Know Your Rights & Responsibilities When Moving Interstate with a Full-Service Mover

The moving and storage industry is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA). This means there are many rules and regulations that every moving company must follow for an interstate move. As a customer, it is important to know what those rules are; they protect interstate movers and ensure they're covered in certain situations.

We want to share this information with you so that whichever mover you choose, you are not only aware of your rights and responsibilities as an individual shipper of household goods, but also of our responsibilities as your mover.

Key Takeaway: Legally, a moving company acts like any other shipping company. Whether you are shipping all the belongings of your home, or a single package - it's the same in the eyes of the law. One of the key problems customers can face when using moving companies is that legal documents aren't always customer-friendly. Most shipping companies deal with transportation managers who have decades of experience understanding important and legal shipping documents and know how to fill them out correctly.

During a move, you have to be your own transportation manager, which means you need to understand the legal importance of the process and how it works in order to make a smart moving decision. It can be daunting, we know - which is why good moving companies will try and help you understand them, while others will try and use the legal process to take advantage of customers who aren't experts in shipping. 

Terms to Know:

Sometimes moving companies lose everyone else by using the lingo of the industry. It can sound like a cryptic code to normal people. To better understand, let's break down some key terms you'll probably hear:

• Shipper: The person shipping their belongings. For a moving company, this is you (the customer).

• Hauler: The person or company that transports belongings for a shipper (in this case, a moving company).

• Household Goods: Belongings from inside someone's home.

• Moving Company: A company who owns trucks and has employees that will use those trucks to haul customer belongings.

• Move Broker: A company or person who doesn't perform moves or own any trucks, but acts as a middleman between shippers (customers) and haulers (moving companies). They make money by charging a customer extra money on top of what the moving company charges normally.

• Tariff: A list of rates used to calculate a price for a shipment (in this case, a move).

• Inventory: A list of all belongings being shipped (in this case, your belongings).

• Estimate: Sometimes called the "Order for Service". A detailed explanation of pricing for shipping your belongings and detail on what work will be performed.

• Claim: A process that customers use to show damage that has occurred during a move and get it rectified, if possible.

• Valuation: The liability coverage of your shipment, which explains what will happen if you need to file a claim and what will/will not be covered. Learn more about this important topic here.

• Bill of Lading: A document used by shipping companies to show what is being shipped, who owns it and where it's going. It helps authorities understand the relationship between the person hauling something, and the owner of what's being hauled.

• Freight Bill: A document used by shipping companies to show how much the shipping company is charging to haul belongings.

• Weight Ticket: A document showing the weight of your shipment. Because moving companies are hauling more than one box, it's impractical to weigh every box and prepare many weight estimates. Instead, this document will show the empty weight of a truck and the heavy weight (once loaded with your belongings). The different between the heavy and empty weight is the weight of your shipment, and this document is legal proof of that weight, if required.

Mover and Broker Responsibilities

Per the FMCSA, a household goods broker or mover must provide you with basic information before you move. You should expect to receive the following information with every quote:

• A written estimate – must include a statement notifying you of two options of liability coverage for your shipment

• The “Ready to Move” brochure

• Information about the mover’s arbitration program

• Written notice about access to the mover’s tariff

• The process for handling claims

• The booklet, “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move”

**If you are moving across state lines from a location within 50 miles from the moving company, the moving company is required by law to perform an in home estimate (unless you waive this right in writing before the shipment is loaded).

 

Customer’s Responsibilities

As a customer, you have responsibilities both to your mover and yourself. They include:

• Reading all moving documents issued by the mover or broker. This includes the order for service, inventory of your shipment, bill of lading, freight bill, and weight tickets.

• Verify that all documents are complete and correct before you sign them. (The only information that might not appear in your moving paperwork are the actual weight of your shipment and any unforeseen charges that occur during transit.)

• Being available at the time of pickup and delivery of your shipment. If you are not available you should appoint a representative to legally act on your behalf.

• Promptly notifying your mover if something has changed regarding your shipment (i.e. move dates, additional items, additional stops, etc).

• Making payment in the amount required and in the form agreed to with the mover.

• Promptly filing claims for loss, damage or delays with your mover, if necessary.

 

The above information (and more!) can be found in the "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet created by the FMCSA. If you would like to read about this topic in more detail, click here!