Words to Know Before Hiring Moving Companies
Home buyers should familiarize themselves with these terms before dealing with moving companies.
Tariff
The service and corresponding price offered by movers. This is filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Deregulated Moving Industry
All movers used to have the same tariff. To encourage competition, the government allowed movers to place a “discount” on their tariffs. Thus, the industry became “deregulated” since tariff is not mandated anymore.
Local Moves
Moves of under 50 miles. Moving cost is calculated by the number of crew members, and a flat hourly rate is charged per crew member.
Interstate Moves
Long-distance moves regulated by the Federal Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board. Expenses are based on the miles traveled and the shipment’s weight. Some movers calculate costs by the cubic feet or volume that shipments take up in the moving van. If moving interstate, read two the brochures provided by the movers – “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” and “Ready to Move”
Not-to-Exceed Price
This is a discounted rate given by movers for homeowners who know the precise items they are going to move.
Non-binding Estimate with guaranteed discount
Homeowners who are still unsure of the items they are taking with them during the move can ask movers for this option.
Moving Quote
Ask movers for a breakdown of all the following charges:
- Packing charges – packaging, labor and unpacking costs
- Transportation charges – origin and destination charge which are determined by shipment weight. A fuel surcharge is also based on a percentage of transportation charges.
- Third-party charges – pass-through charges from other companies to movers for services such as disassembly, assembly, appliance services, and crating.
- Insurance-related surcharge – off-sets a part of trucking insurance costs that movers pay moving trucks
- Valuation charge – insurance for lost or damaged items. This costs around 30-60 cents per pound per item depending on the state.
Remember these terms and communicate better with moving companies.
