Moving companies have a host of terms for the details of handling household goods.

Money-Saving Glossary To Key Moving Terms

Accessorial service. Packing, unpacking and services other than transportation.

• Advanced charges. Fees paid for services performed by others. They’re added to the moving bill.

• Bill of lading. The document for shipping goods.

• Claim. The written statement requesting reimbursement for a lost or damaged item.

• Contract number. Identifying number of a shipment. It’s found on the order for service and the bill of lading.
• Consignee. The person at the destination receiving goods shipped by someone else.

• Delivery spread. The period when a mover will deliver household goods.

• Destination agent. The agent who will provide services at the destination.

• Flight charge. An accessorial charge — for moving goods up flights of stairs.

• Freight bill. The amount indicating the actual cost of the move.

• Gross weight. Total weight of the van and the shipment.

• Linehaul. The transportation portion of the move.

• Order for service.The document the customer signs authorizing the movement of goods.

• Origin agent. The agent responsible for the packing and loading of goods.

• Pickup spread. The period during which the mover will pick up the goods.

• Storage-in-transit (SIT). Temporary storage of household goods for not more than 90 days.

• Tare weight. Weight of the van before loading.

• Tariff. Price schedule on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

• Valuation. The value the customer places on the goods when releasing them to the carrier.

Back to Scottsdale Real Estate home page.