Documents Before Booking an Interstate Mover

The written estimate and survey

Use the estimate to identify the company, estimate type, quoted transportation charge, included services, conditional services, valuation language, and any stated dates or delivery window. A lower first-page total is not enough to show that two estimates describe the same move.

For an interstate household-goods move, 49 CFR 375.401 generally requires a physical survey and written estimate. A survey waiver must be in writing, signed before loading, and kept as an addendum to the bill of lading.

The inventory

Read the inventory or item list beside the estimate. It helps show what the mover used to prepare the price and which household goods are expected to move. If major rooms, specialty items, or packed boxes are missing, ask for a written revision rather than guessing what the total covers.

Federal consumer information

For an interstate move, confirm that you received or were given compliant online access to Ready to Move? and Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. Current 49 CFR 375.213 governs the carrier's delivery of this information; household-goods brokers have a parallel duty under 49 CFR 371.111.

The bill of lading

For an interstate household-goods shipment, compare the bill of lading against the estimate: the legal name, USDOT number when shown, origin, destination, dates, shipment description, listed services, and valuation selection should make sense together. Keep the signed and dated copies.

Valuation and written changes

Keep valuation on its own line. It is the mover's liability option for loss or damage, not the transportation price. If the company changes the inventory, services, date, price basis, or valuation language, ask for the changed terms in writing and compare them against the earlier documents.

Questions to ask before you sign

• Does every document identify the same legal company and, for an interstate move, the same USDOT number?
• Do the inventory, services, dates, and addresses describe the same move?
• Is the estimate type written clearly?
• Which services are included, conditional, omitted, or unclear?
• Where is the valuation choice written, and what option does it name?
• What changed since the first estimate, and where is that change written?

A note about local moves

This is a practical checklist, not legal advice. Federal household-goods guidance applies to interstate moves. Local and intrastate document requirements can differ by state.

Frequently asked questions

What documents should I keep from a mover?

Keep every written estimate, inventory, bill of lading, valuation selection, receipt, and written change. Keep them together with emails or messages that clarify the move.

Is the bill of lading the same as the estimate?

No. The estimate describes projected charges and services. The bill of lading is the transportation document you receive for the shipment. Compare the names, dates, shipment details, services, and stated amounts across both documents.

What if a number changes before moving day?

Ask for the change in writing and read it before agreeing. Compare the new document against the earlier estimate, especially the inventory, services, estimate type, valuation choice, and total.

Do these document rules apply to a local move?

Not automatically. Interstate household-goods requirements are federal; local and intrastate document rules vary by state.