Reference

Moving glossary

Plain-language definitions for the terms you'll run into while getting quotes and planning an interstate move.

Accessorial charges: Fees for services beyond standard loading and transport — such as a shuttle, long carry, stair carry or appliance servicing. Ask your mover to list likely accessorials in writing before moving day.
Arbitration: A dispute-resolution process some movers offer (and larger movers must offer) for loss-and-damage claims, as an alternative to going to court. Ask whether your mover participates before you book.
Accessorial services: See "accessorial charges" — extra services beyond standard pickup, transport and delivery.
Agent: A local company authorized to book and sometimes perform moves on behalf of a larger national carrier network, operating under that carrier's authority.
Bill of lading: The contract between you and your mover for a specific shipment. It lists your shipment, agreed services, valuation coverage and delivery terms. Read it before you sign — it is also your receipt.
Binding estimate: An estimate that guarantees the total cost based on the items and services listed, as long as nothing changes. If you add items or services on moving day, the price can still change.
Binding not-to-exceed estimate: An estimate that caps what you'll pay at the quoted amount, but allows you to pay less if your shipment weighs less or needs fewer services than estimated.
Broker: A company that arranges transportation on your behalf but does not own trucks or carry your goods itself; a broker must disclose which licensed carrier will actually perform your move.
Carrier: The company that physically transports your household goods. Carriers must hold an active USDOT number and operating authority from the FMCSA to move household goods across state lines.
Cube sheet: A worksheet estimators use to calculate the cubic feet (and therefore weight and truck space) your shipment will take up, often used alongside or instead of a written inventory.
Claim: A formal request to a mover for compensation after loss or damage to your belongings, typically filed in writing within a set time after delivery.
Delivery window: The range of dates during which your mover agrees to deliver your shipment. Interstate moves are rarely scheduled for a single guaranteed day — ask for the window in writing.
Domicile: The one place a person treats as their true, permanent home — distinct from any state where they merely reside temporarily. Domicile affects which state can tax you and where you vote.
Elevator carry: An accessorial fee sometimes charged when movers must use an elevator to reach your unit, especially in high-rise buildings.
Flight charge: An accessorial fee for carrying items up or down stairs when an elevator isn't available or usable.
Full value protection: A valuation option (not insurance) where the mover must repair, replace, or pay the current replacement cost for lost or damaged items, up to the declared value. It usually costs more than released value protection.
FMCSA: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation agency that regulates interstate household-goods movers, including licensing and consumer protection rules.
Hostage load: A scam pattern where a mover demands additional payment, beyond the agreed estimate, before releasing your belongings at delivery. Review our guide on avoiding moving scams.
Household goods: Personal and family belongings being moved from one home to another, as distinct from commercial freight — the category of shipment that FMCSA household-goods rules cover.
Inventory: An itemized list, created at pickup, of everything the mover is transporting, usually noting the condition of each item. Review it carefully and keep a copy.
Interstate move: A move that crosses state lines, which brings it under federal (FMCSA) regulation rather than only state rules.
Intrastate move: A move that stays within a single state, regulated by that state's own moving/transportation authority rather than (solely) by the FMCSA.
Linehaul: The line-haul charge covers the actual transportation of your shipment over distance, usually based on weight (or cube) and mileage, separate from accessorial charges.
Long carry: An accessorial fee charged when movers must carry items an unusually long distance between the truck and your door, for example because of restricted parking.
MC number: A motor carrier number issued by the FMCSA that shows a company has operating authority to transport household goods (or other freight) for compensation across state lines. Look it up for free on FMCSA's SAFER website before booking.
NCCDB: The National Consumer Complaint Database, run by FMCSA, where you can file a complaint about a household goods mover or broker and review complaint history.
Non-binding estimate: An estimate of cost based on the mover's assessment of weight and services, but the final bill is based on the actual weight and services used — it can be higher or lower than quoted.
Order for service: The document authorizing a mover to perform the services described, including pickup and delivery dates, before the shipment is picked up.
Part-year resident: A tax filing status for someone who was a resident of a state for only part of the tax year — relevant for the year you move.
Peak season: The busiest and typically most expensive time for movers, generally late spring through early fall and the beginning/end of each month.
Ready to Move brochure: An FMCSA consumer publication that movers of household goods must provide, explaining your rights and what to expect during an interstate move.
Released value protection: The minimum valuation coverage movers must offer at no extra cost — it pays a set amount per pound per item (often very low), regardless of the item's actual value.
Reweigh: A second weighing of the truck that you can request if you believe the original weight used for your bill is inaccurate.
Shuttle: A smaller vehicle used to transport your goods between your home and the main moving truck when the truck can't access your street or driveway directly — usually an added fee.
Storage-in-transit: Temporary storage of your shipment by the mover between pickup and final delivery, often used when your new home isn't ready yet.
Survey: An in-home, video, or virtual walkthrough an estimator performs to assess what you're moving, used to build an accurate estimate.
Tariff: A mover's published list of rates and rules for services. Movers must make their tariff available to customers on request.
USDOT number: A unique identifier issued by the FMCSA to any company operating commercial vehicles for interstate transport. Every legitimate interstate household-goods mover should have one — verify it on FMCSA's SAFER site.
Valuation: The level of liability a mover accepts for your goods if they're lost or damaged — not the same as insurance. See "full value protection" and "released value protection."
Weight ticket: A certified record of your shipment's weight (empty and loaded truck), used to calculate charges on a non-binding estimate.
Your Rights and Responsibilities: An FMCSA brochure that household-goods movers must give customers before an interstate move, explaining estimates, valuation, claims and complaint procedures.

Want more detail? See our guides, the mover safety section, or printable checklist.

Moving glossary

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