Federal and licensing terms. USDOT number: the identifier issued by FMCSA to registered carriers. MC authority: federal permission to transport regulated goods for hire across state lines. Bill of lading: the contract of carriage between shipper and mover. Order for service: the document authorizing the move and listing agreed services. Binding estimate: a fixed price based on the listed inventory. Non-binding estimate: an approximation, with final charges based on actual weight and the 110 percent rule at delivery.
Coverage and service terms. Released value protection: the no-extra-cost federal minimum liability of 60 cents per pound per article. Full value protection: paid coverage making the mover liable for repair, replacement, or cash settlement at current market value. High-value article: an item worth more than $100 per pound, which must be declared in writing. Storage-in-transit: temporary warehouse storage during a move. Shuttle service: a smaller vehicle used when a full-size truck cannot reach the residence. Line-haul: the long-distance transportation segment of a move.