Household moving services are divided in two distinct segments, by the type of operation they perform:
Intrastate moves (in state moves) - divided into local and long distance, as well as long term storage are regulated by local state laws; and
Interstate moves (out of state moves) are regulated by federal laws of US Department of Transportation's agency known as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Both state and federal laws require movers to provide customers with a Contract called Bill of Lading. Bill of Lading services as a receipt for goods and the contract for transportation. While there are some minor differences in the terms and the tariff - the majority of the information provided in them and the purpose of it is the same.
Bill of Lading describes all of the essential terms and conditions of the agreement between the mover/carrier and the customer/shipper.
Bill of Lading contains the following information:
Valuation Section of the contract, which establishes mover's liability over the shipment. The section describes customer's valuation choices. Both federal and state contracts provide for a free option. Basic or 60 cents per pound option. As well as Actual and Full Value protection, with and with out deductibles. This section must be signed by customer, stating that customer fully understands the choices and selects one of them before the move is commenced.
The front of the contract has the essential information that is easy to read. However, there is another side to both interstate and intrastate contracts.
Back side of the Bill of Lading.
It is as important to know the fine print of the back side of contracts as they hold the terms and conditions of interstate or intrastate moving services.
Technically, your movers must provide you with a copy of their bill of lading prior to the move. We email our customers with a pdf copy of it with a Confirmation for Reservation of our services.
Below we have the contract's terms and conditions located on the back and rearly paid attention to by shippers.
California Intrastate Bill of Lading (Front)
Back
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Interstate Bill of Lading (Front)
Back