The final step of the moving process includes the signing of a “Bill of Lading”. Bill of Lading is the document that serves as a contract between carrier and shipper and is part of the paperwork you need to sign prior to your move. Many people pressed by time fail to pay special attention to the details. Understanding the terms and the conditions this contract applies is crucial. In case of a dispute, this contract will be the only proof of evidence you will be able to base your arguments on.
What should be included in a legit mover’s Bill of Lading?
Contact and license information of the carrier
The name, the office address and the phone number of the carrier, and the name, the address, and the phone number of the third party carrier/s (in case there is/are such). Other information every legitimate mover must include in the contract is the US DOT number, the MC number, and any other state license.
Shipper’s contact information
Also, your contact information (or the contact information of the entitled person – in case you are not present on pickup and delivery days) must be noted properly too.
Shipment information
Your Bill of Lading must include exact origin and destination address of the shipment. It’s very important to confirm that addresses are noted without any mistakes.
For a ‘non-guaranteed service’, the agreed date or period of time for pickup and delivery of the shipment must be included. For a ‘guaranteed service’, subject to tariff plan, the pickup and delivery dates, and any penalty or per diem entitlements due the shipper under the agreement.
Provided services and costs
Check if each service and its price rate are properly noted in the Bill of Lading. Full service movers offer packing and storage solutions along with moving services. Additional fees may include ‘long carry’, stairs, storage, shuttle services. All charges must be included.
Form of payment
Different carriers offer different ways of payment – cash, money order, certified check, credit cards. Never pay cash. Usually movers ask for a non-refundable deposit on the moving job – shouldn’t exceed 25% of the final estimation. Once again, in case of a dispute, you won’t be able to evince payment if you have paid cash.
Carrier liability
This is one of the sections of the Bill of Lading that many people fail to understand thoroughly. Every licensed carrier must by law offer you Full Value and Released Value Protection options to choose from. Under the FVP option, carrier is obliged to repair, replace the damaged item, or to make a cash settlement for the cost of repair. Released value option is offered at no additional charge, but carrier won’t be liable for more than $0.60 per pound per item. These two levels of liability do not serve as an insurance contract that is regulated by the State insurance laws. They are just contractual tariff levels of liability. And the most important aspect you have to pay attention to is that there are circumstances which limit the liability of the carrier. Carrier won’t be liable for any item you pack yourself. Plus, there are items (such as jewelry or any articles of extraordinary value – value exceeds $100 per pound) that carriers won’t be liable for unless they are specifically listed. For each item not declared in the inventory list, carrier won’t be accountable. Therefore, your Bill of Lading must include a statement of the declared value of the shipment, which is the maximum amount of the carrier liability. Get acquainted with the rights and the responsibilities of your carrier. Do not sign the Bill of Lading if you don’t thoroughly understand each clause.
Dispute settlement program
Every licensed carrier must by law offer a dispute settlement program. Legitimate moving companies work with a third party neutral arbitrator. If an argument arises between the carrier and the shipper, arbitration may be a beneficial option to resolve the dispute. In most cases, the BBB and the American Moving and Storage Association appear as neutral arbitrators. Your carrier must provide you with a summary of the arbitration process. Comprehend that dispute settlement programs are not free, fees are applicable. Moreover, these third party neutral arbitrators cannot take any lawful measures against the moving company.
Bill of Lading attachments
The Inventory list, the Order of Service and the Binding or Non-Binding estimate are an integral part of the Bill of Lading. Sometimes it occurs that the final weight of the shipment (interstate moves) or the time for execution of the job (intrastate local moves) exceed the initially estimation. In such cases, by law, the carrier can only demand +10% over the agreed estimate (non-binding estimate) or even cannot change the initially agreed charges (binding estimate). Therefore, movers may offer you to sign a Revision of the Estimate – confirm that the new estimate observes carrier tariff.
Also, verify that items are noted properly on the inventory list.
As a whole, moving day is considered to be the most stressful and problematic one during the moving process. If you’ll feel less tense ask a friend for support. Do not underestimate the paperwork, don’t rush it. Never sign blank pages and pay attention to the details.
Related posts:
How to Avoid Moving Scams – Info & Guide
Top Ten Moving Mistakes
How to File a Complaint Against a Moving Company
If you find this article helpful and interesting, share it. Your voice means a lot to us!
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment