Depending on the move, the specifics and details can get confusing. That’s why we created Terminology Tuesdays where each week we will go over five moving terms that will help you have a better understanding of your moving process. Be sure to check out our archives, we’ll be doing this each week. Enjoy!

Bill of Lading – customer’s receipt for goods and contract for transportation. The customer’s signature acknowledges that the household goods can be loaded on the van and released to the carrier.

DOT – Department of Transportation – the federal agency which, through the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) within the DOT, governs the interstate transportation industry, including movers of household goods. 

Method of Payment – payment must be in the form of cash, traveler’s checks, money order, a bank cashier’s check or a credit card. Credit card payment must be pre-approved prior to loading. Personal checks are not accepted.

Origin & Destination Service Charge – a hundredweight rate that applies based on the weight of the shipment plus any weight additives and location where the shipment is picked up and delivered. The charges compensate the carrier for basic handling and servicing of the shipment; services include: elevator, stair and excessive distance carries, piano and organ flight carries, additional transportation charge (ATC), basic appliance servicing, which means preparation of appliances to make them safe to ship, and on shipments moving transborder between the US and Canada, the import and export service charge. 

PBO (packed by owner) – when articles are packed by the customer for moving