The Specialty Item Kings of Texas
Moving glossary — plain language.
The industry's most-used terms, explained by movers, not marketers. Bill of Lading, COI, Full Value Protection, valuation tiers, long carries, hoists, corporate-relo (Cartus / Sirva / Aires), and the rest of the language you need before you sign anything.
A real industry glossary
153
Defined Terms
8
Categories
Each
Own URL · own FAQ
Cited
By AI Engines
Estimates & Paperwork · 16 terms
Estimates & Paperwork
Arbitration Clause
also: arbitration agreement, dispute resolution clause
An arbitration clause in a moving contract requires disputes between the customer and the carrier to be resolved through binding arbitration rather than court litigation. The clause is typically buried in the Bill of Lading boilerplate.
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Bill of Lading
also: BOL, B/L
A Bill of Lading (BOL) is the legal contract between you and your moving company. It serves as a receipt for your goods, an itemized inventory, and the binding agreement that governs the move.
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Binding Estimate
also: binding quote, guaranteed price
A binding estimate is a written quote where the mover agrees that the price specified is the final price — the customer pays exactly the binding amount regardless of whether the actual move weight or services differ from the estimate (within the scope of services originally quoted).
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Binding Not-to-Exceed
also: Not-to-exceed binding, Maximum-price binding
Binding not-to-exceed is an estimate format where the carrier commits to a maximum price; the customer pays either the actual cost or the maximum, whichever is lower, providing customer-favorable pricing protection.
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Cube Sheet
also: Inventory cube count, Volume estimate
A cube sheet is the estimator's working document that converts every item in a household into cubic feet of truck volume, used to calculate the shipping weight estimate for an interstate move.
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Inspection Report
also: origin inspection, destination inspection
An Inspection Report is a document produced by the carrier's senior estimator or the RMC's inspector that documents the household inventory and condition at origin (before loading) or destination (after delivery).
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Inventory Sheet
also: Inventory, Item List, Manifest
An Inventory Sheet is the itemized list of every piece of furniture, box, and object the moving company is transporting, with a condition note next to each item recording any pre-existing wear or damage at pickup.
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Non-Binding Estimate
also: Estimate, Approximation
A Non-Binding Estimate is a written estimate that approximates the cost of a move but does not guarantee the final price — the actual charges depend on actual weight, time, or services delivered.
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Not-to-Exceed Proposal
also: NTE, Capped Estimate
A Not-to-Exceed Proposal is a written moving estimate, defined by Texas TxDMV regulation, that states the maximum price you can be charged for the move — actual charges may be less but cannot exceed the proposal amount.
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Order for Service
also: OFS, Service Order, Move Authorization
An Order for Service is the federally required pre-move document on interstate moves that authorizes the carrier to perform the move — listing pickup and delivery addresses, dates, services, pricing terms, and the customer’s acknowledgment of valuation choices and disclosures.
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Photo / Video Estimate
also: Virtual Estimate, Video Walk-Through, Remote Estimate, Photo Estimate
A Photo / Video Estimate is a written moving estimate prepared from customer-supplied photos, videos, or a live video walk-through — no in-home visit required — used to scope and price moves remotely.
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Photo Estimate
also: virtual estimate, photo walkthrough
A photo estimate is a written moving estimate based on customer-provided photos and videos of the household goods rather than an in-home inspection. Standard option for time-sensitive bookings or remote customers.
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Tariff
also: Rate Sheet, Published Rates, Carrier Tariff
A Tariff is the published rate sheet a moving carrier files with regulators (FMCSA for interstate, TxDMV for Texas intrastate) — listing hourly rates, per-hundredweight rates, mileage charges, and accessorial fees that govern what the carrier can charge for services.
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Walk-Through
also: Pre-Move Walk-Through, Post-Move Walk-Through, Survey
A Walk-Through is a guided tour of the move location with the moving company — performed before the move (to scope and inventory) and at the end (to confirm completion and condition).
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Weight Ticket
also: Certified Weight Ticket, Scale Ticket
A Weight Ticket is the certified document recording the weight of a moving truck before and after loading, used to calculate the actual weight of a non-binding-estimate shipment and to verify PPM reimbursement claims for military moves.
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Written Estimate
also: Written Quote, Move Quote, Estimate Document
A Written Estimate is a documented price quote provided by a moving company before the move — listing scope of work, rate structure, accessorial charges, and any specialty services — that becomes the reference point for the final bill.
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Coverage & Claims · 11 terms
Coverage & Claims
Art Condition Report
also: Pre-move art documentation, Conservation report
An art condition report is a detailed pre-move documentation of a fine art piece's current condition, photographed and described to establish baseline for any damage claim after a move.
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Claim Deadline
also: Claim window, Time to file claim
The claim deadline is the federal- or state-mandated time window during which a customer must file a written damage or loss claim against a moving company, typically 9 months for interstate moves and 90 days for intrastate Texas moves.
