What is a Bill of Lading for Local Moving in Coconut Creek?

When you decide to hire a full service local moving company in Coconut Creek, they will present you with a bill of lading on the day of your move. This document serves as a contract between the moving company and you, and the company is required by law to provide you with a copy of it. If the bill of lading misrepresents the services, or is misleading, the company is in violation of Florida law.

What’s On the Bill of Lading?

There are fourteen items that must be included on a bill of lading from a local moving company. You should check the bill of lading before you sign it to make sure everything is included.

• The name and address of the moving company.
• The addresses and names of any other moving companies participating in the shipment.
• The address, name, and phone number you can contact to ask questions related to the shipment.
• The forms of payment the movers will accept. This needs to match the forms of payment listed on the Order of Service. Also, in Florida, they must accept two of the following three forms of payment: cash, cashier’s check, money order, or traveler’s check; valid personal check; or valid credit card.
• If the shipment is moving as a COD (cash on delivery), the driver needs to obtain your address, name, and phone number in order to call you with the COD charges.
• If the service is non-guaranteed, they will need to provide you with the agreed-upon pickup date for your shipment. This should match the Order of Service.
• If it’s a guaranteed service, the bill of lading should provide pickup and delivery dates, plus any penalties or per diem entitlements you’ve agreed to.
• The actual date for the pickup.
• The identification numbers of the vehicles that will be carrying your belongings.
• The terms and conditions for charges and payments.
• The maximum amount that the moving company will be able to deliver for you, based on their estimate, and the time of delivery.
• The Surface Transportation Board’s required released rates valuation statement, and charges for any additional valuation coverage.
• Evidence of any insurance sold to you by an independent insurer, including the premium.
• Attached to the bill of lading should be the non-binding or binding estimate, order for service, and inventory.

What Paperwork Do Movers Need to Give You in Florida?

Local moving and intrastate moving in Florida, where you’re staying in the same state, are governed by Chapter 507 of the Florida Statutes. According to these regulations, the moving company must provide you with a written estimate. Before estimating the cost of your move, the movers will need to inspect your belongings to get an accurate idea of how much you have, and how much everything will weigh in total.

Estimates may be binding or non-binding, although for a local move, they’re generally non-binding. The written estimate presented to you by the moving company must include all of the following information:

• The company’s name, and a phone number and physical address where employees are available during normal business hours;
• The date the estimate or contract was prepared, as well as the proposed moving date;
• The shipper’s name and address, plus any addresses where you can pick up the items;
• The name, phone number, and address of any location where your goods may be held while pending further transportation, or while pending the resolution of a fee dispute;
• An itemized breakdown of all costs and services, including: loading; transportation or shipment; unloading; and any accessorial services, such as packing.
• Forms of payment that the company accepts. This must include of of these three: cash, cashier’s check, or money order; a valid personal check; and/or a valid credit card.

Any estimate you receive from a moving company will be fully itemized, giving you a detailed breakdown of how the total cost was determined. If the estimate is non-binding, you may end up paying a little bit more than you were quoted originally. However, this rarely exceeds about 110% of the original estimate.

Local Movers in Coconut Creek

When you hire a reputable, licensed local moving company, you’ll be presented with paperwork as required by Florida and federal law. This includes an itemized estimate, as well as a bill of lading on the day of your move.

At Orange Movers, we help Coconut Creek homeowners and businesses with reliable, affordable local moving services. To find out more contact us now.