• Fisrt begin by educating yourself of consumers rights and responsibilities.
• Long distance will require a little more preparations as your movers will have possession of your items for a few days.
• Find a few reputable companies and get at least 3 quotes, if long distance moves On-Site Estimates.
• When interviewing movers you should tell them absolutely everything you need help with and make certain all quotes have all those services mentioned in them. 
• If mover says this service is free make sure to get that in writing.
• Discuss pickup dates and times and very important to also discuss delivery times or dates of delivery (long distance moves).

Long distance movers offer to different delivery options: Exclusive Use of A Truck, or Consolidated relocation.

Exclusive use of truck aka straight delivery: customer is loaded into truck/trailer and will be delivered with out adding any other loads. This is a more expansive way of transportation. However, if customer has a big load and going to occupy at least 80% of space ABC Moorpark Movers will charge customer lower rates (as consolidated delivery) and send the shipment straight to the new residence.

Consolidated delivery is a less expansive delivery method. Mover can stack the trailer with as many shipments as they can allowed by weight regulations per trailer. Dispatch works out a route that has all deliveries going the same way.  Fist off loads are loaded last as they will be closed to the back for an easy off load. Industry standard for delivering shipment from CA to anywhere in the East Coast is up to 3 weeks. In some cases consolidated deliveries may be delivered very fast, as the shipment picked up last may most likely be delivered first.

When choosing a mover make certain you understand whom you are dealing with:

• Agent
• Broker
• Mover

Agent is a mover that is part of a big Van Line company, they have to abide by their parent company policies and have very power of what kind of deliveries they make, most of their deliveries are consolidated.

Broker is responsible to sell your job to a licensed mover, however broker has no personal liability over your shipment.

Independent

Mover has liability over your shipment and is able to make decision of any kind of delivery they make. Most of the deliveries within 900 miles of mediums size shipments are Exclusive and have a very fast tern around time. They are also less expansive as they don't have to share their profits with a parent company and multiple layers of management and shareholders.

• Ask the mover of your choosing for a copy of bill of lading, so that you have time to read all the small print on the back of the contract, that you will be signing on the day of the move.
• Find out method of payment your mover will accept and have it in writing.
• Find out the cost of additional fees, such as Storage in Transit, Shuttle, Hoisting (just in case, so if you happen to need one of them you will not be overcharged for them).
• Find out from your mover how to file a claim in case of loss or damage to your items.

If your mover is reluctant to answer any of these question do not hurry to sign up any contracts with them.

Payment Options

Here is a page out of booklet, following we have our own policies for local and long distance payments.

Keep in mind this is the policy of ABC Moorpark Movers, not an industry standard.

LOCAL and LONG DISTANCE MOVES

Local moves:

Required a deposit of $100.00 at the time of reservation. This payment is normally made by Visa, Master Card or Discover. ABC Moorpark Movers do not accept payments by personal check, cashiers check or American Express.

There is no fee on the deposit amount made by credit card, however our company quotes cash rates. Therefore, any payments made by credit card will be charged additional 5%, for the use of credit card.

ABC Moorpark Movers allows customers to pay with credit card (except AmEx) up to $1,000.00 the rest has to be made by cash or Postal Money orders.

Example:

• Total cost of the move - $1,200.00
• Less $100.00 deposit.
• Remaining balance - $1,100.00
• $900.00 by credit card, plus 5% credit card fee $45.00
• 200.00 plus $45.00 = $245.00 payment by cash or Postal Money Order.

Long Distance Moves

Long distance moves require a deposit of $250.00 by credit card. No fee on the deposit amount.

• On the day of the move client pays 50% of the estimated amount, by credit cards described above and pays 5% fee or pays us with Postal Money Orders.
• On the day of delivery - client pays the balance by only cash or money orders from Postal Service. We do not accept credit cards at the delivery unless prior arrangement with management had been made.

If you have any questions call us 805-328-3600 or email info@moorpark-moving.com

When getting delivery be very careful to go over every item, wait to unwrap everything and make sure to find move related damages. Especially, if it was a long distance move - you will have an inventory forms. Inventory forms will have all items on the list and the items condition prior to loading. 

Here is a page out of California booklet produced by Public Utilities Commission.

File a Claim:

ABC Moorpark Movers can accommodate our customers with short term storage or Storage In Transit (SIT).

We can place client's shipment into our warehouse or find a local self storage facility.

Each residence is different. Best way it to order an onsite estimate.

Here are approximate sizes:

Moving industry is using a lot of different tools to ensure safety and efficiency of their work.

