Glossary

MOVING TERMS DEFINED

Accessorial Services: Services other than transportation, performed by the agent at your request (packing, unpacking, extra pickup, etc.). Charges for these are in addition to transportation costs.

Agent: An affiliated moving company authorized to act on behalf of a motor carrier (in this instance, United Van Lines, Inc.). The affiliated moving company may serve as booking, origin, hauling and/or destination agent.

Auxiliary Service (shuttle): If the assigned over-the-road van is unable to make a normal pickup/delivery because of physical constraints and a second, smaller vehicle is needed, this is considered Auxiliary Service. Physical constraints include situations such as a too-narrow road, a bridge unable to support the weight of the van, and the inability to park the moving van within a reasonable distance of the pickup/delivery residence. Charges for the second vehicle are assessed on an hourly basis, in addition to charges for the extra labor involved.

Bill of Lading: The receipt for your goods and contract for their transportation. Your signature acknowledges that your household goods can be loaded on the van and "released to the carrier."

Binding Estimate: An estimate which specifies in advance the exact cost of moving, based on all services determined necessary at the time the estimate is prepared.

Booking Agent: The agent who accepts the order for your move and registers it with United. The booking agent may or may not be your origin or destination agent.

Carrier: The company providing transportation for your household goods on whose ICC operating authority the shipment is moved.

Claim: Statement of loss or damage to any of your household goods while in the charge of the carrier or its agent.

COD (Cash on Delivery): Shipment where customer pays moving charges at time of delivery. For COD shipments, payment is required in cash, by traveler's check, money order, cashier's check or credit card. If you use a credit card, you must arrange this with your origin agent because authorization is required before loading. Personal checks are not accepted.

Consignee: The person to whom the shipment is to be delivered.

Declared Valuation: Shipper's indication of the value declared or the possessions being shipped, thereby establishing the carrier's maximum liability for loss or damage to the shipment. If no value is declared, the liability is then controlled by the tariff under which the shipment is being handled.

Destination Agent: The agent designated in the destination area to be available to assist or provide information to you or the van operator regarding your shipment.

Extra Stop: If a van operator is required to make an extra stop at either origin or destination other than the main pickup or delivery points, an extra charge will be assessed, the amount to be determined by the tariff.

Full-Value Protection: A valuation program which does not incorporate depreciation as a factor in the settlement of a claim for loss or damage.

High-Value Inventory: Items of "extraordinary value" such as antiques, coin collections and jewelry included in a shipment. Items worth more than $100 per pound are articles of extraordinary value.

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC): The federal agency governing the interstate transportation industry, including movers of household goods.

Inventory: The list and condition of your household furnishings, including the number of packed containers.

Operating Authority: Certification issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) authorizing a carrier to move household goods between designated geographical areas. A United agency may also have its own separate "operating authority" issued by the ICC or other governmental entity, to move shipments within a certain geographical area.

Order for Service: The document authorizing the moving company to transport your household goods.

Order Number: The number used to identify your shipment. It appears in the upper right corner of the Bill of Lading and on the Order for Service. It should be provided by the shipper whenever he contacts the carrier.

Origin Agent: The agent designated in the origin area to be available for preliminary readying of the shipment before movement, or to provide information to you regarding your move.

Overflow: Articles to be shipped that are left behind due to insufficient space on a van, to be loaded on a second van for transportation and delivery.

PBO (Packed By Owner): Articles packed by the shipper, not the carrier, for moving.

Reweigh: Second weighing of shipment performed at destination at the shipper's or United Van Lines' request.

Storage-In-Transit (SIT): Temporary storage of your household goods in the warehouse of the carrier's agent, pending further transportation.

Survey: The booking agent examines (surveys) shipper's goods to develop estimate of charges.

Third-party Services: Services performed by someone other than the carrier at your request or required by federal, state or local law.

Unpacking: Per your advance request, removing your goods from containers and placing them on a flat surface, as well as the disposal of such containers and packing materials. If ordered, unpacking service must be performed at the time of delivery unless requested otherwise.

Van Operator: The driver of the vehicle carrying your household goods.