Occasionally, moves bring us hundreds of miles away from home - to new states, nations or continents. Creating a detailed inventory of personal effects can significantly reduce the strain and cost of this type of unexpected relocation.
Perhaps you and your family haven't moved long distance much before. Maybe, you are not familiar with the moving industry's practices and what's worse is that little knowledge could cost you hundreds of dollars in your long distance move. This is why it is critical to know and understand your legal rights and obligations, which apply to the moving industry as with all others.

Within the moving business, customer relocations are categorized in these groups: Intrastate Relocations - moving without leaving the state. The moving company is not required to take your possessions across the state lines.
For instance relocating from Tampa, FL to Hollywood, FL is thought of as an intrastate relocation.
Interstate Moves - moves that do cross state boundaries regardless of how short of a distance it is. Though only a few miles separate Hoboken in New Jersey from Queens in New York, moving between these two places is an interstate move.

We finally have International (Overseas Moves) that cross country boundaries. For instance, relocating from a town in California to Tijuana in Mexico is classified as international moving.
In this article, we'll focus on some shady moving practices done by long distance moving companies when they engage in an interstate move. Most people are told that the price to relocate their belongings from State 1 to State 2 is based by the pound on the weight of the moving truck. In other words, the heavier your move, the more costly it would be.
For your long distance move, if a mover offers a non-binding moving estimate, then charges will be based on the actual weight of your shipment. Legally, the mover can't add transportation fees calculated by the cubic feet, hour charges, or something else except the weight only to add up your shipment fees. Your belongings are supposed to be weighed by the mover on a state certified scale and a copy of the weight master ticket is supposed to be given as part of final papers to settle the moving transaction.
Usually, your shipment will be weighed in the city or local area where you live. The mover has the truck weighed before coming to your residence and then has it weighed again after your shipment has been loaded. The difference in these two weights is the weight of your shipment.

The weight readings can also be taken by the mover at the destination of the shipment. The driver will take the weight of your truck with your shipment on it and take the weight again without your shipment.
Consumers can wind up paying for more than their fair share when they don't know that they have the right to watch the weighing process.
The actual weight of your move needs to be represented by these weights or there is no value in using them. Ensure that:
1. tires, tools, blankets, carts, dollies, etc are both part of the initial and final weight. What you want to avoid is having items that were not part of the first weight to be weighed in as part of the final shipment, adding someone else's weight to your shipment.
2. the truck's fuel tank is consistent. A full gas tank recorded at the start needs to be recorded at the end, too. Avoid getting charged for an extra full gas tank weight if the first recording was taken on a tank that was empty. It is imperative that the reading be done so that you will know the actual weight of the things you are moving.
3. you're present at these weight stations on both initial and final destination. By law, a reputable moving company should welcome such initiative from consumers.
Dishonest movers might exploit this difference in the weight as well as your absence. The non-binding estimate gives a mover the opportunity to include further weight charges that are totally unsubstantiated to the client in the final paper work. When you are aware of these tactics and take actions to prevent any fraudulent charges, even a shady mover would rethink its strategy to over charge you because it seems like you've done your homework.
If you disagree with the weight you were initially given, you can request that the mover reweigh your belongings prior to emptying the truck. The moving company may not charge you for this re-weight; however, the final charges will be assessed based on this new reading.
You have the power to witness the action for each time your cargo is weighed. If you insist upon having the item re-weighed, then you have to waive the right to watch them re-weight it in writing.
Furthermore, not every move needs to be weighed. There is not need to weight the shipment under binding estimates, however, binding estimates do have the potential of being more costly than non-binding estimates.
Lastly, little shipments less than 3,000 pounds can be weighed on an authorized warehouse scale instead of being transported to a state certified weigh station scale.
Learning as much as you can about the moving industry will save you money, avoid being scammed, and lessen the aggravation of moving.
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