Moving terms, explained in plain English
Binding estimate? Bill of lading? Released value? Movers throw around a lot of jargon. Search or browse below to know exactly what you're signing before you book.
Bill of Lading
The legal contract between you and your mover — the receipt for your shipment and the single most important document of your move. Read it before you sign.
Binding Estimate
A quote that guarantees the final price won't exceed the estimate, based on the items and services listed at the time it was given.
Broker
A company that arranges your move but doesn't own trucks or perform the move itself — it resells your job to a licensed carrier.
Carrier
The company that actually owns the truck and performs your move, licensed and registered with the FMCSA under a DOT number.
Cubic Feet
A measure of the space your shipment takes up in the truck, sometimes used instead of weight to calculate pricing on smaller moves.
Declared Value
The value you assign to your shipment when purchasing Full Value Protection — your coverage and cost are both based on this number.
Deductible
An optional amount you agree to pay out of pocket on a claim in exchange for a lower Full Value Protection cost — works like a car insurance deductible.
DOT Number
A unique ID issued by the Department of Transportation to registered carriers. Look it up on the FMCSA's SAFER database to verify a mover's legitimacy.
Expedited Service
A faster delivery window than standard, usually at an added cost — useful when you need your things to arrive on a tight timeline.
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — the federal agency that regulates and licenses interstate movers.
Full Value Protection (FVP)
Coverage that pays to repair, replace, or reimburse an item at its actual value if it's lost or damaged during the move — usually a paid add-on.
High-Value Inventory
A separate list of especially valuable items (jewelry, art, electronics) that must be declared individually to be fully covered.
Line Haul
The long-distance transportation portion of your move — the actual driving between your old home and your new one.
Long Carry
An extra fee that can apply when movers have to carry items an unusually long distance between the truck and your door.
Non-Binding Estimate
A rough quote that can change once your shipment is actually weighed or reassessed — the final price isn't guaranteed.
Order for Service
The document that authorizes the mover to perform your move as quoted — you'll typically sign this before pickup.
Peak Season
Roughly May through September, when moving demand is highest and prices tend to run higher than the rest of the year.
Released Value
The free, default protection every mover must offer — pays about 60 cents per pound per item, regardless of the item's actual worth.
Shuttle Service
A smaller vehicle used to transfer your belongings when the main truck can't access your street or building directly — usually an added fee.
Tariff
The mover's official price list and set of rules for charges — the document your estimate is technically based on.
Valuation
The general term for how liability and payout are calculated if something is lost or damaged — covers both Released Value and Full Value Protection.
Warehouse Storage (Storage-in-Transit)
Temporary storage of your shipment between pickup and final delivery, used when your new home isn't ready yet.
Weight Ticket
An official record of your shipment's weight, taken before and after loading, used to calculate your final charges on weight-based estimates.