When we move, it may be a long trip, be it to a new state, a new country, or even to a new continent. These moves are harder to plan for, and require much more stringent assessment of belongings, so that you can afford the move itself.

Perhaps, not you or your family knows enough about a long distance move. 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.

Intrastate Moves

The whole moving industry breaks down consumer moves in different categories: Intrastate Moves – moves within the same state. The moving company is not required to take your possessions across the state lines.  A move that is from Los Angeles, CA to let’s say to San Francisco, CA would be labeled as intrastate moving.

Interstate Relocations

Interstate Moves – relocating across state lines regardless of how a few miles there are between points. Even though a move from Hoboken, NJ to Queens, NY is only a matter of miles, this is still considered an interstate move.

International Relocations

Finally, these moves are the ones 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. When someone moves from one state to another, the moving estimate is based on a price per pound times the weight of the shipping truck. The heavier the amount of your items, the more expensive your move becomes.

Moving Weight Standard:

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. The mover is supposed to weight your belonging on a state certified scale and a copy of your weight master ticket be given to you as part of your final papers to settle the move.

Household movers, often called long distance movers, will arrive at your house with an empty weight, or take weight, and they will weigh again when they are finished loading and come up with difference in both; this is what you are charged.

The weight readings can also be taken by the moving companies 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.

Shady movers intentionally don’t mention the fact that as a consumer, you have the right to be at the weight station to witness the process and as a result, consumers wind up paying far more than their fair share.

It’s beneficial to know that these weights reflect the real weight of what you are moving.

Be certain that:

1. wheels, implements, bedding, carts, dollies and the like all make up the first and last weigh-in. 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 diesel the truck has is same before and after the weight process. Full fuel tank on the initial reading must be done the same at the final reading. You don’t want to pay for additional full fuel tank weight when the initial reading was done on an empty tank. You should hope the readings to be accurately done so that you have gauged the exact weight of your possessions.

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 moving companies might exploit this difference in the weight as well as your absence. These readings do render an opportunity for unscrupulous movers to “slide in” more than it’s considered fair charges. 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 believe there’s a discrepancy in your original weight, you can ask the mover to weigh the load again before 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 are entitled to watch the process on every instance that your cargo’s weight is recorded. 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.

Finally, any shipment under 3,000 pounds is not required to be weighed at a state certified weigh station, and may instead be weighed on a certified warehouse scale.

Finding out how the moving industry works will help you avoid surplus charges and other problems.