Moving Terminology Used By Moving Companies

Whether you’re facing a local move or a cross-country move, relocating can be a daunting task. And if you’re thinking about working with moving professionals to help, you might encounter some industry jargon that’s new to you.

Moving Glossary 101

As you explore your moving company options and work out your plan, keep this glossary of terms handy. We’ll highlight some of the more popular terms that might come up in your planning, along with definitions to help:

Accessorial Charges

When you’re pricing various moving company prices, be mindful of accessorial charges. These refer to additional fees associated with appliance disconnection, packing, unpacking, or crating

Agent

It’s important to understand the various titles and roles of a moving company partner before you hire anyone. An agent is an affiliated moving company as part of a larger, usually national brand.

Appliance Service

Don’t forget to consider any appliances that may need to move with you to your new destination. Moving companies will sometimes offer appliance services as an added provision, which may or may not include unhooking and preparing for moving things like washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators.

Booking Agent

A booking agent is a person or representative who accepts the customer’s move order, and then books the transportation with a van line. Booking agents can physically be located anywhere. They typically don’t assume any responsibility for the customer’s moved items, nor take possession at any point during the move.

Broker

A broker within the moving industry offers a service whereby the broker arranges for the transportation of your belongings. The broker doesn’t provide the moving trucks in-house or assume responsibility for your things. Instead, brokers outsource for-hire carriers to facilitate your move.

Cash On Delivery (COD)

This term implies that payment is required upon delivery at your destination. Typically, COD also means paying by cashier’s check, money order, or cash.

Claim

Should you encounter clauses or fine print regarding claims, read carefully. A claim is your recourse should there be damage to your property, delays in delivery, or complete loss altogether.

Door-To-Door Service

Not all moves can happen in one day. But for those that can, a door-to-door service refers to a move that delivers items from the place of origin to the destination without storage in between.

Essentials Box

As you pack, keep a few boxes marked “Essentials.” This refers to items that are not to be packed on a moving truck. These are the things you’ll need immediate access to during your move, and your moving helpers will know not to pack them. This may include medications, a change of clothes, toiletries, etc.

Full-Service Moving

When a moving company says it’s “full service,” it means it completes the moving process for you from start to finish. This also includes additional services, like providing packing materials, packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, transporting, and clean-up services.

Packed by Owner (PBO)

These are items or boxes you’ve packed or plan to pack yourself.

Moving Companies In South Florida

Keep this roster of moving terms and definitions handy as you begin planning your move. If you need to hire a reliable moving company in South Florida, look no further than Allegiance Van Lines. We’ll take all the guesswork out of your moving process and make it seamless and efficient, no matter how simple or complex your move is. Call us today at (561) 210-5120.