.
Planner
Assumes the task of assigning a hauling agent to load, transport, and unload shipments as they are registered in Bekins’ Traffic Department.
Transportation Charge
The cost of a single loading, transporting, and unloading of goods comprise the charge.
Accessorial Services
Services, such as packing, appliance servicing, unpacking or stair carries, that you request to be performed (or are necessary because of landlord requirements or other special circumstances).
Charges for these services are in addition to the transportation charges.
Light Weight
The weight of a truck before a shipment is loaded, including all essential loading equipment and packing materials. Also referred to as the tare weight.
Net Weight
The actual weight of a shipment obtained by subtracting the tare weight from the gross weight.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
The federal agency which governs the interstate transportation industry, including movers of household goods.
Reweigh
When there is doubt about the origin weight of a shipment, a reweigh may be requested by the customer at destination. There is no charge for the reweigh; however, charges are calculated on the new weight.
Appliance Service by Third Party
The preparation of major electrical appliances to make them safe for shipment. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul charges.
Extra Pick Up
A portion of a shipment loaded at a location other than the origin address indicated on the Bill of Lading. Also referred to as an extra stop.
Fuel Surcharge
The moving company’s tariff provides for a percentage
adjustment to the transportation charge (and SIT Pickup and Delivery) to aid in recovery of the increased cost of fuel. The surcharge, which can change twice monthly, is based upon the national average cost of diesel, as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Local Move
A move within a particular geographical area like a town or district instead of a state or country.
Tare Weight
The weight of a truck before a shipment is loaded, including all essential loading equipment and packing materials. Also referred to as the light weight.
Transit Time
The time from when your belongings are picked up to when they are delivered to the designated destination.
Agreed Delivery Date
The agreed delivery date can range from one day to
several depending on the weight of your shipment.
Agreed Pickup Date
The agreed pick-up date can range from one day to
several depending on the weight of your shipment.
Auxiliary Service or Shuttle Service
Use of a smaller vehicle to provide
service when the residence is not accessible to the mover’s normal equipment. Shuttle service involves offloading the goods from the original equipment and reloading to a smaller vehicle. Depending on the weight of the shipment, this could involve several trips with the smaller vehicle. The shuttle charge is
based on a rate-per-hundred weight.
Table Of Measurements
A document used to determine the cubic feet that furniture, appliances, cartons, and miscellaneous articles occupy in the van. By converting the cubic feet into pounds, an estimated weight is acquired that is used in calculating the estimated cost for a move. Also referred to as a Cube Sheet.
Motor Vehicle Inventory
A form used when transporting an automobile, motorcycle or boat that lists the vehicle’s miles and condition at both origin and destination. Also referred to as auto inventory.
Gross Weight
The weight of the truck after a shipment has been loaded. Also referred to as the heavy weight.
Booking Agent
The agent who prepares the estimate of cost from the information obtained during a visual survey. The booking agent does not necessarily have to be located at or near the origin. When the booking agent is located at the origin, they will also be the origin agent and perform the visual survey.
Scale Ticket
A voucher providing the weigh scale reading for tare weight and/or gross weight of a van.
Uncrating
Refers to the process of removing the wooden crating material from items that had been crated.
Order (Bill Of Lading) Number
The number used to identify and track your shipment. The number appears on all documentation and correspondence. Also referred to as the Registration Number.
Auto Inventory
A form used when relocating an automobile, motorcycle or boat that lists the vehicle’s miles and condition at both origin and destination. Can also be referred to as motor vehicle inventory.
Items of Extraordinary Value
Items included in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound. These items should be disclosed with the mover to ensure they are protected accordingly. Also referred to as high value article.
Line Haul
The charges for the vehicle transportation portion of your relocation. These charges apply in addition to the accessorial service charges.
Instrastate Move
The relocation of goods within one state that never crosses state lines or includes a segment outside of that same state. Intrastate moves are NOT regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Bulky Article
To ensure safe transportation, some articles included in a shipment (e.g. big screen television, motorcycles, hot tubs, etc.) require extra handling and/or blocking. There is an extra charge for such items.
Leave Over
When articles to be shipped are left behind due to insufficient space on the primary van. An additional van(s) is then utilized for transportation and delivery. Also referred to as an overflow.
Tariff
The mover’s required, published price, list of rules, regulations, rates, and charges for the performance of interstate moving services.
Packed By Owner (PBO)
Used on the inventory to identify cartons that have been packed by the customer
Stretch Wrap
The material and process used to protect overstuffed furniture (except leather and suede) from damage. Also referred to as shrink wrap.
Destination Agent
Affiliated agent in the city to which the customer is
moving. They are required to furnish storage at destination, unpacking and arranges for appliance service, if requested.
