Choosing a Reputable Mover

Posted by David Piotrowski

Here’s an important “to do” list to help you select the right mover:

Get a written estimate from several movers.

Make sure the mover has insurance and is licensed by the proper authority.

For moves from one State to another, a U.S. DOT number is issued by FMCSA. You can double-check a mover’s license on www.protectyourmove.gov. For moves within a State, requirements vary. Check with your State, county or local consumer affairs agency or your State attorney general.

Remember your priorities when choosing a mover.
If you hire a mover based solely on the cheapest price, you may be sacrificing other things that are actually more important, such as getting your possessions moved and delivered on time. And remember, movers are required by law to deliver your goods for no more than ten percent above the price of a non-binding estimate. This is known as the 110 percent rule. If your move is based on a binding estimate, then the mover can only charge 100% of that estimate.

Do your homework.
Read “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move,” a booklet from the Federal government that your mover is required to give you if you are moving from one State to another. This booklet also has information you’ll need if your goods are lost or damaged during the move.

For more information, visit http://www.protectyourmove.gov.

Moving Company Advertisements

Posted by David Piotrowski

Many moving companies are not aware that their are specific rules they must follow when advertising their services. While regulations take into consideration the first amendment to the U.S. Constititution, guaranteeing the right to free speech, their are particular laws explaining what movers need to include in their advertisements.

For example, movers and their agents must publish and use only truthful, straightforward, and honest advertisements. Movers must include, and movers must require each of their agents to include, in all advertisements for all services (including any accessorial services incidental to or part of interstate household goods transportation), the following two elements:

1. The name of the moving company, as it appears on file with the U.S. DOT, or the name or trade name of the motor carrier under whose operating authority the advertised service will originate; and
2. The U.S. DOT assigned to the moving company.

In addition, the movers U.S. DOT number must be displayed only in the following form in every advertisement: U.S. DOT No. xxxxxx (replacing the x with the actual number).

By following these simple instructions, movers will be in compliance with the rules regulating moving company advertisements.

Define: Order for Service

Posted by David Piotrowski

An Order for Service is one of the required documents that moving companies must issue to their customers. Federal law states that before a moving company receives a shipment of household goods, an Order for Service must be prepared and the Order for Service must include the following elements:

1. The name and address and the FMCSA U.S. DOT number assigned to the mover who is responsible for performing the service.
2. The individual customer’s name, address and, if available, its telephone number(s).
3. The name, address, and telephone number of the delivering mover’s office or agent located at or nearest to the destination of the shipment.
4. A telephone number where the customer may contact the moving company or its designated agent.
5. One of the following three entries must be on the order for service:
(i) The agreed pickup date and agreed delivery date of the move.
(ii) The agreed period(s) of the entire move.
(iii) If the moving company is transporting the shipment on a guaranteed service basis, the guaranteed dates or periods for pickup, transportation, and delivery. The moving company must enter any penalty or per diem requirements upon the agreement under this item.
6. The names and addresses of any other motor carriers, when known, who will participate in interline transportation of the shipment.
7. The form of payment the moving company and its agents will honor at delivery. The payment information must be the same that was entered on the estimate.
8. The terms and conditions for payment of the total charges, including notice of any minimum charges.
9. The maximum amount the moving company will demand at the time of delivery to obtain possession of the shipment, when the moving company transports on a collect-on-delivery basis.
10. The Surface Transportation Board’s required released rates valuation statement, and the charges, if any, for optional valuation coverage. The released rates may be increased annually by the carrier based on the Department of Commerce’s Cost of Living Adjustment.
11. A complete description of any special or accessorial services ordered and minimum weight or volume charges applicable to the shipment, subject to the following two conditions:
(i) If the moving company provides service for individual shippers on rates based upon the transportation of a minimum weight or volume, the moving company must indicate on the order for service the minimum weight- or volume-based rates, and the minimum charges applicable to the shipment.
(ii) If the moving company does not indicate the minimum rates and charges, then the tariff must provide that the mover will compute the final charges relating to such a shipment based upon the actual weight or volume of the shipment.
12. Any identification or registration number the moving company assigns to the shipment (booking number, job number, reference number).
13. For non-binding estimates, the moving company’s reasonably accurate estimate of the amount of the charges, the method of payment of total charges, and the maximum amount (no more than 110 percent of the non-binding estimate) that the moving company will demand at the time of delivery to relinquish possession of the shipment.
14. For binding estimates, the amount of charges the moving company will demand based upon the binding estimate and the terms of payment under the estimate.
15. Whether the individual shipper requests notification of the charges before delivery. The individual shipper must provide the moving company with the telephone number or address where the mover will transmit the notification.

