Household Goods Physical Surveys

Posted by David Piotrowski

Under the fairly new “Household Goods Mover Oversight Enforcement and Reform Act of 2005,” a physical “visual” survey is required prior to the mover loading the shipper’s goods onto the truck. The person conducting the household goods physical survey will be able to see first-hand what the shipper intends to move and can use that information to create a customized estimate for the shipper. This estimate must be in writing and must be signed and dated.

Many moving companies do not wish to give potential shipper’s a physical survey because of the time and cost involved in sending people to the jobsite to conduct in-person surveys. Physical surveys are costly because, under normal circumstances, most estimates do not become “booked” jobs. Also, conducting in-person household goods surveys is extremely time-consuming. Statistics show that only a small portion of leads turn into actual jobs.

As a result, many moving companies try to avoid the household goods physical survey requirement by finding an exception to the rule. These exceptions are legal and many legitimate moving companies utilize these exceptions to reduce cost and to be able to provide better overall services by utilizing available resources in other areas. Shippers should not feel uncomfortable simply because a moving company does not provide a physical survey, so long as an exception to the rule is used. One such exception is that a shipper may elect to waive a physical survey by signing a written agreement before the shipment is loaded. So long as the carrier obtains a signed waiver from the shipper before the carrier loads the goods, then the household goods physical survey requirement can be waived.

In addition, in order to fall under the requirement that household goods estimates must be based on an actual physical survey, the pick-up address must be within a 50-mile radius of the location of the carrier’s household goods agent preparing the estimate. So, if this location is greater than 50 miles from the pick-up address, the household goods physical survey requirement may be waived.

What can shippers do to protect themselves? Shippers may want to request a binding estimate and may want to insist on a physical survey. Shippers may want to obtain testimonials or references from the company and utilize other resources available. If the shipper is comfortable with the mover, then the shipper may decide it is ok to sign a waiver of the physical survey requirement. Note, however, that even if the physical survey requirement is waived, the shipper must still receive a written, signed, and dated estimate (whether binding or non-binding) from the carrier, prior to loading the shipment.

One Response to “Household Goods Physical Surveys”

1. Visual Estimate Waivers Says:
   March 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

   [...] read this post for additional information on this topic. digg_skin = ‘compact’; Posted in: Legal, Tips for [...]

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