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Claims Process
also: Moving Claim, Damage Claim, Loss Claim
The Claims Process is the documented procedure a customer follows to seek compensation from a moving carrier for items damaged, lost, or destroyed during a move — beginning with an exception note on the Bill of Lading at delivery and ending with the carrier’s repair, replacement, or cash payment.
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Declared Value
also: Declared Valuation, Shipment Value
Declared Value is the total dollar amount the customer declares the shipment is worth on the Bill of Lading — used to set the cap on the carrier’s liability under Full Value Protection and to calculate the valuation premium.
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Full Value Protection
also: FVP, Full Replacement Value
Full Value Protection is the higher tier of moving-company valuation: if an item is lost or damaged, the mover repairs it, replaces it with a similar item, or pays the item's current cash value.
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High-Value Inventory (HVI)
also: HVI, extraordinary value items, items of extraordinary value
High-Value Inventory (HVI) is a separate inventory list — required by federal regulation on interstate moves — itemizing any single article worth more than $100 per pound. Items not on the HVI list are typically not eligible for full-replacement claims at their actual value.
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Inconvenience Claim
also: delay claim, late delivery claim
An inconvenience claim is reimbursement for additional expenses (hotel, meals, alternative arrangements) incurred when a carrier delays delivery beyond the agreed window. Federal regulation establishes specific reimbursement formulas for interstate moves.
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Inventory Discrepancy
also: Inventory mismatch, Missing item dispute
An inventory discrepancy is a difference between the items listed on the origin inventory sheet (signed at pickup) and the items confirmed at destination (signed at delivery), used to track missing or damaged goods.
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Released Value Protection
also: RVP, Basic Valuation, 60 cents per pound
Released Value Protection is the basic, no-cost level of liability coverage every interstate mover must offer by law: 60 cents per pound per article, regardless of the item's actual value.
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Third-Party Moving Insurance
also: Moving Insurance, Third-Party Insurance, Separate Moving Coverage
Third-Party Moving Insurance is a separate insurance policy — purchased from an insurance carrier rather than the moving company — that covers loss or damage to household goods during a move, used alongside or instead of the mover’s valuation coverage.
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Valuation
also: Moving Valuation, Carrier Liability Coverage, Valuation Coverage
Valuation is the moving industry’s contractual liability framework that defines the carrier’s financial responsibility for lost or damaged goods — it is not insurance, even though it is often confused with insurance.
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Pricing & Billing · 27 terms
Pricing & Billing
15-Minute Proration
also: 15-Minute Increments, Quarter-Hour Billing, Time Proration
15-Minute Proration is the billing practice of charging local-move time in 15-minute increments after the 2-hour minimum — rather than rounding up to the next full hour — so the customer pays for actual crew time used.
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2-Hour Minimum
also: Two-Hour Minimum, Hourly Minimum, Moving Minimum
The 2-Hour Minimum is the standard floor on local moving labor charges: customers are billed for at least two hours of crew time, even if the move takes less. Time beyond the minimum is prorated.
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Accessorial Services
also: Additional Services, Ancillary Services
Accessorial Services are services beyond the basic line-haul transportation portion of a move — such as packing, unpacking, appliance servicing, piano carrying, long-carry fees, stair carrying, or hoisting — that are billed separately from the standard moving charge.
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COD Payment
also: Cash on Delivery, Pay at delivery
COD payment (Cash on Delivery) is the practice of collecting the full balance of a move at the time of delivery, before the truck is unloaded — a common practice for residential interstate and long-distance moves.
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Corporate Tariff
also: RMC tariff, corporate-relo tariff
A corporate tariff is the pricing structure agreed between a carrier and a Relocation Management Company (RMC) for moves authorized under the RMC's program. Typically higher than the carrier's retail tariff to absorb the RMC's overhead and the more rigorous documentation requirements.
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Destination Fees
also: destination charges
Destination fees are the costs incurred at the delivery location — typically including the labor for unloading, placement, debris removal, destination weight-ticket acquisition (if needed), and destination inspection.
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Detention Time
also: Wait time, Delay charge
Detention time is the period a moving crew waits at the loading or delivery site due to customer-caused delays — keys not available, building manager unavailable, paperwork not ready — billed at the crew's hourly rate.
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Expedited Delivery
also: Express delivery, Premium delivery
Expedited delivery is a moving service tier that guarantees faster transit time than standard delivery, used for time-critical moves with tight closing dates or job-start deadlines, typically priced 30-100% above standard rates.
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Extra Stop Charge
also: Stop Fee, Additional Stop Fee, Multi-Stop Charge
An Extra Stop Charge is an accessorial fee billed when the moving crew has to pick up or drop off items at a stop beyond the primary origin and destination — used for moves with multiple addresses, storage swaps, or interim drop-offs.
