Moving Industry Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the 30 moving and FMCSA terms you'll see on contracts, estimates, and bills of lading. Written by a licensed direct carrier — not a broker.
Legal & Licensing
Broker (Moving Broker)
A company that books your move and then hands it off to a third-party carrier.
A moving broker is a federally registered intermediary that sells moving services but does not own trucks or employ movers. After collecting your deposit, the broker assigns your move to one of the carriers in their network, often based on which carrier bids lowest. Brokers are legal — they must hold an FMCSA Household Goods Broker MC number — but they remove a layer of accountability because the company that quoted you is not the company that arrives on moving day.
Carrier (Moving Carrier)
A company that owns the trucks and employs the movers — does the move directly.
A moving carrier is an FMCSA-licensed company that physically performs interstate household moves. Carriers own (or lease and operate) their trucks, employ the drivers and movers, and hold both a USDOT number and an MC number registered as a carrier. When you hire a carrier directly, the company that issues the quote is the same company that loads your truck and delivers your shipment. MC Movers is a carrier (DOT #2538365, MC #00882866), not a broker.
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — the U.S. agency that regulates interstate movers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the U.S. Department of Transportation agency responsible for regulating commercial motor carriers, including interstate household goods movers. Every legitimate interstate mover must be FMCSA-registered with an active USDOT number and an MC (Motor Carrier) number as either a carrier or a broker. You can verify any mover's credentials on the public SAFER lookup at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
MC Number (Motor Carrier Number)
An FMCSA-issued operating authority required to arrange interstate moves.
An MC number is the federal operating authority issued by FMCSA that allows a company to legally arrange interstate household goods moves. It is registered as either a Carrier MC (the company physically performs moves) or a Broker MC (the company arranges moves performed by others). MC Movers holds an active Carrier MC number, #00882866. You can verify any company's MC number on the FMCSA SAFER lookup at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
SAFER (FMCSA SAFER System)
The free FMCSA database where you can verify any interstate mover's credentials.
SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) is the FMCSA's free public lookup at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Enter any USDOT or MC number and you can see the company's legal name, registered address, fleet size, safety rating, insurance status, and whether they're registered as a carrier, broker, or both. Always check SAFER before signing any moving contract; it takes 30 seconds and prevents the vast majority of moving scams.
USDOT Number
A federally issued ID that every commercial mover must display on the truck.
A USDOT number is a unique identifier issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation to every commercial motor carrier. Federal regulation requires the USDOT number to be visibly displayed on the side of the truck. MC Movers operates under USDOT #2538365. You can verify any mover's USDOT number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov; if a moving truck does not display a USDOT number visibly, it is not a legitimate interstate carrier.
Pricing & Estimates
Accessorial Charge
Any charge added to a moving bill beyond the base rate — e.g., long carry, stairs, shuttle.
An accessorial charge is any line-item fee on a moving estimate that is not the base transportation cost. Common accessorials include long-carry fees (when the truck must park more than 75–100 feet from the door), stair carries, elevator wait time, shuttle service (when the full-size trailer cannot reach the building and a smaller truck must shuttle the goods), and packing materials. Reputable carriers disclose accessorial possibilities up front; the worst broker scams involve undisclosed accessorials that surface only on moving day.
Binding Estimate
A locked-in price that cannot increase on moving day (as long as inventory matches).
A binding estimate is a written, fixed-price quote that the carrier must honor — the price does not change on moving day even if the actual shipment weighs more than estimated. If your inventory matches what was on the estimate at pickup, the binding price stands. A 'binding not-to-exceed' estimate is even better: the price can come down if the actual weight is lower, but can never exceed the quoted amount. Always insist on binding or binding-not-to-exceed for long-distance moves.
Line-Haul
The base interstate transportation charge — driving the truck from origin to destination.
The line-haul is the core long-distance charge for actually transporting your shipment from pickup to delivery, calculated by weight (in pounds) and mileage. Line-haul is the largest line item on a long-distance moving bill — typically 60–80% of the total cost. Other line items (packing, valuation, accessorials, fuel surcharge) are itemized separately so the customer can see the cost structure.
Long Carry
An accessorial fee for carrying items more than 75–100 feet between the truck and the door.
A long-carry charge applies when the truck cannot park within a standard distance of the entry door, typically 75 feet on long-distance contracts and 100 feet on local moves. Long carries are common at gated communities, high-rise apartments without freight access, and historic districts with restricted parking. The fee compensates for the extra labor and time required and is itemized separately on the estimate.
Non-Binding Estimate
A quote that can change on moving day based on actual weight or hours.
