Understand the terminology in your moving quote.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A

Accessorial Charges
Extra charges for services such as packing, unpacking, and extra pick-ups.

Advanced Charges
Charges for services provided by a professional other than the mover.

Additional services
An extra service such as professional cleaners or handyman, or specialist equipment such as a ladder lift, which is outside the scope of a standard quotation and incurs additional charges.

Agent
In countries where we do not have a service centre, we may require assistance from one of our trusted partner agents for the purpose of performing origin, freight/transport, or destination services on our behalf.

Airway bill (see Bill of lading)

Anti-Static Bubble Wrap
Bubble cushioning wrap used for packing delicate or fragile items.

Appliance Service
The cost incurred in preparing major appliances for safe transportation.

Assessed Value
The amount of much money you pay per $1000 of assessed value to cover your household items to their fully assessed value.

B

Bill of lading
Document giving proof of particular goods having been loaded on a ship. The bill of lading is normally required in order to obtain the release of the goods at arrival. For air freight, there is an airway bill.

Binding/Non-Binding Estimate
A flat rate is quoted for the given inventory. The mover quotes a flat price no matter how long the job takes.

C

Carrier
The company providing the freight and transport for your household goods.

Cost of Move
The amount the move will cost without including the extra charges and insurance. Cost of move estimations are calculated based on information gathered at the estimate/sign-up interview.

Crew foreman
One person in each team will have overall responsibility for managing the crew during the packing/loading, or unloading/unpacking of the customer’s belongings.

Customs clearance
Customs formalities to be completed at origin, in transit and at destination.

D

Demurrage
Cost imposed at port for storage.

Destination agent
In countries where we do not have a service centre, we may require assistance from one of our trusted partner agents for the purpose of performing destination, freight/transport services on our behalf.

E

Estimate
One of the main purposes of the pre-move survey is to estimate the shipment volume/weight, this will then provide the basis for our quotation/proposal.

Expedited Service
This applies when you pay a higher minimum rate in exchange for the mover transferring your household or business goods on a specified date.

F

FCL (Full container load)
FCL provides you with sole use of a sea freight-shipping container.

FIDI
The moving industry association of international moving companies, responsible for providing a forum for the advancement of integrity, quality and mutual co-operation for those companies focused on the intercontinental movement of household effects.

FAIM
FAIM is an independent quality assurance standard dedicated to international moving. The standard has been developed under the title of FIDI-FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) and covers two levels: FIDI-FAIM (the standard level of certification) and FIDIFAIMISO (which requires a higher pass mark).

Flight Charge
An extra charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs either at the place of origin or at the destination.

Freight Service
A low-cost moving service where the mover delivers your things at the door step of the address you specify.

Full Replacement Value Coverage
The amount of money per $1,000 of item value you will need to pay to protect your household goods for their full replacement value.

Full Service Move
The most common type of move, with the carrier moving your household items from your old address to your new address.
 

G

Gross volumetric weight
The chargeable weight of an individual package is the gross or volumetric weight rounded up to the nearest pound/kilo.

Guaranteed Pickup and Delivery Service
An additional level of service whereby dates of service are guaranteed, with the mover providing reimbursement for delays. This premium service is often subject to minimum weight requirements.

H

High value items
All high value items should be disclosed/individually listed on your insurance documentation. Your mover/insurer may require you to provide proof of your valuation. NB: most insurers will not cover jewelry and you should therefore hand carry such items.

I

Inventory (see Packing inventory)
If your household goods and personal effects are insured through your mover, you should receive documentation including the insurance terms and conditions. These will detail exactly what is covered by the insurance policy. You will also be required to provide a list of the items to be insured (see Valuation).

Insurance
If your household goods and personal effects are insured through your mover, you should receive documentation including the insurance terms and conditions. These will detail exactly what is covered by the insurance policy. You will also be required to provide a list of the items to be insured (see Valuation).

J

K

L

Ladder lift
A ladder lift is a piece of specialist machinery sometimes required to load heavy goods from high places such as a high window.

LCL (Less than container load)
If the volume of your sea freight shipment does not justify a full container load, your goods can be transported in a sealed wooden case within a shared container. This is then known as LCL.

Linehaul Charges
Basic charges for long distance moves, calculated by mileage and weight of your shipment.

Long carry
This is an additional charge payable for carrying articles longer distances between the mover’s vehicle and your residence.

M

Measurement
The industry standard uses: Cft – cubic feet, Cbm – cubic metres, Lbs – pounds and Kgs – kilograms.

Mobile Container
Large storage containers that are delivered to your home.

Multimodal
Shipment of goods or materials by air, land and sea.

N

O

Open Cargo Policy
A marine insurance policy primarily used to insure goods in transit.

Operating Authority
The certification issued by a state or federal governmental department authorizing a mover or carrier to move household goods between designated geographical areas.

Order for Service
The document authorizing the mover to transport your household goods.

Order/tracking number (Bill of Lading)
The number used to identify and track your shipment.

Origin agent
In countries where we do not have a service centre, we may require assistance from one of our trusted partner agents for the purpose of performing origin and freight/transport services on our behalf.

P

Packing inventory
A detailed list of your household goods that will be compiled by the packing crew prior to loading your shipment and which shows the condition of each item.

Peak Season Rates
Higher line haul charges that are applicable during the summer months.

Pickup and Delivery Charges
Separate transportation charges applicable for transporting your shipment between the SIT warehouse and your residence.

Pre-move survey
The visit to your home, which enables us to discuss and assess your requirements and to estimate the volume/weight of goods to be shipped.

Q

Quotation/proposal
The document in which we outline our services and charges to move your household goods.

Quotation/proposal acceptance
Your written agreement accepting our quotation/proposal.

R

S

Sealing Tape
Heavy-duty tape usually constructed with a polypropylene backing and rubber resin adhesive.

Shuttle service
Use of a smaller vehicle may sometimes be required to shuttle goods from residence to the warehouse or ultimate carrier. This can occur where a residence is inaccessible to the mover’s European vehicle or shipping container.

Stair carry
An extra charge for carrying items up or down more than one flight of stairs.

Standard Coverage
By law moving companies must provide a minimum amount of free coverage, and refers to the amount of money you will receive per pound of damaged goods.

Storage in transit (SIT)
Temporary warehouse storage of your shipment pending further transportation, for example, while an air freight shipment is being cased in our warehouse and then awaits collection by the airline.

Survey (see Pre-move survey)

T

Transit time
The estimated time that your move will take from door to door, in working days (e.g. Monday to Friday).

U

V

Valuation
Generally provided for insurance, this would be your estimated value of household goods and personal effects to be transported and/or stored.

W

Warehouse handling
An additional charge applicable when goods are received into storage. This charge compensates the mover for the additional handling and physical placement of items within the warehouse.

X

Y

Z