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Flat-Rate Move
also: Flat-Fee Move, All-Inclusive Move, Fixed-Price Move
A Flat-Rate Move is a move priced as a single all-in fee — agreed in writing before move day and not tied to hourly time or weight — covering the agreed scope regardless of how long the move takes.
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Flight Charge
also: Per-Flight Charge, Stair Flight Fee, Apartment Flight Fee
A Flight Charge is an accessorial fee billed per flight of stairs the moving crew has to carry items up or down beyond the first flight — most commonly applied on apartment moves to 3rd, 4th, or higher floors without elevator access.
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Fuel Surcharge
also: Diesel surcharge, Fuel adjustment
A fuel surcharge is a separate line-item fee added to moving estimates that accounts for diesel fuel costs above a baseline rate, indexed to the Department of Energy weekly diesel price.
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Gross-Up
also: tax gross-up, relocation gross-up
Gross-up is the corporate-relocation practice of adding extra payment to a relocation benefit so that, after taxes are withheld, the employee nets the full intended amount — covering the federal, state, and sometimes local tax burden that would otherwise reduce the benefit.
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Hoist Fee
also: Hoisting Charge, Crane Service
A Hoist Fee is an additional charge applied when an item is too large to fit through a doorway, hallway, or stairwell and must be lifted (hoisted) through a balcony, window, or upper-floor opening using straps, pulleys, or a crane.
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Hourly Rate
also: Local Move Rate, Crew Rate, Hourly Charge
The Hourly Rate is the per-hour charge a moving carrier bills for local moves — covering the crew, the truck, fuel, equipment, and pad-wrap — with a defined minimum (typically 2 hours) and proration unit (typically 15 minutes) stated on the written estimate.
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Impracticable Operations
also: Special Service Charges
Impracticable Operations are conditions at the pickup or delivery location that make it physically impossible for the mover to use its normal road-haul equipment, requiring specialized equipment or additional labor — and triggering additional charges defined in the mover's tariff.
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Long Carry Fee
also: Long Carry, Long Carry Charge
A Long Carry Fee is an additional charge applied when the moving crew has to carry items unusually far between the truck and the entrance — typically when the truck cannot park within 75 feet of the front door.
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Lump-Sum
also: Bundled pricing, Single-quote move
A lump-sum estimate is a single fixed price that combines all moving services into one figure — labor, transit, materials, insurance, packing, unpacking — rather than itemizing each component separately.
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Mover Tip Amount
also: Tipping movers, Tip recommendation
Mover tip amount is the cash gratuity given to the moving crew at the end of a successful move, typically $20-50 per crew member for local moves and $50-100 per crew member for long-distance.
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Origin Fees
also: origin charges
Origin fees are the costs incurred at the loading location — typically including the labor for packing, padding, loading, weight-ticket acquisition, and origin inspection.
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Overflow Charge
also: Excess weight fee, Tonnage overage
An overflow charge is a fee added to the final bill when the actual shipping weight exceeds the binding estimate weight by more than the allowed tolerance (typically 10% per federal rules), applicable on interstate moves.
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Reverse Lane Discount
also: Backhaul discount, Empty-truck pricing
A reverse lane discount is reduced pricing offered on long-distance moves that align with the carrier's existing route in the opposite direction — using a truck that would otherwise return empty after a previous load.
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Reweigh
also: Re-weigh, Weight verification
A reweigh is a second weighing of the moving truck at the customer's request, used to verify the shipping weight that determines the final move price on interstate moves.
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Shipping Weight
also: certified shipping weight, net weight
Shipping weight is the certified weight of the household goods being moved — measured at a certified scale, derived from the difference between the truck's loaded weight and its empty (tare) weight.
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Stair Carry Fee
also: Flight Charge, Stair Charge
A Stair Carry Fee is an additional charge applied when the moving crew has to carry items up or down stairs beyond a single flight. Most carriers charge per flight beyond the first, or per step over a defined threshold.
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Tare Weight
also: empty weight
Tare weight is the empty weight of the moving truck (truck + driver, no cargo). Subtracted from the loaded weight to determine the shipping weight on interstate moves.
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Tip Recommendation
also: mover tip, gratuity
Industry-standard tipping for movers — typically $20-$50 per crew member per day for residential moves, scaled by service quality and move complexity. Tips are appreciated but never required.
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Services & Move Types · 46 terms
Services & Move Types
Access Survey
also: Site survey, Pre-move access check
An access survey is the pre-move inspection of origin and destination locations to identify obstacles to moving — narrow streets, low-clearance bridges, gate restrictions, elevator availability, HOA requirements.
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Aires
also: Aires Relocation, Aires Group
Aires is a privately held, Pittsburgh-headquartered Relocation Management Company specializing in corporate transferee mobility, international assignments, and group-move programs.
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Cartus
also: Cartus Corporation, Cartus Relocation
Cartus is one of the largest Relocation Management Companies in the U.S., handling corporate transferee moves, international assignments, and group-move programs for Fortune 500 employers and many oil-and-gas operators.
