Industry Terms

TERM	DEFINITION
AC	Amount claimed/as claimed.
Accessorial Services	Those services which are apart from the line-haul transportation and include such services as packing, extra labor, appliance servicing, piano carry and long walk.
Accessorial Services Certificate	"DD Form 619/619-1" - These documents define those services which are apart from the line-haul transportation and include such as packing, extra labor, appliance servicing, piano carry and long walk.
Act of God	Superhuman cause, such that no reasonable human foresight, prudence, diligence and care can anticipate and/or prevent. Flood, earthquake, or other incident or event that is without human intervention and that could not have been prevented by reasonable means. Result of natural cause. "Force Majeure" is an international term for "Act of God".
Actual Cash Value (ACV)	A valuation option for the replacement of lost or damaged property. Computed based on replacement value minus depreciation by obsolescence or wear.
Adjudication	The process of deciding or determining carrier liability.
Agent	A business firm, corporation or individual operating independently for, or on behalf of, a principal carrier.
Analyze	As related to claims, the process of distinguishing new damage from old for purposes of establishing carrier liability.
Articles of Extraordinary Value	Considered in this category are bank bills, coins or currency deeds, jewelry, postage stamps, stamp collections, precious stones, valuable papers, precious metals, etc.
Betterment	An insurance term which refers to the incremental increase in market value due to a repair or replacement which renders the property more valuable than prior to damage or loss.
Bill of Lading	The formal written contract between the shipper and the carrier. It defines things such as pickup and delivery dates, shipping instructions, valuation limits, billing instructions, etc.
Cargo Claim	A claim related to articles of furniture or other packed items.
Carrier	Entity that is a motor carrier, water carrier or freight forwarder engaged in the business of transporting goods or people, including a long-distance or interstate van line or moving company registered with the DOT to move household goods from one state to another. Might have one ore more agents representing it in other cities.
Cash Out	Act of making a claims settlement by giving the shipper a cash payment instead of having damaged items repaired or replaced.
Claim	Shipper's statement of shipment loss or damage and a demand for compensation.
Claim Form	The document that is used by the customer for purposes of filing a claim.
Claim Liability	Responsibility for loss or damage.
Claim Register	The official record of all claims received.
Claimant	Person making a claim.
COD	"Cash on Delivery". The usual method of payment for moves by individual shippers.
Commercial Shipper	Any person, excluding Federal Government, who is named in a Bill of Lading contract as the consignor or consignee (or both).
Commercial Storage	Storage that can be in connection with a line-haul move, whereby the S.I.T. period expires and the shipment converts to commercial or permanent storage or storage which is not utilized in connection with a line-haul move, but is provided by direct contact between the customer and the storage company.
Concealed Damage	Damage to contents of a package that is in good condition.
Concealed Loss	Loss from a package bearing no indication of having been opened.
Consignee	The individual or party receiving the goods.
Consignor	The individual or party releasing the goods.
Container	A shipping conveyance that is made either of wood, fiberboard or metal.
Containerized Shipment	Goods that are placed in a water-tight container for shipment rather than being transported loose on a van or trailer as is normally done on local and long distance moves. All overseas household goods shipments are containerized.
Conus	The area within the continental United States. Does not include Alaska or Hawaii.
D	Depreciate or depreciation, which means to lessen the value due to age or use.
Declared Valuation	Shipper's declaration of the dollar value of possessions being shipped. This establishes the van line's maximum liability for loss or damage.
Declared Value	Tariff provisions providing for the assumed value of a shipment (unless the shipper declares a higher value). When a higher value is declared, a fee per $100 of declared excess value is charged.
Demand on Carrier	The formal claim submitted by the government on behalf of the military member.
Depreciated Value (DV)	Value up to which carrier will pay a shipper for lost or damaged goods. Based on replacement price of an equivalent item minus depreciation according to the age of the item lost or damaged.
Descriptive Symbols
B/W	Black & White television.
C	Color television.
CD	Carrier disassembled.
CP	Carrier packed.
DBO	Disassembled by owner.
MCU	Mechanical condition unknown.
PB	Professional books.
PBO	Packed by owner.
PE	Professional equipment.
PP	Professional papers.
Destination	The place or location of final delivery for a shipment.
Destination Agent (D/A)	Agent in the delivery city or locale that provides destination services.
Dish Pack	Large container or carton (normally with a capacity of at least 6 cubic feet) used primarily to contain, protect and ship dishes and/or other fragile items.
DOD	Department of Defense.
ER	Estimate of repair.
EX	Exhibit or example.
Exception Sheet/Rider	A document prepared each time a shipment changes hands. It is used to record damage that is above and beyond that shown on the origin inventory.
Exception Symbols
BE	Bent.
BR	Broken.
BU	Burned.
CH	Chipped.
CU	Contents and condition unknown.
D	Dented.
F	Faded.
G	Gouged.
L	Loose.
M	Marred.
MI	Mildew.
MO	Moth-eaten.
P	Peeling.
R	Rubbed.
RU	Rusted.
SC	Scratched.
SH	Short.
SO	Soiled.
T	Torn.
W	Badly worn.
Z	Cracked.
F & E	Fair and equitable.
F & R	Fair and reasonable.
FR	Flat rate depreciation.
Fraudulent Claim	False information, altered documents.
Freight Forwarder	A person holding himself/herself out to the general public as one who: (a) assembles and consolidates or provides for same, (b) arranges for the transportation from origin to destination, (c) uses for any part of the transportation, a motor carrier who has been authorized by the Surface Transportation Board to transport cargo.
Full Value Protection (FVP)	A valuation option available to the customer at extra charge which offers full value or replacement coverage for a shipment to a stated limit.
Government Bill of Lading (GBL)	The bill of lading for shipments moving under government contract.
Government Bill of Lading Shipper	Refers to any person whose property is transported under the terms and conditions of a Government Bill of Lading issued to the carrier responsible for the transportation of the shipment by any department or agency of the Federal Government.
GSA Tender of Service	Terms and Conditions set by the U.S. General Services Administration for the transportation by Government Bill of Lading of domestic and American off-shore household goods and personal effects belonging to the personnel of Federal civilian executive agencies.
Hauling Agent (H/A)	Agent who provides hauling services for the van line.
Hazardous Materials	Those materials having one or more hazardous characteristics. They may consist of gases, combustible liquids, corrosive liquids, explosives or flammables.
High Value Inventory Form	Form given to a customer by a salesperson to be completed on every move. Customers list all items with a value greater than $100 per pound. If they have no high-value items, customers list "none" on the form.
Household Goods Carrier	Carrier handling household goods, personal effects and property used or to be used in a dwelling, when part of the equipment or supply of such dwelling, and similar property if the transportation of such dwelling, effects or property is: 1) arranged and paid for by the householder; including transportation of property from a factory or store when the property is purchased with the intent to use in a dwelling, or 2) arranged and paid for by another party.
Inconvenience Claim	A claim related to a delay.
Indemnify	To restore a victim of a loss (either wholly or partially) by payment, repair or replacement.
Individual Shipper	Refers to any person who is the consignor or consignee of a household goods shipment, is identified as such in the Bill of Lading contract and owns the goods being transported.
Insurance	Transfer of risk (chance of loss) from one party to another (insured to insurer). A premium is paid by the insured to the insurer as protection from possible loss.
Interline	The procedure whereby a carrier transfers a shipment to another carrier, usually through a lease agreement, at a specified location for further movement. Interlining is necessary when the original carrier does not have the authority to transport the shipment in the en-route or destination state(s). It does not necessarily require the transfer of cargo.
International Move	The movement of property between the continental United States and an overseas point.
Interstate Move	The movement of property between points within the United States, but with destination in a different state than origin.
Intrastate Move	A move that has the origin and destination within the same state.
Inventory	Perhaps one of the most important documents in the shipping file. It is used to list articles being shipped as well as the location and type of damage that exists at the time the driver receives the goods.
ITO	Installation Transportation Officer. The individual at a government agency or military base responsible for traffic management.
KD	"Knocked down" or disassembled.
Liability	The obligation of the company to compensate for loss or damage.
Limit of Liability	Maximum amount the responsible party agrees to pay in case of loss.
Line-haul	The physical movement of property or goods other than locally or overseas.
Local Move	A move that takes place within a defined area/zone of the mover performing the service.
Location Symbols
1	Arm.
2	Bottom.
3	Corner.
4	Front.
5	Left.
6	Legs.
7	Rear.
8	Right.
9	Side.
10	Top.
11	Veneer.
12	Edge.
13	Center.
14	Inside.
15	Seat.
16	Drawer.
17	Door.
18	Shelf.
LOV	Loss of value.
MA	An adjustment term meaning maximum allowable.
Member	The military customer for whom moving services are provided at government expense.
Motor Carrier	Authorized hauler of cargo.
National Account Contracts	Corporate contracts that specify the terms and conditions agreed to between a corporation and the carrier.
NE	An adjustment code meaning "no evidence" or "no exception".