Common tools like:

• box hand trucks,
• fridge dollies,
• 4 wheel dollies to
• hoisting mechanisms,
• electric hoist,
• pallet jack,
• piano jack,
• fork lift,
• air sled for appliances,
• "J" Bar,
• double dolly for piano,
• electric dolly,
• builders hoist.

Tipping workers is a discretion each customer should make on their on. If you believe and feel that movers provided you with a great service you may decide to tip them.
The company obviously discourages our movers from getting or more over asking for tips. Our movers are well paid and their well being is not based on the amount of tip they may get.

However, we encourage our customers to report those guys that insist on being tipped. This considers to be unacceptible and the movers will be warned and may even be terminated if continuing asking for gratuity.

Relocating plants

Customers relocating out of state will most likely have to find a new home for their plants.

Most states have regulations that prohibit moving companies or individuals to transport plants across state lines. 

Those customers that decide to take a chance and transport them themselves are

• taking a risk of breaking state law,
• having plants confiscated at the boarder,
• risking getting plants killed by weather conditions, lack of light, fresh air and water.

Customers moving within California - locally (under 100 miles) can ask movers to load their plants inside the truck. However, movers' main priority is to make sure that shipment fits inside the truck to avoid a second trip. Plants are very delicate, can not stack on top of them - so they take a lot of space inside the truck. 

Usually, movers load plants last, after all boxes and other goods safely secured inside the truck.

In our experience we have transported (locally) many different sorts of plants, using wardrobe or dish pack boxes. Securing plants safely, and in some cases customers were assigned special trucks just to  take care of their valuable plants.

Plants seem amenable enough. They barely move and they certainly don't audibly complain about anything. But they're actually very sensitive beings. And they will get as upset as your cat or dog about moving to a new locale -- especially when moving involves spending a lot of time in a vehicle that's not temperature controlled.

-- What kinds of things should you consider when moving plants?

1. You may not be able to bring the plant at all if it's outlawed in your new area.
2. And if your plant is legal to make the move, you need to keep it moist and make sure the temperature of the vehicle is reasonable. What else should you do to make your plant's trip a comfortable one?

5 Important things to know about moving plants

1. Check the laws:

Believe it or not, if you're moving to another state, federal and state laws may prohibit you from bringing a certain type of plant with you. In certain areas, plants may have to be quarantined or inspected to be certified that they are pest-free. Some states prohibit bringing any plants into the state. If you find yourself in a situation where you can't bring your plants with you to your new home, you'll have to give them up. You can give them to a friend or donate them to a willing institution. Or, you can even sell them. People have been known to buy plants off CraigsList.

2. If your plants are acceptable where you're moving, then you can let the movers move them. Professional moving companies are usually willing to move houseplants. But don't expect professional moving personnel to water your plants or give them any special care. So, if you're moving a long distance and will be on the road for a long time, you might want to put the plants in your own vehicle. You can look after the plants, making sure they're kept upright and remain in a relatively temperature-controlled vehicle. More about that on the next page.

3. Control temperature:

 Most indoor houseplants cannot survive in temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1.1 degrees Celsius or higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) for more than an hour, particularly if they are not wrapped. So if you are moving a long distance, pack plants in cartons and try to make sure they are moved in a heated vehicle and are not left in an unheated car or moving van overnight. That may mean you need to take the plants into the hotel room with your overnight if you're making a long car ride to get to your new home.

4. Prepare plants for transport:

Make sure plants are moist when they are packed for moving. They can usually survive for about 10 days without water. So you probably won't need to worry about watering them during the trip. If your plants are in ceramic or clay pots, those are heavy to carry and they're also breakable. So, it's a good idea to transplant your plants to plasticpots before the move. But even just moving them from one pot to another can be traumatic. So do this a couple of weeks before your move. That way the plant will get used to its new pot before it's put on the road.

5. Take cuttings from plants left behind:

If you can't move your plants because of space limitations, quirky laws or simply because you don't think they'll survive the trip, then consider taking cuttings from a few of your favorite plants with you. This is an especially nice thing to do with the plants in your yard that you don't want to dig out of the ground. To ensure sound transport, you can keep the cuttings in a plastic bag with damp vermiculite or peat moss. When you get to your new place, simply plant the cuttings in a new pot or in the yard.

The customer and the mover should reach an agreement for pickup and delivery times.

Local moves: agree on morning or afternoon pickup, and generally the same day delivery.