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Corporate Relocation
also: Employer-paid move, Workforce relocation
A corporate relocation is a move where the customer's employer pays for some or all of the moving expenses, typically managed through a Relocation Management Company (RMC) like Cartus, Sirva, Aires, or Graebel.
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Delivery Spread
also: Delivery Window
A Delivery Spread is the range of dates (typically 2 to 14 days for long-distance moves) within which a moving carrier will deliver your shipment — required by federal regulation to be disclosed in writing on the Bill of Lading.
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Door-to-Door Service
also: Direct delivery, No-warehouse-stop
Door-to-door service is a moving model where the same crew loads at origin and delivers at destination with no intermediate warehouse stop, container transfer, or carrier interlining.
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E-Track
also: e-track system, cargo tie-down rails
E-Track is the cargo-securing rail system installed inside moving trucks — horizontal rails along the truck walls with slots for ratchet straps and load bars. Used to secure items during transit so they don't shift in motion.
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FF&E
also: Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment, Office FF&E
FF&E stands for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment — the movable contents of a commercial space distinct from the real estate, typically the items inventoried during a commercial move or lease-end decommission.
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First-Night Essentials
also: Survival box, Open-first box
First-night essentials is the box (or multiple boxes) packed last and unloaded first, containing the items a household needs the first 24-48 hours at the new home — toiletries, medications, basic kitchen, change of clothes, phone chargers.
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Full-Service Move
also: Full-Service Moving, Complete Move Service
A Full-Service Move is a move where the carrier handles every step — packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking — using carrier-supplied materials and crew labor for the entire process, rather than the customer handling any portion themselves.
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Graebel
also: Graebel Relocation, Graebel Companies
Graebel Companies is a privately held global Relocation Management Company headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, handling corporate transferee moves, international assignments, and group-move programs for Fortune 500 employers and U.S. federal-government clients.
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Guaranteed Delivery Window
also: Locked delivery date, Date-certain delivery
Guaranteed delivery window is a moving contract clause that specifies a precise delivery date or narrow date range (24-48 hours), with carrier penalties if the window is missed.
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Interstate Move
also: Out-of-State Move, Cross-State Move
An Interstate Move is any move where origin and destination are in different states — regulated at the federal level by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and governed by 49 CFR.
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Intrastate Move
also: In-State Move, Texas Move
An Intrastate Move is any move where origin and destination are in the same state — in Texas, regulated by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643.
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Labor-Only Move
also: Loading Only, Unloading Only, Hourly Labor
A Labor-Only Move is a service where the moving company provides crew labor — packing, loading, unloading, or any combination — but the customer supplies the truck, container, or vehicle being loaded.
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Last-Minute Move
also: Same-Day Move, Emergency Move, 24-Hour Move
A Last-Minute Move is a move booked within 24-72 hours of the move date — sometimes same-day — usually driven by a lease change, closing delay, family emergency, or another mover canceling.
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Lease-End Cleanup
also: Move-out cleaning, Tenant restoration
Lease-end cleanup is the process of returning a rental property to original condition at the end of a lease, including thorough cleaning, repairing minor damage, and any items the landlord's move-out checklist requires — separate from the moving process itself.
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Live Load
also: Live loading, Customer-witnessed load
A live load is when the moving truck pulls up to your home, the crew loads your goods directly, and the truck departs immediately — without intermediate warehouse storage or container transfer.
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Load-Only Service
also: loading-only, load assistance
Load-only service is a partial-service moving arrangement where the carrier crew loads the customer's truck (or POD, U-Haul, Penske, etc.) at origin but does NOT transport or unload. Customer drives the truck and arranges unload separately.
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Long-Distance Move
also: Long-Haul Move, Out-of-State Move, Cross-Country Move
A Long-Distance Move is any move where origin and destination are far enough apart that the move is billed by weight and distance rather than hourly — typically 50+ miles, and almost always when the move crosses state lines.
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Lump-Sum Relocation
also: lump-sum benefit, cash-out relocation
A lump-sum relocation is a corporate-relocation arrangement where the employer pays the employee a single fixed amount to cover all relocation expenses, leaving the employee to arrange and pay for the move themselves, rather than coordinating the move through a Relocation Management Company (RMC).
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Move Coordinator
also: Move manager, Customer success
A move coordinator is the moving company's designated point of contact who manages a customer's move from estimate to delivery, handling logistics, scheduling, paperwork, and any issues that arise.
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Mover Uniforms
also: crew uniforms, branded gear
Mover uniforms are the branded apparel that crew members wear during moves — shirts (typically polo or t-shirt), pants or shorts, and sometimes hats. Reputable carriers issue uniforms; rogue or fly-by-night movers often don't.
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Notification of Delivery
also: 24-Hour Delivery Notice
Notification of Delivery is the federally required 24-hour advance notice a long-distance mover must give the customer before delivering the shipment — excluding weekends and federal holidays from the calculation.