A non-binding estimate is the carrier's good-faith projection of what the move will cost, but the actual price is calculated on moving day based on actual weight (for long-distance) or hours worked (for local). Federal regulation caps overage on non-binding interstate estimates: the carrier cannot demand more than 110% of the estimate at delivery (the customer has 30 days to pay any balance above 110%). Always prefer binding estimates when available.
Tariff
The carrier's published rate schedule — the basis for non-binding pricing.
A tariff is the carrier's published rate book listing line-haul rates by weight bracket and mileage, plus all accessorial charges. FMCSA requires every interstate carrier to publish a tariff and make it available on request. Non-binding estimates are calculated from the tariff; binding estimates may match the tariff or use a different fixed-rate structure agreed in advance.
Peak Season
The busy moving months (June–August) when rates run 15–25% higher.
Peak moving season runs roughly June through August, when school-year transitions, summer leases, and corporate relocations all converge. Carrier capacity gets tight, and rates typically run 15–25% higher than off-season. The cheapest months to move are October through April, with mid-January through late February being the deepest off-peak window. Mid-month, mid-week moves cost less than weekend or month-end slots year-round.
Documents & Paperwork
Bill of Lading (BOL)
The contract between you and the carrier — the most important moving document.
The Bill of Lading is the legal contract between you (the shipper) and the moving carrier. It lists the inventory being moved, pickup and delivery addresses, agreed-upon pricing terms, valuation coverage selected, and the delivery window. Federal law requires the carrier to provide a BOL on every interstate move. You sign it at pickup and again at delivery. Never sign a blank or partial BOL — every line item must be filled in before your signature.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
A document proving the mover carries the required insurance — needed by many condos and HOAs.
A Certificate of Insurance is a one-page document from the mover's insurance company that proves they carry active general liability and cargo coverage. Most condo buildings, gated communities, and corporate offices require a COI on file before move day — typically with the building or HOA listed as an additional insured. Reputable carriers file COIs at no extra charge as part of booking; missing this step can mean the building refuses to let the truck unload.
Inventory Sheet
A numbered list of every item being moved, with condition notes — created at pickup.
The inventory sheet (sometimes called a 'descriptive inventory') is a numbered list every long-distance carrier prepares at pickup. Each box, piece of furniture, and item gets a sticker with a unique number, and any pre-existing damage is documented. The customer and crew foreman both sign it. At delivery, the same inventory is checked off as items come off the truck so any missing or newly-damaged items can be claimed.
Weight Ticket
The official certified weight slip used to calculate long-distance moving charges.
A weight ticket is a certified scale slip from a CAT-certified public scale showing the truck's weight empty (tare weight) and again loaded (gross weight). The difference is your shipment's net weight, which is the basis for the line-haul charge on a non-binding interstate move. Federal regulation gives you the right to be present at the weigh-in and to request a re-weigh if you believe the original is inaccurate.
Insurance & Liability
Full-Value Protection
Optional upgrade coverage that pays the replacement value of damaged items.
Full-Value Protection (FVP) is an upgrade insurance option that requires the carrier to repair, replace, or settle damaged or lost items at their current replacement value. Standard valuation (Released-Value Protection) only pays $0.60 per pound per item — a $3,000 TV that weighs 50 lbs would only be reimbursed $30 under released-value coverage. FVP typically costs 1–2% of the declared value of the shipment and is strongly recommended for moves with high-value items.
Released-Value Protection
Federally required minimum coverage — only $0.60 per pound per item.
Released-Value Protection (sometimes called Basic Limited Liability) is the minimum cargo coverage required by FMCSA on every interstate move. It pays $0.60 per pound per item, regardless of the item's actual value. A 50-pound flat-screen TV worth $3,000 would only be reimbursed $30. Released-value coverage is included at no extra cost but is rarely adequate; most customers upgrade to Full-Value Protection for high-value moves.
Valuation Coverage
The carrier's financial responsibility for damaged or lost goods during the move.
Valuation coverage is the carrier's contractual liability for your goods during transit. It is not the same as insurance — it is a federal liability framework specific to household goods moves. The two options on every interstate move are Released-Value Protection ($0.60/lb/item, no extra cost) and Full-Value Protection (replacement value, 1–2% of declared value cost). You must choose one on the Bill of Lading; if you don't, Released-Value applies by default.
Logistics & Transit
Consolidated Shipment
A long-distance load that combines multiple households on the same truck.