Long distance moves are more complicated:

It is customers responsibility to determine the date, or between what dates, customer needs shipment picked up and on what date, or between what dates customer requires delivery.

It is movers responsibility to inform customers if they can provide services on, or between those dates, or if not, on what other dates movers can provide service.

In the process of making arrengements - client and mover will may find it necessary to make adjustments to alter clients moving and travel plans if no other mover can provide services on the specific dates client desires.

Once an agreement is reached those dates need to be written into the contrac or bill of lading by mover and signed by both parties.

Once goods are loaded, the mover is contractually bound to provide service described in the contract (bill of lading). 

Mover's only defense for not providing the services on the dates called for is the defense of force majeure. This is a legal term. It means if circumstances change, were not forseen, and are beyond the control of the mover, preventing mover from performing the services agreed to in the bill of lading. The mover is not responsible for damages resulting from its nonperformance.

This may occur if client does not inform mover of the exact delivery requirements. For example, because of restrictions a truck must follow at client's new location, mover may not be able to take the truck down the street of client's new residence and may need to shuttle the shipment using another type of vehicle. 

At mover's discretion, it may place client's shipment into storage (long distance moves only). 

If this delivery is attemted 24 hours prior to the agreed date of delivery, the mover will be responsible for the costs associated with reloading, storage, and delivery.

Mover must attemt to make a delivery with in agreed dates indicated in the contract.

Bill of Lading, Freight Bill or Moving contract

Here are some important things to note:

• The Bill of Lading/Freight Bill requires the mover to provide the service cliet's requested.
• The information on a Bill of Lading is required to be synonymous with the information on the Order for Service/Important Information about your Move.
• -  Interstate relocations are governed by federal laws. Moving contractual paperwork is called Bill of Lading and Order for Service. 
• -  California moves are governed by Public Utilities Commission. Paperwork is called Freight Bill and Important Information about your Move.
• Prior to commencing the job movers will go over the Order for Service and Bill of Lading - to last time make sure both customer and the company are on the same page.
• If client does not agree with something on the Bill of Lading, client should not sign the paperwork and the movers will not begin the job until the client is satisfied with its accuracy.
• Client is required to pay the charges detailed in the Bill of Lading.

Here is a copy of a long distance California contract (bill of lading), the moving services of over 100 miles, therefore tariff is by weight of the shipment.

Below is the explaination of every important field in this contract, also the back of the contract contains very important information, the copy of that is also below in this page.

This bill of lading indicates the follwing information:

1.   Company Name, Licensing information and contact information.

2.   Dates: Order, Packing, Loading, Delivery.

3.   Name of representative who took the order

4.   Customer Name, Addresses of puckup and delivery.

5.   Ruler of Times: AM and PM: helps movers to indicate time of arrival, loading, off time, drive time and time of job completion.

6.   Delivery Instructions

7.   Storage Information (if needed).

8.   Materials: types and cost.

9.   Description of Articles (3 types):

      A. High value products and electronics,

      B. Used Office & Store fixtures and equipment,

      C. Used Household goods and personal effects.

10. PUC Max 4 Tariff

11. Price per pound and break points: $.30/lb (in this contract)

12. Minimum Weight: 4,000 lbs, this contract

13. Distance in miles: 360

14. Weights: Gross - 20,700 lbs., Tare (Empty) - 13,140 lbs., Net (Payload) - 7,560 lbs.

15. Hourly Rate (Local Moves): Minimum hours, Number of trucks, Number of Movers, Hourly Rate, Cost of additional helper per man per hour.

16. Loading time, Double Drive time, Unloading time - in hours.

16. Piece Moving rates.

17. Table for Items of Exceptional Value.

18. Consumer Protection and/or Waivers

19. Important Information Booklet.

20. Issuing agreement for moving services.

21. Valuation Declaration: Possibley the most important part of the document. Here client decides, which protection to choose out of 3 options:

     A. Free Option: 60 cents/lb. Valuation by weight of items not real value.

     B. Actual Cash Value - this option has additional cost;

     C. Full Value - this is the most expansive option.

22. Valuation Option Chosen by Client.

23. Right side of this contact is for calculation of costs: Weight: 7,560 lbs. x $.30 = $2,268.00; Materials: $54.00; Fuel Surcharge: $250.00; Total Cost: $2,672.00, Less Deposit: $150.00; Balance at Delivery: $2,522.00.

24. Delivery Receipt Signature.

BACK OF THE CONTRACT

Continued on FAQ. 33

Here is the back side of BOL.