Declared Value

When the customer chooses Full Value Protection, the Bill of Lading requires a declared value for the shipment. The amount is typically the higher of the carrier’s minimum (often $6 per pound times total weight) or the customer’s own valuation. The premium for Full Value Protection is calculated from the declared value and the chosen deductible. If an item is lost or damaged, the carrier’s payout obligation is capped at the declared value — meaning that under-declaring leaves valuable items under-covered. High-value individual items above the $100-per-pound threshold should also be listed on a separate High-Value Articles inventory.

Declared value is the lever that converts Full Value Protection from a feature on paper into actual coverage. A declared value set too low (to save on the premium) caps the payout below what the shipment is actually worth. A declared value set high enough to cover the real total costs slightly more but pays out in full if something is damaged. For households with substantial furniture, electronics, art, or specialty items, doing the math on declared value before the move is one of the most concrete consumer-protection steps available. The math is straightforward: total realistic replacement value of everything in the shipment, then declare at or near that number.

Muscleman Elite walks customers through declared value during booking. We explain the per-pound minimum, the realistic replacement-value approach, and the impact of declared value on both the premium and the claim cap. For high-value households we recommend declaring at full replacement value rather than the minimum. High-value individual items (above $100 per pound) are listed separately on the High-Value Articles inventory so they’re tracked individually on the BOL.

How do I figure out the right declared value?

Estimate the realistic replacement cost of every item in the shipment — furniture, electronics, art, clothing, appliances, specialty items. The total is the declared value. Most carriers also enforce a per-pound minimum (often $6 per pound times total weight), so the declared value is the higher of the two.

What happens if I under-declare?

Coverage is capped at the declared value. If your shipment is actually worth $80,000 and you declared $40,000 to save on premium, the maximum the carrier owes you is $40,000 — even if total losses exceed that. Under-declaring is one of the most common ways customers end up under-compensated after damage.

Does declared value affect the cost of the move?

It affects the Full Value Protection premium, not the base move charge. A higher declared value costs more in premium (usually a small fraction of the declared amount, with deductible options that reduce the premium). The base move rate is set by hours or weight and distance.