An interesting piece of information regarding an order for service is that by law, a moving company must provide the individual shipper the opportunity to rescind the Order for Service without any penalty for a three-day period after the customer signs the order for service, if the customer scheduled the shipment to be loaded more than three days after signing the Order for Service.

An Order for Service is one of the documents moving companies are required to provide to their customers, along with an estimate, an Inventory List, a Bill of Lading, and this information.

Moving Checklist

Posted by David Piotrowski

Anyone who has moved in the past knows that moving involves a lot of work and some stress, even for those who have moved frequently in the past. The level of stress is often compounded for those who have moved infrequently. A successful interstate move with less stress will involve preparation, planning, and a good checklist to refer to as the moving date nears. The following is meant to be a non-exhaustive moving checklist for people who are planning an upcoming move.

As Soon As You Know You Will Be Moving, You Should…

• Get estimates from multiple moving companies. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples by asking for a detailed explanation in writing on what is and is not included in the estimate;
• Find out if the estimate is binding or non-binding;
• Order moving boxes and packing supplies as soon as possible;
• Compare your moving quotes. If all the estimates are much higher than you were expecting, consider moving yourself or not moving all your items. You may want to move only those items that you must keep while selling the rest in a yardsale or giving them away to friends, family, or charity;
• If you plan to move yourself instead of using a professional mover, get quotes from Uhaul and other similar companies. You will still need moving boxes and packing supplies.
• Keep all your moving quotes with your personal notes in an easily-accessible file or folder for easy retrieval at a later date;
• Read this household goods blog to learn about moving regulations and the household goods moving industry.

At Least One Month Prior to Your Moving Day, You Should…

• Decide if you will use a professional mover or move yourself;
• If you decide to hire a professional mover, you should make your reservation and get your final estimate in writing (whether it be a binding or a non-binding estimate);
• Contact your friends, relatives, subscriptions, credit cards, and anyone else who sends you mail and provide them with your new address;
• If your new home will not be ready by the time you need to vacate your old home, make arrangements with your moving company to temporarily store your belongings (an additional fee will likely apply), and find short-term housing for yourself;
• Gather copies of your health and dental records and look for new medical professionals in the area where you will be living;
• Use up perishable food items and minimize your purchases;
• Have school records and transcripts transferred;
• Contact your utility companies and schedule a disconnection at your old home and a connection for your new home;
• Begin packing items, but leave the fragile items for your movers to pack if you are hiring a professional moving company;
• Research rules and regulations about pets and plants in your new location. Some states and other local governments may have special rules on importing pets and plants;
• Contact your insurance companies for your automobile, homeowners, and others and let them know you will be moving;
• Gather all your important paperwork such as deeds, bills, credit cards, checkbooks, and wills, and move these items yourself;
• Secure all items of an extraordinary value such as antiques, paintings, and jewelry, and consider moving these items yourself.

One to Two Weeks Prior to Moving, You Shoud…

• Go to your local post office and fill out a change of address. You may also use the post office’s online form (note that the post office may charge a fee to change your address online);
• If you have borrowed any items from friends or local resources such as a library, make sure all those items are returned to their rightful owner;
• Cancel your newspaper service and consider subscribing to the local newspaper in your new city or town;
• Transfer your bank accounts and any safe deposit boxes;
• Pick up any dry cleaning or orders you may have at local stores;
• Confirm what time your movers will be arriving on the moving day.

On Your Moving Day, You Should…

• Watch your movers closely to make sure they are packing the appropriate items;
• Make sure the moving foreman understands your wishes;
• Read your Bill of Lading, Inventory List, Order for Service, and other moving documents carefully and ask if you don’t understand something;
• Sign all copies of moving documents;
• If you don’t understand something, ask your foreman. If the foreman is not helpful, call the moving company (their phone number should be on the Bill of Lading);
• Be sure to store your moving documents in a safe place and move these items to your new home yourself.

On Delivery Day, You Shoud…

• Check the items being delivered against the inventory list;
• Note on the inventory any damaged or missing items and then sign the inventory list for your mover;
• You will likely be required to pay your mover for the balance prior to unloading the goods (100% of the binding estimate or up to 110% of the non-binding estimate);
• Have cash on hand. Many movers will not accept checks or credit cards at delivery;
• If you have any damages or missing items, contact the moving company as soon as possible, but no later than 9 months after delivery.

Special Deals…