Moving Paperwork:

Do not sign blank or incomplete documents. Verify that the documents are complete before you sign them. The only information that might not appear in your moving paperwork are: the actual weight of your shipment, in the case of a nonbinding estimate, and unforeseen charges that occur in transit.

Order for Service:

Your mover is required by law to prepare an order for service for your shipment. The following 14 elements should be listed on the order for service.

• Your mover's name, address and the USDOT number assigned to your mover.
• Your name, address and if available, telephone number(s).
• The name, address, and telephone number of the delivering mover's office or agent at or nearest to the destination of your shipment.
• A telephone number where you may contact your mover or its designated agent.
• one of the following three dates and times: a. The agreed-upon pickup date and delivery date of your move. b. The agreed-upon period(s) of the entire move. c. If your mover is transporting the shipment on a guaranteed service basis, the guaranteed dates or periods of time for pickup, transportation, and delivery. Your mover must enter any penalty or per diem requirements upon the agreement under this item.
• The names and addresses of any other motor carriers, when known, that will participate in the transportation of your shipment.
• The form of payment your mover will accept at delivery. The payment information must be the same as was entered on the estimate.
• The terms and conditions for payment of the total charges, including notice of any minimum charges.
• The maximum amount your mover will demand, based on the mover's estimate, at delivery to release the shipment, when transported on a collect-on-delivery basis.
• A complete description of any special or accessorial services ordered and minimum weight or volume charges applicable to the shipment.
• Any identification or registration number your mover assigns to the shipment.
• For non-binding estimated charges, your mover's reasonably accurate estimate of the amount of the charges, the method of payment of total charges, and the maximum amount (110 percent of the non-binding estimate) your mover will demand at the time of delivery for you to obtain possession of the shipment.
• For binding estimated charges, the amount of charges your mover will demand based upon the binding estimate and the terms of payment under the estimate.
• An indication of whether you request notification of the charges before delivery. You must provide your mover with contact information.

You are entitled to a copy of the order for service when it is prepared. The order for service is an important part of the contract (bill of lading) between you and the mover. Should you cancel or delay your shipment, or if you decide not to use the mover, you should promptly cancel the order. If you cancel your shipment more than three days after signing the order for service, you mover may charge you a penalty.

The order for service provides you with written confirmation of the services you have requested to be performed in conjunction with your shipment. This document lists the agreed dates for the pickup and delivery of your shipment, the amount of liability that you requested, along with any special services that you have ordered and a place and telephone number where the mover can contact you during the move.

The order for service also shows the charges that you may be assessed for your move. If you are moving under a non-binding estimate, the order for service will indicate the amount of the estimated non-binding charges, the method of payment for the charges, and additional charges that may occur prior to loading.

If you are moving under a binding estimate, the order for service will show the charges that you will be required to pay and the terms of payment. You and your mover must both sign the order for service.

If you or your mover changes any agreed upon dates for pickup or delivery of your shipment, or agree to any change in the non-binding estimate, your mover must prepare a written change to the order for service.