Department of Transportation (DOT)

The federal agency which, through the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), governs the interstate transportation industry including movers of household goods.

Fuel surcharge

The carrier's tariff provides for a percentage adjustment to the transportation charge (and storage in transit, pickup and delivery) to aid in the recovery of the increased cost of fuel. The surcharge, which can change monthly, is based upon the national average cost of diesel as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Extra labor

Hourly labor charge (15 minute minimum) for performing any requested services for which specific fees are not published. This generally covers activities such as packing/unpacking owner's furnished boxes and containers, etc.

Full-service packing and unpacking

Hundredweight rates that apply based on the weight of the shipment when the carrier is requested by shipper to pack or unpack the complete shipment. The full-service packing rates include cartons and packing labor. The full-service unpacking rates include the unpacking of carrier packed cartons and the removal of such debris.

High-value article inventory form

The carrier will have you fill out a High-Value Inventory Form to list items included in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound to ensure they are protected accordingly.

Weight additive

Some articles included in a shipment (i.e., camper shells, boats, canoes, boat trailers, etc.) are comparatively light and occupy space in the van that is not commensurate with their weight. For instance, one might load 4,000 pounds of furniture and cartons in the space taken by a 1,500-pound boat. To compensate for this inequity, our tariff provides a schedule of additional weights for such articles.

Insurance-related general increase (IRR surcharge)

The carrier's tariff provides for a percentage adjustment to the transportation charge (and storage in transit pickup and delivery) to aid in the recovery of the increased cost of carrier's and van operator's liability insurance expenses.

Origin and destination service charge

A hundredweight rate that applies based on the weight of the shipment plus any weight additives and location where the shipment is picked up and delivered. The charges compensate the carrier for basic handling and servicing of the shipment and includes services such as elevator, stair and excessive distance carries; piano and organ flight carries; additional transportation charge (ATC); basic appliance servicing (preparation of appliances to make them safe to ship); shipments moving transborder between the United States and Canada; and the import and export service charge.

Diversion

When a customer changes the destination of their shipment after it is en route, transportation charges shall be calculated from the point of origin to the point at which the carrier is able to effect the diversion, plus the transportation charge from the diversion point to the new destination point.

Shuttle service

Used if the assigned over-the-road van is unable to make a normal pickup or delivery because of physical constraints (extremely narrow road, inadequate parking area for the truck, weak bridge, etc.). A shuttle service is the use of a secondary, smaller vehicle to complete the pickup or delivery. Charges for this service are based on the weight of the shipment and the location where the service is performed.

Storage-in-transit (SIT)

The temporary storage of your household goods in the warehouse of the carrier's agent, pending further transportation at a later date. SIT service may not exceed a total of 180 calendar days. After 180 days, the interstate nature of the shipment ends and is converted to the rules of the local warehouseman.