Helpful moving company lingo – Talk the same language

When you need moving service, it is helpful to have an understanding of the common moving company lingo used in the industry. We provide this information for the benefit of our customers in Brick, Toms River, Old Bridge, Monroe, and the surrounding areas.

Moving Company Lingo

  • Accessorial Charges – These are charges for added services, including having us pack and unpack your belongings, and handling fees for specific items like pianos, spas, and pool tables.
  • ACV – This stands for the actual cost of an item after depreciation. This optional coverage is available at an additional charge.
  • AMSA – American Moving and Storage Association, a professional organization.
  • Arbitration – This is a process in which a third party mediator helps a shipper and moving company resolve a dispute.
  • Bill of Lading – The contract between the shipper and moving company for transportation services.
  • Binding Estimate – The firm price based on physical inventory of your belongings.
  • Cube – How much cubic space your items occupy in the truck.
  • DOT – This acronym stands for the Department of Transportation, which is a state regulating body.
  • Do Not Exceed – The limit on the amount that you will pay based on the physical inventory. The price can change if the inventory is more or less than the amount specified.
  • Estimate – About how long your move will take or your shipment will weigh.
  • FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a federal regulatory agency.
  • FVP – The Full Value Protection is a type of valuation for an additional charge. FVP indicates that the mover takes on the full replacement value of the shipment, but may either repair, replace, or compensate the client in the event of loss.
  • HVA – An item with a value of more than $100 per pound is known as a High Value Article.
  • In House – This describes furniture or items moved within a home or office, often during home renovations or moving office to office within a business.
  • Interstate Move – A move in which the client is moving from a point of origin in one state to a destination in another state. These moves are regulated by DOT and FMCSA.
  • Intrastate Move – This type of move involves a point of origin and destination that are located within the same state. Licensing requirements for the moving company vary from state to state.
  • Load Only – The moving company loads a container or rental truck.
  • PBO – This indicates that the item was Packed by Owner and the moving company is generally not liable for items not packed by them.
  • Physical Survey – A representative from the moving company comes to your home or business to inventory your possessions.
  • Release Rate – This is the minimum dollar amount of the value of your items, as set by state or federal guidelines. This amount is generally set at 60 cents per pound for the item.
  • Shipper – The person who is moving.
  • Shuttle – When a point of origin or destination is not able to accommodate a moving truck, shuttle service may be required.
  • SIT – Storage in Transit occurs when there is a scheduled delay between loading and unloading of the shipment, during which the shipment may remain on the moving truck or stored in a warehouse.STP – The Surface Transportation Board is an agency that exists within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to regulate intestate moving tariffs.
  • Tariff – Fees that must be paid annually or semiannually to a government agency.
  • Unload Only – The moving company provides service to unload a container or rental truck.
  • Valuation – A moving company may offer valuation at an additional charge. This is not insurance, but an agreement by the moving company to take on liability that is beyond the standard Release Rate. Moving insurance is available from moving insurance.com and other insurance companies.