Notice of Loss or Damage	"DD Form 1840/1840R" - Used on Government/Department of Defense shipments for purposes of recording loss or damage.
NP	Frequently seen as an adjustment code on government claims meaning "not payable".
NTN	An adjuster's code used for "no timely notice".
NTS	Non-temporary storage. The storage of household goods at government expense in an authorized warehouse.
OCE 101	"Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" - A publication that is required to be given to the consumer, which contains information pertaining to all aspects of the move.
Office Move	The relocation of office furniture and equipment from one location to another.
Order Number	Number used to identify a shipment. Composed of the booking agent's number, a sequence number and a two digit year date.
Origin	The place where a shipment is picked up/originates.
Origin Agent (O/A)	Agent who provides origin services, such as packing and crating.
Origin Services (O/S)	Services such as packing and crating that are required to prepare goods for shipment.
OS	"Overseas" when identifying type of shipment and "overstuffed" when describing furniture.
OS&D	This is the same as an exception sheet - "Overage, Shortage and Damage".
Overage	Articles or items that have become separated from the main portion of the shipment. Such items are usually not discovered until after the shipment(s) has been delivered.
Overflow	That portion of the shipment that cannot be loaded on the van or trailer due to lack of space. The overflow must be carried on another vehicle with a separate inventory prepared.
Owner-Packed	Cartons that have been packed by the owner for transport.
Pad	(a) A protective covering for furniture that is used in both the van and storage containers; or (b) "preferred arrival date".
PAB	Packed by agent.
PBC	Packed by carrier.
PBO	Packed by owner.
PED	Damage that exists at the time of pickup - "pre-existing damage".
PP	Adjuster's code meaning "purchase price".
PPTMR	"Personal Property Traffic Management Regulation" - The specific operational and administrative procedures which must be followed when the customer is in the Department of Defense.
Private or Permanent Storage	The storage of household goods at the customer's expense.
Proof of Ownership or Value	Documents such as paid bills or receipts that are requested when such evidence may affect the disposition of a claim. These documents are useful in identifying make, model, age or value.
Property Damage Claim	A claim related to property outside the residence or public property.
RC	Replacement cost.
RDD	Required delivery date. A specified calendar date on or before which the carrier agrees to deliver the entire shipment.
Released Liability	Liability limited. Carrier is released from responsibility above a certain amount specified in a contract.
Released Rate	Per-pound monetary amount for which a shipper entrusts (releases) a shipment to a carrier and for which the carrier accepts liability.
Released Valuation	The value of the goods or cargo as declared by or agreed to by the shipper prior to transport.
Residence Damage Claim	A claim related to damage within the residence or dwelling.
RVP	A valuation option that is available to the customer which is more commonly known as Replacement Value Protection.
Salvage	(1) What is saved after damage has been done. (2) Value of goods after being damaged.
Shipper	Party whose goods are being transported and/or the party paying for the transportation services; customer.
SIT	Storage in connection with a line-haul move. This storage may take place at origin, in transit, at destination or any combination thereof.
State Publications	Pamphlets issued by the states, providing guidelines for the consumer.
STB	Surface Transportation Board. The United States governmental body which regulates and supervises the operation of motor carriers and freight forwarders.
STB Authority	The authorization for a carrier to transport cargo in specific states. This authorization is granted by the Surface Transportation Board.
Storage Container	A large front-loading "box" in which goods are placed for storage.
SV	Salvage value.
Tailgating	The loading of cargo or equipment on the outside of a van or trailer.
Tariffs	Publications containing rules, regulations, rates, special services and charges for transportation and all services connected with them.
Tender of Service	The specific operational and administrative procedures to be followed when the customer is in the Department of Defense.
Tier	A solid row of goods or property in a van or trailer which extends from each side and from the floor to the ceiling.
Total Quality Assurance Program	Program by which the U.S. Department of Defense evaluates the performance of household goods carriers involved in the movement of military personnel's property within the continental United States. Formerly called "Carrier Evaluation and Reporting System."
Transportation Officer/Office (T/O)	Traffic manager of a military installation, or office of that manager.
Unearned Freight Charge	Refund of charges that were paid to the carrier for items which were lost or totally destroyed in transit.
Valuation	Amount of a carrier's liability expressed by a dollar value placed on a shipment by the shipper that specifies the carrier's maximum liability in the event of a covered claim for losses or damages. If no value is placed on the shipment, the liability then is controlled by the tariff rate schedule or contract under which the shipment was handled.
Warehouse Receipt	Used when household goods are being placed in storage on a permanent basis or when a shipment that was placed in SIT converts to permanent storage.