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Oilfield Relocation
also: Permian Basin relo, Energy sector move
Oilfield relocation is a moving service tailored to oilfield workers and executives — operations staff, engineers, geologists, executives — relocating to or from the Permian Basin, Bakken, Eagle Ford, or other major oilfield regions, often on tight timelines with corporate-relo packages.
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Overflow Truck
also: Secondary truck, Auxiliary load truck
An overflow truck is a second moving truck dispatched to handle items that exceed the capacity of the primary truck, ensuring all items are moved on the scheduled day.
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Partial Pack
also: partial packing, kitchen pack, fragile-only pack
A partial pack is a packing-service arrangement where the mover packs only specific rooms, categories, or fragile items rather than the entire household, with the customer packing the remainder themselves (PBO — Packed By Owner).
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Partial Pack Service
also: Hybrid pack, Selective packing
Partial pack service is a packing arrangement where the moving company packs only specific rooms or items — typically kitchen, fragile decor, art, antiques — while the customer packs the rest of the household.
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PCS Move
also: Permanent Change of Station, military PCS
A PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move is a U.S. military relocation between duty stations, where the government either authorizes a contracted move through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) or reimburses the service member for a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY).
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PCS Orders
also: Permanent Change of Station orders, Military relocation orders
PCS Orders are the official military document directing a service member to relocate to a new permanent duty station, triggering the military-paid relocation process including approved moving vendors and reimbursement schedules.
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Pickup Window
also: pickup spread, load window
A pickup window is the date range during which the moving carrier agrees to begin loading at the origin address. Long-distance moves typically have 1-3 day pickup windows; some specialty moves have point-of-load (no window — specific date).
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Post-Move Walkthrough
also: Delivery walkthrough, Final walkthrough
A post-move walkthrough is the inspection done by the crew lead and customer at the end of move day, confirming all inventory items arrived, condition of items and the new home, and any exceptions (missing or damaged items) before the crew departs.
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Pre-Move Walkthrough
also: Move-day walkthrough, Pre-load walkthrough
A pre-move walkthrough is the inspection done by the crew lead and customer at the start of move day, confirming the inventory, condition of items and the home, scope of services, and any special requirements before loading begins.
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Real Estate Staging Move
also: Stager furniture move, Real estate prep move
A real estate staging move is the relocation of furniture and decor for the purpose of staging a home for sale — typically managed by professional home stagers or real estate agents and reversed once the home sells.
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Relocation Management Company
also: RMC, corporate relocation company, third-party relocation administrator, third-party-paid mover
A Relocation Management Company (RMC) is a third-party administrator hired by a corporate employer to coordinate every aspect of an employee's relocation — including the household-goods move, temporary housing, home sale or lease termination, destination services, and expense reimbursement.
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Senior Move Management
also: SMM, Aging-in-place move
Senior Move Management is a specialized moving service for older adults relocating from family homes to senior living, assisted living, or retirement communities, with sensitivity to the emotional and logistical complexities of late-life transitions.
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Shuttle Service
also: shuttle truck, transfer truck, small-truck shuttle
A shuttle service is the use of a smaller transport vehicle (16- or 20-foot box truck) to bridge between the main moving truck and a destination that the main truck cannot physically access — typically due to narrow streets, low canopy clearance, parking restrictions, or driveway grade.
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Shuttle Truck
also: shuttle vehicle
A shuttle truck is a smaller transport vehicle (typically 16- or 20-foot box truck) used to bridge between the main moving truck and a destination the main truck cannot physically access — due to narrow streets, low canopy clearance, hillside grade, or HOA truck-length restrictions.
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Sirva
also: Sirva Worldwide, Sirva Relocation, SIRVA
Sirva is a global Relocation Management Company headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, handling corporate transferee moves, international assignments, and group-move programs for major employers.
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Split Shipment
also: Multi-stop delivery, Two-delivery move
A split shipment is a single move that includes two or more separate delivery addresses, common when a customer is dropping items at a storage facility before continuing to the new home, or delivering to a second property.
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Sun City Texas Move
also: Active-adult community move, Georgetown retirement move
A Sun City Texas move is a relocation into Del Webb's Sun City Texas master-planned active-adult (55+) community in Georgetown, Texas, often by retirees from California, Florida, Illinois, or other states.
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Transit Delay
also: Late delivery, Schedule slip
Transit delay is a delivery later than the agreed-upon date, typically caused by weather, equipment failure, route disruption, or higher-than-expected demand at the carrier's facilities.
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Van Line
also: National van line, Major mover
A van line is a national moving company that operates a network of affiliate carriers (origin agents, destination agents, drivers) under a unified brand, typically handling long-distance and interstate moves through interlining.
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Volunteer Help
also: Friend labor, Self-help moving
Volunteer help is the practice of using friends, family, or hired labor (not a professional moving company) to assist with packing, loading, or unloading a move — typically for cost savings on smaller moves.