Commercial Shipper
Any person who is named as the consignor or consignee in a Bill of Lading contract who is not the owner of the goods being transported but who assumes the responsibility for payment of the transportation and other tariff charges for the account of the beneficial owner of the goods. The beneficial owner of the goods is normally an employee of the consignor and/or consignee.
Helper
A person hired by the van operator or agent to assist in the loading and unloading of goods. Bekins requires all helper labor be certified.
Extra Delivery
A portion of a shipment unloaded at a location other than the destination address indicated on the Bill of Lading. Also referred to as an extra stop.
Overflow
When articles to be shipped are left behind due to insufficient space on the primary van. An additional van(s) is then utilized for transportation and delivery. Also referred to as a leave over.
Dispatcher
Assumes the task of communicating the route of a shipment to van operators and agents, making sure that instructions are carried out accordingly.
Visual Survey
A visual survey is performed by the origin agent to determine which items are to be moved. The amount of packing required and any special services necessary to properly service your shipment are determined during the survey. A cube sheet is prepared and used to determine the weight. The weight is the basis for the moving cost. All elements of the survey come together to determine an estimated cost for moving your goods.
Orgin Agent
The agent responsible for performing packing and preparing necessary documentation for the move.
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.
Individual Shipper
The individual requesting movement of a shipment and paying the transportation charges.
High Value Article
Items included in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound. These items should be disclosed with the mover to ensure they are protected accordingly. Also referred to as items of extraordinary value.
Surface Transportation Board
The agency within the Department of Transportation responsible for the regulation and monitoring of railroads and rates for the household goods industry.
Cube Sheet
A document used to determine the cubic feet that furniture, appliances, cartons and miscellaneous articles occupy in the van. By converting
the cubic feet into pounds, an estimated weight is acquired that is used in calculating the estimated cost for a move. Also referred to as a Table of Measurements.
Estimate Binding
This is a written agreement made in advance with the
moving company. It guarantees the total cost of the move based upon the quantities and services shown on the estimate.
Household Goods
Personal goods or property used in a home
Long Carry
An added charge for carrying articles excessive distances between the mover’s vehicle and the residence. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul charges.
Disassembled By Owner
Items are disassembled by owner rather than
by the moving company. Bekins is not responsible for the reassembly of these items.
Packing Date
A date set aside for packing. It is usually one day prior to loading of the goods.
Order For Service
The document authorizing the mover to transport your household goods.
Carrier
The moving company holding the operating authority required to transport household goods.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Established within the Department of Transportation to regulate the safe operation requirements for commercial vehicle drivers, carriers, vehicles and vehicle equipment.
Storage In Transit (SIT)
Temporary warehouse storage of your shipment pending further transportation. For example, if your new home isn’t quite ready to occupy, you must specifically request SIT service, which may not exceed a total of 90 days of storage, and you will be responsible for the added charges for SIT service as well as the warehouse handling and final delivery charges.
CWT
An abbreviation for “per 100 pounds of specified weight.” Per-hundred weight.
Van Operator
The individual who oversees the loading, hauling, and unloading of your household goods.
Hauling Agent
The agent who owns the van assigned by the van line to transport your household goods from origin to destination.
Certified Scale
Any scale designed for weighing motor vehicles, including trailers or semitrailers not attached to a tractor, and certified by an authorized scale inspector and licensing authority. A certified scale may also
be a platform or warehouse type scale that is properly inspected and certified.
Interstate Move
The relocation of goods in the United States from a place in one state to a place in a different state.
Advanced Charges
Charges for services performed by someone other than the movers. A professional, craftsman or other third party may perform these services at your request. The mover pays for these services and adds the
charges to your Bill of Lading charges.
Estimated Weight
An approximate weight of a shipment determined by
multiplying the estimated cubes by seven pounds.
Operating Authority
The government permit that defines the scope of a carrier’s operation by area and commodity.
Valuation
The degree of “worth” of the shipment. The valuation charge compensates the mover for assuming a greater degree of liability than that provided for in the base transportation charges. Learn about Bekins valuation options.
Cube
A measurement of the capacity or cubic space of a truck or container. The industry average of is seven pounds per cubic foot.
Estimate Non-Binding
This is an approximation of the cost by the moving
company, based on the estimated weight of the shipment and the accessorial services requested. A non-binding estimate is not binding on the mover. The
final charges will be based upon the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided and the tariff provisions in effect.
Household Goods Descriptive Inventory
The detailed descriptive list of your household goods showing the number and condition of each item. Also referred to as an inventory.
Cash On Delivery (COD)
Transportation for an individual shipper for which
payment is required at the time of delivery at the destination residence (or warehouse).
Pickup And Delivery Charges
Separate transportation charges applicable for transporting your shipment between the storage-in-transit warehouse and your residence.
Expedited Service
An agreement with the mover to perform transportation by a set date in exchange for charges based on a higher minimum weight.
Van Line
A motor carrier with local agents that coordinates the movement of household goods and special products.
