Your Moving Rights & Responsibilities
Published by Chris Townsend
Your Moving Rights & Responsibilities: What To Know
Your Moving Rights and Responsibilities isn’t just a platitude for what you need to do when moving. It’s an official document that any transporter is legally obligated to provide you with before your move. There’s a lot of information packed into the relatively short document and it’s important to know and understand what’s contained in it. In the Moving Rights & Responsibilities document, you’ll find some good advice for working with shifter, as well as what the legal responsibilities are for both you and the carrier. Below, you’ll find some of the more important things that it covers.
FMCSA Registration
Every shifter, whether a broker or carrier, needs to be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and keeps a record of all relocating and transport companies. Every relocator should be comfortable providing you with the information you’ll need to look up their electronic records with the FMCSA using the Household Goods Database. Using the online database, you can find information about transporter by searching by name, motor carrier number, or U.S. DOT number, all of which you should be able to find or request from the transporter.
Your Role In the Shifting Process
Part of the Rights & Responsibilities pamphlet includes what you need to be responsible for during the relocating process. That includes reading over all documents to ensure their completion and accuracy, as well as sticking to the agreed upon arrangements detailed therein. This means that you need to be available when the company arrives, make payment for the services as agreed, and notify the movers of any changes in your request before shifting day. By the same token, any claims of lost or damaged items should be made promptly so that the carrier can address them in a timely manner.
Three Men & A Truck offers nationwide hauling and storage services to families, individuals, businesses, and organizations, regardless of the size or distance of the move. You can get a FREE price quote by calling us at (888) 202-0036 today! We require no payment or obligation to receive an estimate, just what you need and where you’re transporting to and from. You can also request a FREE estimate by using our online request tool.
Estimate Types & Requirements
Any estimate from a carrier should be given to you in writing. There are no formal agreements made over the phone or in the body of an email that constitute a formal contract with a shifter. Any terms agreed to need to be specifically spelled out and presented to you in a formal document, regardless of the type of estimate. It should be noted that there are different types of estimates, typically binding or non-binding, as well as not to exceed agreements, all of which must be detailed in writing.
Insurance & Value Protection
The level of insurance coverage offered by the hauler, and chosen by you, need to be included in the contract as well. The Protect Your Move document explains the different types of value protection, ranging from basic value protection to full value protection. The base level of coverage is on a per pound basis and guards against damages at the rate of 60 cents per pound or less. Full value protection starts at six dollars per pound and goes up depending on the level of valuation insurance you request. You can also purchase third party insurance separate from valuation that covers your items while they’re in the care of the relocator.
Required Documents
As we mentioned earlier, you need to get everything in writing as it pertains to the terms of your move. There are several required documents that the carriers must provide you with, including your Rights and Responsibilities. There are also other documents, like the bill of lading, inventory list, and order for service that you should receive prior to your haul. The full details of these documents and the specific sections can be reviewed by clicking the link at the top of this page, or by consulting the Rights and Responsibilities pamphlet itself.