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White-Glove Moving
also: White-Glove Service, Premium Moving
White-Glove Moving is a premium service tier where the crew handles every detail beyond standard moving — full packing with premium materials, custom crating, floor and wall protection, furniture disassembly and reassembly, placement at the new location, and unpacking — with attention to high-value or design-sensitive items.
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Workspace Decommission
also: Office decommission, Tenant decommission
Workspace decommission is the process of preparing a leased office space for return to the landlord at lease-end, including furniture removal, cabling teardown, signage removal, wall patches, and broom-clean restoration.
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Specialty Handling · 17 terms
Specialty Handling
Antique Handling
also: Antique furniture moving, Heirloom handling
Antique handling is the specialized care required for moving valuable older furniture and decorative items — typically 75+ years old — with attention to wood preservation, joinery integrity, finish preservation, and museum-standard packing techniques.
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Climate-Controlled Transit
also: Temperature-controlled transport, CCT
Climate-controlled transit is a moving service where the truck cargo space is maintained at a specific temperature and humidity throughout the route, used for fine art, wine collections, electronics, and other temperature-sensitive items.
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Commercial Fixtures Disassembly
also: Office fixtures teardown, Retail fixtures move
Commercial fixtures disassembly is the professional disassembly of permanently-installed or custom commercial furniture and fixtures — modular workstations, retail displays, restaurant booths, conference tables, partition walls — for moving to a new location.
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Crating
also: Custom Crating, Wood Crating
Crating is the practice of building a custom-fit wooden box around a fragile, high-value, or irregularly shaped item to protect it during transit — most commonly used for fine art, mirrors, glass tops, antiques, electronics, and specialty equipment.
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Crating Charge
also: Custom crate fee, Build-a-crate charge
A crating charge is the additional fee for building a custom wooden crate around a specific item — typically fine art, antiques, mirrors, glass tables, or other oversize or unique items that need rigid protection beyond standard packing.
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Designer Receiving
also: Receiving Warehouse, White-Glove Receiving, Designer Receivership
Designer Receiving is a specialty logistics service where high-value furniture and decor — often shipped directly from manufacturers, showrooms, or auction houses — is delivered to a secure warehouse for inspection, storage, and final white-glove delivery to the client’s home.
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Hoisting Service
also: Hoisting, Hoist Operation, Rigging Service
Hoisting Service is the physical operation of lifting an oversized or hard-to-access item — sofa, mattress, glass top, safe, piano — through a balcony, window, stairwell, or upper-floor opening using straps, pulleys, rigging, or a crane.
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Pad Wrap
also: Blanket Wrap, Moving Pads, Furniture Pads
Pad Wrap is the standard furniture-protection method on every move: wrapping each piece of furniture in heavy moving blankets (pads) secured with stretch wrap or rubber bands before it is loaded onto the truck.
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Piano Board
also: Piano Skid, Piano Dolly Board
A Piano Board is a heavy-duty padded board with reinforced straps used to safely move grand and baby grand pianos — the piano is laid on its side onto the board, secured with straps, and rolled on a dolly to the truck.
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Piano Tuning After Move
also: Post-move piano tuning, New-location piano tuning
Piano tuning after a move is the professional re-tuning of a piano typically required 2-4 weeks after relocation, as the piano acclimates to the new home's temperature and humidity conditions.
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Pool Table Reassembly
also: Slate re-leveling, Pool table setup
Pool table reassembly is the process of re-installing the slate playing surface, re-leveling the table, and re-stretching the felt at the destination after a slate-bed pool table has been disassembled for moving.
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Rigging Fee
also: Specialty rigging charge, Heavy-lift fee
A rigging fee is the additional charge for moving extremely heavy or awkward items — gun safes over 600 lbs, hot tubs, pool tables, industrial equipment — using specialty equipment like rigging dollies, hoists, or crane lifts.
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Server Room Relocation
also: Data center move, IT relocation
Server room relocation is the moving of mission-critical IT infrastructure — racks, servers, network equipment, storage arrays, UPS systems, and cabling — typically requiring specialized handling, anti-static protocols, and coordination with the customer's IT team.
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Shrink Wrap
also: stretch wrap, plastic wrap
Shrink wrap is the clear plastic film applied around furniture or other items during a move — protecting against dust, scratches, and light moisture. Used alongside pad-wrap, not instead of it.
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Specialty Equipment Needed
also: Specialty handling required, Equipment-required move
Specialty equipment needed is a notation on a move estimate indicating items requiring specific equipment beyond standard moving dollies and pads — typically pianos, gun safes, hot tubs, pool tables, fine art, antiques, or oversize machinery.
