To make your move a little less complex, we have compiled a Glossary filled with key terms related to the moving and removals process.
Glossary
- AGENT is another moving company that has been commissioned / appointed to act as a partner in the move, or is an affiliate alliance company. The agent services are typically included in quotation, and will be responsible for receiving the shipment at destination and clearing it through customs.
- ACCESS is the space at and around the property for removal vehicles, and whether lifts are available for apartments. This is usually assessed by the consultant to ascertain any difficulties the vehicle may encounter.
- AIR WAYBILL (AWB) is a document that accompanies goods shipped by an international courier to provide detailed information about the shipment and allow it to be tracked.
- ATA CARNET (MERCHANDISE PASSPORT) is an international customs document accepted by 80 countries and territories. It allows temporary entry of goods, duty-free and tax-free, whether shipped or hand-carried.
- BILL OF LADING (BL/BOL) is issued by the transportation service provider when the shipper relinquishes the goods. The terms and condition of the move are detailed on the document, as well as the essential information about the shipper, the origin and destination addresses and the charges.
- BULKY ARTICLE Includes such items as boats, snowmobiles, golf carts, and campers. These “bulky” items usually carry an extra charge to compensate the hauler for the difficulty of loading and unloading, as well as for their unusual bulk or low-weight density.
- CUBIC METER (CBM) The volume measurement usually used for expressing the packed volume of a shipment in continental Europe & the Middle East.
- CHARGEABLE WEIGHT is the weight used by a vessel or airline to determine freight charge.
- CLAIM is a statement of loss or damage to any of the household goods while in the custody of the moving company or its affiliated agent.
- CONSIGNEE is the person to whom the shipment will be delivered.
- CONTAINER is standard size is 20’ or 40’. Containers are owned and provided by the steamship companies. They may be loaded onto chassis for trucking, rail cars and vessels.
- CONTAINER STORAGE Wooden containers that are used for long term storage of goods.
- CRATE A wooden box made specifically to carry items of high importance or high value or which require special care.
- CUBIC FOOT (CuF OR CFT) is a volume measurement used in the US 35.31 CFT = 1 CBM. Cubic feet are used in the US, and sometimes in the UK, Commonwealth countries, and in Asia.
- CUSTOM CLEARANCE is a formal inspection of the documents and contents of the shipment, conducted by the port authorities’ conducted before a shipment can enter a country.
- DECLARED VALUE is the value an owner states on an insurance document for the value of their belongings. This value will be used to estimate the amount of insurance coverage a transferee purchases for his/her belongings. The declared value for insurance purposes will not be used as the declared value for the shipment to clear customs.
- DENSITY is the ratio between the weight and volume of the shipment.
- DEMURRAGE is a fee assessed by the steamship line for holding household goods in a ocean container beyond the allowed time.
- DESTINATION AGENTS is the agent designated at the destination area to be available to assist and/or provide information regarding the shipment to the customer.
- FULL CONTAINER LOAD (FCL) A container that has been specifically assigned to one shipper.
- GROUPAGE Your belongings are placed in a larger container along with other shippers’ goods. The cost of shipping is shared by all shippers with goods in container. This method of transporting goods usually results in savings for all parties involved, although transit time and custom clearance might be longer.
- HC CONTAINER (HC or Hi-Cube) refers to a container of greater than standard height.
- INTERNATIONAL is the movement of property from an origin in one country to a destination in another country.
- INVENTORY is the detailed descriptive list of the goods showing the number and condition of each item.
- VOLIMETRIC WEIGHT is applied to air freight shipments. Airlines charge a per kilogram rate for air freight, but use a minimum weight – volume ratio of 167 kg / Gross Cubic Meter in their pricing. Gross volume in this case being the volume of the entire package sent to the airline, including air containers, pallets, etc.
- CHARGEABLE WEIGHT is the actual weight in Kg on which the airlines’ charges are based. The chargeable weight is the higher of either the actual gross weight or the volumetric weight.
- LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD (LCL) refers to ocean shipments that are too small to economically justify an FCL for shipment.
- LOCAL Is the movement of property from an origin in one country to a destination in the same country.
- LONG CARRY A charge for carrying articles excessive distances between the mover’s vehicle and your residence. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line haul charges.
- ORDER FOR SERVICE is a document authorizing the moving company to transport your household goods.
- ORIGIN AGENT is the designated agent in the origin area to be available for preliminary readying of the shipment before movement and/or to provide information regarding the customer’s move.
- PACKED BY OWNER (PBO) are goods packed by the customer. Most insurance companies will refuse to cover goods that have been packed by the owners.
- SHIPPER is the customer or customer’s agent or representative who engaged the carrier to perform interstate domestic moving services.
- SHUTTLE SERVICE refers to the use of a smaller vehicle to provide service to residence not accessible to the mover’s normal vehicles.
- STAIRS FLIGHT CHARGE refers to a charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs. Charges for these services may be in addition to the quote given.
- STORAGE IN TRANSIT (SIT) refers to temporary warehouse storage of the shipment pending further transportation.
- SURVEY performed by an agent to examine the customer’s belongings in order to develop an estimate of move charges.
- SURVEYOR is the person responsible to conduct a survey.
- TRANSIT TIME is the number of days established for the movement of your shipment from port to port
- TARIFF A publication containing the carrier’s rates, rules and regulations for services performed, applicable to the customer’s move.
- UNDER INSURED is when the declared value of an item is less than the replacement cost. Insurance compensation will be restricted to the value declared on the inventory.
- VALUATION A tariff-based level of carrier liability for a customer’s household goods while they are in the care, custody and control of the carrier. Valuation is NOT insurance.
- WAREHOUSE HANDLING An additional charge applicable each time storage service is provided.