A consolidated shipment is a long-distance move where multiple customers' goods share space on the same truck along the same route. Consolidation is how carriers offer lower rates on smaller shipments (studios, 1-bedroom apartments) for cross-country moves — the trade-off is a wider delivery window because the truck makes multiple stops. Full-truck dedicated shipments cost more but deliver faster.
Delivery Window
The date range during which a long-distance move is contracted to deliver.
On long-distance moves, the carrier commits to delivering within a stated window of business days (e.g., '3–7 business days' or '5–10 business days') rather than on a single fixed date. Federal regulation requires this window be in writing on the Bill of Lading. A specific-day delivery is rare on cross-country routes and usually signals a broker promise that the assigned carrier may not honor.
Shuttle
A smaller truck used when the main trailer cannot reach the building.
A shuttle is a smaller truck (typically a 16- or 26-foot box truck) used to ferry goods between the main long-distance trailer and the actual pickup or delivery location. Shuttles are required when the full-size 53-foot trailer cannot physically access the address — common in dense urban areas, gated communities with weight restrictions, and narrow historic streets. Shuttle service is an accessorial fee, typically $300–$800 per side.
Furniture Pads / Moving Blankets
Quilted blankets wrapped around furniture during transit to prevent damage.
Furniture pads (also called moving blankets or moving quilts) are heavy quilted blankets that wrap around furniture during a move to prevent scuffs, scratches, and impact damage in transit. Reputable carriers provide pads included in the move at no extra charge; cheap movers sometimes charge per pad or use inferior padding. Specialty items (mirrors, glass tabletops, artwork) typically need shrink wrap or rigid crating on top of padding.
Services & Move Types
GBL Move (Government Bill of Lading)
A military move booked through and paid for by the U.S. government.
A GBL move is a relocation booked through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) and paid for directly by the U.S. military or other federal agency. GBL moves use a separate carrier rate structure and specialized inventory procedures. Civilian movers like MC Movers handle the alternative Personally Procured Move (PPM, sometimes called DITY), where the service member arranges and pays for the move themselves and submits for reimbursement up to their entitled weight allowance.
Local Move
A move within the same metro area or state — billed hourly, not by weight.
A local move is any relocation that stays within the same state and is generally completed in a single day. Local moves are billed hourly (typically $120–$300/hour depending on crew size) plus travel time and any materials used. Federal interstate regulations (FMCSA, USDOT) do not apply to purely local moves — only state-level licensing — though reputable companies hold federal credentials anyway.
Long-Distance Move
A move that crosses state lines — federally regulated, priced by weight and distance.
A long-distance move (also called interstate move) is any relocation that crosses state lines, regardless of actual mileage. Even a 20-mile move from northern New Jersey into New York City qualifies as long-distance under FMCSA rules. Long-distance moves are priced by shipment weight and total mileage, require a USDOT-registered carrier, and are subject to federal regulations on estimates, paperwork, and consumer protection.
PPM Move (Personally Procured Move)
A military move where the service member arranges and pays, then claims reimbursement.
A Personally Procured Move (PPM, previously called DITY for 'Do-It-Yourself') is a U.S. military relocation option where the service member arranges their own move with a civilian carrier and submits for reimbursement up to their entitled weight allowance. PPMs often pay better than government-arranged GBL moves because the service member keeps any savings between the actual cost and the entitlement. MC Movers handles PPM moves nationwide for active-duty service members.
Storage in Transit (SIT)
Short-term warehouse storage between pickup and delivery on a long-distance move.
Storage in Transit is a service where the carrier holds your shipment in a secure warehouse between pickup and final delivery — useful if your new home is not ready, your closing date moves, or you need a phased move-in. SIT is billed by weight per day or month and is typically available for up to 90 days before the shipment converts to permanent storage. Federal regulations cover SIT differently than permanent storage, so make sure your contract specifies which applies.
In-Home Estimate
A free in-person walkthrough that produces a more accurate quote than phone or video.
An in-home estimate is a free visit where a moving estimator walks through your home to inventory items, check access factors (stairs, elevators, parking, narrow doors), and identify anything requiring special handling. In-home estimates produce the most accurate written quotes — especially for long-distance moves and homes with high-value or oversized items. Many carriers now offer video walk-through estimates as a remote alternative.
Keep Researching Your Move
Carriers vs. Brokers
Why hiring a licensed carrier directly matters — and how to tell them apart.
Moving Costs Guide
How carriers calculate your move, what the line items mean, and how to read an estimate.
Long-Distance Moving
How interstate moves are priced by weight, distance, and time of year.
Moving FAQs
Common questions about licensing, insurance, payment, and what to expect on moving day.
Know What You're Signing
MC Movers provides written, all-inclusive estimates with every line item explained.