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Spider / Lift Strap
also: Lift Straps, Moving Straps, Forearm Forklift, Spider Strap
Spider or Lift Straps are heavy-duty rigging straps worn by two crew members and looped around an oversized item — sofa, mattress, dresser, large appliance, gun safe — that distribute the weight and let the crew leverage their legs and shoulders to lift safely.
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Wine Cellar Relocation
also: Wine collection move, Cellared wine transit
Wine cellar relocation is the specialized moving of a wine collection — typically 200-2,000 bottles — with climate-controlled transit, anti-vibration handling, and specialized packing to preserve cellared bottles' integrity.
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Inventory Codes & Symbols · 7 terms
Inventory Codes & Symbols
Carrier Packed
also: CP, Carrier-Packed Carton, Mover Packed
Carrier Packed (CP) is a notation on a moving inventory indicating that the moving company — not the customer — packed the items inside a carton. CP cartons are eligible for full damage liability under the carrier’s valuation coverage.
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High-Value Articles Inventory
also: HVA Inventory, HVA, High-Value Inventory
A High-Value Articles (HVA) Inventory is a separate, itemized list of items in a shipment that exceed a per-pound value threshold — typically $100 per pound — used to identify and document items requiring extra care and full declared-value coverage.
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Inventory Condition Code
also: condition code, item condition
An Inventory Condition Code is the letter notation on each item in the move inventory describing its condition at origin — scratched (SC), gouged (G), broken (B), dented (D), missing parts (MP), etc. Used to document pre-existing damage so it isn't confused with move-caused damage.
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Inventory Condition Symbols
also: Condition Codes, Inventory Codes, Exception Symbols
Inventory Condition Symbols are the standardized one- or two-letter codes — including BR (broken), SC (scratched), D (dented), M (marred), CH (chipped), and others — that movers use on the inventory sheet to record the pre-existing condition of each item at pickup.
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Inventory Location Codes
also: Location Codes, Damage Location Codes
Inventory Location Codes are the standardized abbreviations — T (top), B (bottom), L (left), R (right), BO (back outside) — used on the inventory sheet to identify exactly where on an item a condition note or exception applies.
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Mechanical Condition Unknown
also: U, Mech. Condition Unknown, MCU
Mechanical Condition Unknown (U) is an inventory notation indicating that the moving crew cannot verify whether an appliance, electronic, or mechanical item works before it is loaded — so the carrier is not responsible for non-working condition at delivery.
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Packed by Owner
also: PBO
Packed by Owner (PBO) is a notation on a moving inventory indicating that the customer — not the moving company — packed the items inside a carton. PBO cartons are treated differently from carrier-packed cartons for damage liability.
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Storage · 7 terms
Storage
Long-Term Storage
also: Permanent Storage, Extended Storage, Warehouse Storage
Long-Term Storage is multi-month or open-ended storage of household goods in a secure warehouse — separate from short-gap on-truck storage and from the 180-day Storage in Transit (SIT) under federal tariff — typically billed monthly per cubic foot or per vault.
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On-Truck Storage
also: Truck Hold, Overnight on Truck, Short-Gap Storage
On-Truck Storage is the practice of leaving a loaded moving truck parked overnight or for a short gap — typically 1-3 days — between move-out at the origin and move-in at the destination, billed daily.
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Portable Storage
also: Container Storage, Vault Storage, Portable Container
Portable Storage is a storage method where goods are loaded into a weatherproof container or wood vault on-site, then transported to a secure warehouse or kept at the property — used for renovations, staging, gap-storage, and flexible move timelines.
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Short-Term Storage
also: Bridge storage, Gap-period storage
Short-term storage is climate-controlled storage of a customer's household contents for less than 90 days, typically used during home renovation, gap between selling and buying, temporary employer-paid housing, or moving date alignment.
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SIT Charge
also: storage-in-transit charge, SIT fee
A SIT (Storage in Transit) charge is the daily or monthly fee for storing household goods during the transit window between origin pack-out and destination delivery. Common when the destination move-in date lags the origin move-out.
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Storage in Transit
also: SIT, In-Transit Storage
Storage in Transit (SIT) is short-term warehouse storage of a long-distance shipment between pickup and delivery — used when the customer’s delivery date is delayed, the new home is not ready, or transit schedules need a buffer day or week.
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Storage Vault
also: Wooden storage container, SIT vault
A storage vault is a wooden container (typically 5'x7'x8' = ~280 cubic feet) used by moving companies to store household goods during Storage-in-Transit periods, with the customer's shipment self-contained within the vault.
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Regulatory & Professional · 22 terms
Regulatory & Professional
Asbestos Clearance Required
also: Pre-move asbestos check, Older home asbestos
Asbestos clearance required is a notation on a move estimate indicating that the home (typically built 1920-1980) may contain asbestos-containing materials that require professional assessment before disturbance during the move.
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BOC-3
also: Form BOC-3, process agent filing
A BOC-3 (Designation of Agents for Service of Process) is a federal filing required by FMCSA for every motor carrier that operates interstate. It designates an agent in every state to receive legal documents on the carrier's behalf.
