Agent: An affiliated moving company authorized to act on behalf of a motor carrier (for instance; North American Van Lines). The affiliated moving company (the agent) may serve as the booking agent, the origin agent, the hauling agent and/or the destination agent.

Auxiliary Service (Shuttle): If the assigned over-the-road van is unable to make a normal pickup/delivery because of physical constraints and a second, smaller, vehicle is needed, this is considered Auxiliary Service (a shuttle). Examples of such physical constraints include situations such as a road or driveway that is too narrow, a bridge unable to support the weight of the van, and the inability to park the moving van within a reasonable distance of the pickup or the delivery residence. Charges for the second, smaller, vehicle are assessed on an hourly basis, in addition to charges for the extra labor involved in making the pickup with the shuttle truck.

Bill of Lading: The is your contract with the carrier. It is your receipt for your goods and the contract for their transportation. Your signature acknowledges that your goods have been loaded on the moving van and "released to the carrier".

Booking Agent (AKA: Writing Agent): The agent who accepts the order for your move and registers it with the van line. The booking agent may, or may not, also act as your origin or your destination agent.

Bulky Article: Items such as cars, boats, snowmobiles and campers usually carry a bulky article charge to compensate the carrier for the difficulty of loading and unloading such articles, and their unusual bulk or low weight density. In some cases, an additional "weight additive" is applicable.

Carrier: The company providing transportation for your household goods and on whose interstate or intrastate operating authority the shipment is moved.

Carrier's Liability For Loss or Damage: The liability that the Carrier assumes for your possessions. This amount can be as samm as $0.30 per pound per article (for moves within a State) or $0.60 per pound per article for Interstate moves on up to Full Replacement Value with no deductible. The are several different liability options available to you so be sure to ask the Carrier's Representative to explain each option, it's ramifications and it's cost. Carrier's Liability For Loss or Damage is often incorrectly referred to as "insurance" .

Claim: Shipper's statement of loss or damage to any of his or her household goods while they were in the care of the carrier or its agent. Such a statement is generally made on a "Claim Form".

C.O.D. (Cash On Delivery): Shipments where customer pays moving charges at the time of delivery. For C.O.D. shipments, payment is required in cash, or by traveler's check, money order, cashier's check or credit card (pending a prior credit card approval process). Personal checks are not accepted for payment of C.O.D. charges.

Consignee: The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered.

Consignor: The person from whom the shipment picked up from.

CP (Carrier Packed): Articles packed into cartons or crates by the carrier, not the shipper.

Cwt.: This abbreviation stands for the rate or charge per 100 pounds.

Deadhead: Empty (unloaded) miles traveled by a driver in order to move his or her truck to pickup a paying load.

Declared Valuation: The shipper's indication of the value declared for the possessions being shipped, thereby establishing the carrier's maximum liability for loss or damage to the shipment. If no value is declared, the liability is then controlled by the tariff under which the shipment is moved.

Destination Agent: The agent designated in the destination area to be available to assist or provide information to you or the van operator regarding your shipment.

Elevator Carry: A charge to compensate the carrier for the additional labor required to move a shipment by way of an elevator.

Estimate: An professional assessment as to the van space requirements, weight of your household goods and cost of the move determined by the physical visual inspection of a shipment by a representative of the carrier.

Expedited Service: A program which, for an additional charge, allows a specific delivery date to be requested. If the date is not met, only standard charges apply.

Flight Carry (Stair Carry): A charge to compensate the carrier for the additional labor and time required to move a shipment up or down flights of stairs which lead to or from an origin or destination residence.

Extra Stop (Extra Pickup or Delivery): If a van operator is required to make an extra stop at either origin or destination (other than the main pickup or delivery points) an extra charge is assessed - the charge is determined by the tariff.

Flight Charge (Stair Carry): An extra charge for carrying items such as pianos to a higher or lower floor.

Full Replacement Value Protection: A valuation program which does not incorporate depreciation as a factor in settling claims for loss or damage.

Inventory: The list itemizing the goods (and their condition) that you have released to the carrier.

Linehaul: The tariff transportation charge to move your shipment from point of origin to it's final point of destination.

Long Carry (Distance Carry): A charge assessed when a shipment must be moved more than 75 feet from the rear of the moving van to the entrance of the residence.

Long Haul: A move that takes place over 450 miles. Long hauls are (generally) performed with tractor-trailers.

Lowball: An estimate of moving costs that is purposely estimated on the low side in order to secure a move from the customer. 

Operating Authority: Certification issued by a state or federal governmental entity authorizing a carrier to move household goods between designated geographical areas. A van line's agent may also have its own separate "operating authority" issued by a state or federal governmental entity, to move shipments within a certain geographical area.

Order For Service: The document authorizing the carrier to transport your household goods.

Order For Service Number: The number used to identify your shipment. It appears in the upper right corner of the Bill of Lading and on the Order for Service.

Origin Agent: The agent designated in the origin area to be available for preliminary readying of the shipment before movement (such as packing cartons), or to provide information to you regarding your move.

Overflow (aka "Leaveover"): Articles that are left behind due to insufficient space on a van, to be loaded on a second van for transportation and delivery.