Maybe, neither you nor your family had much experience in moving long distance. Maybe you don’t know too much about the practices of the moving industry and what is even worse is that ignorance can 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.

The whole moving industry breaks down consumer moves in different categories: Intrastate Moves - moves within the same state. In other words the moving company doesn’t need to take your belonging across state line.

A move that is from Los Angeles, CA to let’s say to San Francisco, CA would be labeled as intrastate moving. Interstate Moves relocations that don’t involve traveling between states, no matter how small the distance. Moving to Hoboken New Jersey to Queens, New York is an interstate move in spite of the few miles between these two points.

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.
This article examines disreputable moving methods practiced by some long distance movers involving interstate moves. What most consumers are being told is that the cost to move their property from State A to State B is based on the number of pounds the loaded shipping truck is. The more your load weighs, the more the mover will charge to do the move.

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. By law, the mover may not add transportation charges based on cubic feet, hourly rates, or anything else like that other than weight alone to compile your shipment charges. Your final papers to complete the move should include a weight master ticket which comes from your mover who weighs your belongings on a state certified scale.

Moving truck weight is calculated by weighing the truck before loading and after loading - the difference is what you pay for.

The weight readings can also be taken by the mover at the destination of the shipment. The truck weight will be determined once your shipment is on the truck and then after it has been unloaded.
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.

You’d like to have the assurance that these weights represent the actual weight of your move. Make sure:

1. tires, tools, blankets, carts, dollies, etc are both part of the initial and final weight. What you don’t want is to have these items counted as part of the shipment on the final weight scale when they were not part of the initial weight, thus adding more weight to your load that is not even yours.

2. the gas tank of the vehicle be the same. A full gas tank recorded at the start needs to be recorded at the end, too. If the reading was done on an empty fuel tank, you don’t want to pay for additional weight of a full fuel tank. You should hope the readings to be accurately done so that you have gauged the exact weight of your possessions.

3. to be there when the weighing is done at the station at both the start and final stops. Legally, a trustworthy mover ought to have no issues with consumers initiating this.

Dishonest moving businesses might take advantages of this variation in weight and considering the fact that you are not around. These readings do render an opportunity for unscrupulous movers to “slide in” more than it’s considered fair charges. If you know how scams work and you do things to stop fraudulent charges, even the best con mover will think twice before overcharging you because you are informed.

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 request a re-weight, you must waive your right to observe the reweigh in writing. Also, not every single move requires a weighing. There are difficulties associated with binding and non-binding estimates, as binding estimates tend to be more rigid than the alternative and they do not carry the requirement of estimating the weight of the shipment, itself.

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. Making yourself available for these readings and learning how the moving industry operates can help you avoid any moving headaches and unnecessary over charges.

References: Arsharing.com, quotesaboutmoving.wetpaint.com