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Building COI
also: Building insurance certificate, HOA COI
A Building COI (Certificate of Insurance) is a document issued by the moving company's insurance broker confirming the carrier's liability coverage, named to the destination building manager or HOA as an Additional Insured for the move day.
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CDL
also: Commercial Driver's License, Class A CDL, Class B CDL
A CDL (Commercial Driver's License) is the federally required license for any driver operating a commercial motor vehicle above certain weight thresholds — including the box trucks (Class B) and tractor-trailers (Class A) used in household-goods moving.
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Certificate of Insurance
also: COI, Insurance Certificate, Building COI
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document a moving company provides to a property manager, building manager, or commercial landlord proving that the mover carries the insurance coverage the building requires for vendors operating on the premises.
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Common Carrier
also: Public carrier, For-hire carrier
A common carrier is a moving company that holds itself out to the public to transport goods for any customer who pays the published rate, distinct from a private or contract carrier which serves specific customers under negotiated terms.
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Consumer Protection
also: Mover consumer rights, Customer protection
Consumer protection for moving customers includes federal regulations (FMCSA Bill of Rights, ICC-mandated valuation tiers), state regulations (Texas household goods carrier rules), claim deadlines, dispute resolution.
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Contract Carrier
also: Negotiated carrier, Private hauler
A contract carrier is a moving or transportation company that operates under negotiated agreements with specific customers, rather than serving the general public — typically the model used for corporate-relocation contracts, retailer logistics, and specialized commercial moves.
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Destination Agent
also: Delivery agent, Destination carrier
The destination agent is the moving company that handles unloading and delivery of a household at the customer's ending location on a long-distance or interstate move — distinct from the origin agent and the van line.
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Do Not Load List
also: prohibited items list, unmovable items
The Do Not Load list is the federally-defined list of items that interstate moving carriers cannot transport — including most hazmat materials, perishables, plants (some states), and items that would damage other shipments.
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DOT Number
also: USDOT Number, Department of Transportation Number
A DOT Number (USDOT Number) is the federal identifier issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation to any commercial motor vehicle operating in interstate commerce — used by FMCSA to track safety, insurance, inspection, and audit records for motor carriers.
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FMCSA
also: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the U.S. Department of Transportation agency that regulates commercial motor carriers, including interstate household-goods movers, and enforces safety rules, insurance requirements, and consumer protection regulations through the SAFER carrier-lookup system.
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Hazmat Endorsement
also: HazMat, H endorsement
A Hazmat (H) endorsement is an additional credential on a Commercial Driver's License authorizing the holder to transport materials classified as hazardous under federal regulation — including most fuel, certain chemicals, compressed gases, oxygen tanks, and other regulated substances.
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MC Number
also: Motor Carrier Number, MC Authority, FMCSA MC
An MC Number (Motor Carrier Number) is the federal authority identifier issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to interstate moving carriers, authorizing them to transport household goods across state lines for hire.
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Mover Rating System
also: Carrier rating, Move quality score
A mover rating system is the various consumer-rating and review platforms used to evaluate moving company quality — Google Reviews, BBB rating, FMCSA safety rating, Yelp, industry-specific ratings.
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Operating Authority
also: MC operating authority, FMCSA operating authority
Operating authority is the federal permit (issued by FMCSA) that allows a moving company to legally transport household goods across state lines, identified by an MC (Motor Carrier) number tied to the carrier's USDOT number.
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Origin Agent
also: Origin carrier, Pickup agent
The origin agent is the moving company that handles the packing and loading of a household at the customer's starting location — distinct from the destination agent (delivery) or van line (transit), on a long-distance or interstate move.
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Shipping Permit
also: Oversize permit, Wide-load permit
A shipping permit is a state-issued document required for transporting oversized loads that exceed standard truck dimensions or weight limits, including some industrial equipment, oversized art installations, or specialty items.
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Texas Mover License
also: TxDMV mover authority, Texas household goods license
The Texas Mover License is the state credential issued by TxDMV that authorizes a moving company to legally transport household goods within Texas state lines, identified by a unique TxDMV number on every estimate and Bill of Lading.
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Texas Movers Association
also: TMA, Texas Mover Association
The Texas Movers Association (TMA) is the statewide industry trade group for licensed Texas household-goods movers — supporting member carriers with training, certification, regulatory advocacy, and consumer-facing referral resources.
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TxDMV Number
also: TxDMV Registration, Texas Motor Carrier Number
A TxDMV Number is the motor-carrier registration issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to household-goods movers operating intrastate in Texas, authorizing them to transport household goods within state lines under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643.
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USDOT Number
also: USDOT, DOT number
A USDOT Number is the unique identifier the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assigns to motor carriers operating interstate household-goods moves or commercial freight. Every legitimate interstate mover in the U.S. must display its USDOT number on every truck and every quote.
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