Eight records · one written trail

Follow the move from estimate to delivery records.

A moving price is easier to question when each later document is compared with what came before. This reference shows what the main records commonly contain, where to compare them, and which question to resolve in writing.

Reviewed October 17, 2026. Federal sources below concern interstate household-goods moves. Local and intrastate rules can differ by state.

  1. 01

    Written estimate

    What it commonly records

    • estimate type and expected charges
    • shipment description and requested services
    • payment forms and valuation election

    Compare it with

    • Inventory or pricing basis
    • Bill of lading
    • Written revision or addendum
    • Invoice, delivery record, and any claim

    Question to resolveDo the listed shipment, services, estimate type, and expected charges describe the move you discussed?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.401 — Written estimates of chargesCurrent federal estimate framework for an interstate household-goods shipment; state and local move rules can differ. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

    FMCSA — How can I avoid unexpected moving costs?Consumer guidance about written estimates and charges for an interstate household-goods move; local rules can differ. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  2. 02

    Inventory or pricing basis

    What it commonly records

    • goods or estimated shipment quantity
    • weight, volume, or other written pricing basis
    • known access and packing conditions

    Compare it with

    • Written estimate
    • Bill of lading
    • Written revision or addendum
    • Weight ticket

    Question to resolveCan each quantity or access assumption be matched to the estimate and the shipment being prepared?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.401 — Written estimates of chargesCurrent federal estimate framework for an interstate household-goods shipment; state and local move rules can differ. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

    FMCSA — How can I avoid unexpected moving costs?Consumer guidance about written estimates and charges for an interstate household-goods move; local rules can differ. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  3. 03

    Optional legacy order for service

    What it commonly records

    • shipment scheduling details
    • services or instructions carried forward by the mover

    Compare it with

    • Written estimate
    • Bill of lading
    • Written revision or addendum

    Question to resolveIf this optional form is present, does it agree with the estimate and current bill of lading?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.505 — Bill of ladingCurrent bill-of-lading content and timing for an interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  4. 04

    Bill of lading

    What it commonly records

    • transportation contract and shipment receipt
    • mover identity and shipment number
    • pickup and delivery timing, services, and payment terms

    Compare it with

    • Written estimate
    • Inventory or pricing basis
    • Written revision or addendum
    • Invoice, delivery record, and any claim

    Question to resolveWhich names, dates, services, and charges differ from the estimate or latest written revision?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.505 — Bill of ladingCurrent bill-of-lading content and timing for an interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  5. 05

    Applicable tariff and accessorial terms

    What it commonly records

    • service definitions and rate units
    • conditions that can trigger an additional service
    • storage-in-transit terms and conversion notices

    Compare it with

    • Written estimate
    • Bill of lading
    • Written revision or addendum
    • Invoice, delivery record, and any claim

    Question to resolveWhich written tariff term does the mover say applies to each conditional service or later charge?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.405 — Non-binding estimatesCurrent non-binding-estimate requirements and written-change paths for an interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

    49 CFR 375.609 — Storage-in-transit expiration and noticeStorage-in-transit expiration, conversion notice, and liability context for an interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  6. 06

    Written revision or addendum

    What it commonly records

    • changed goods, services, dates, or conditions
    • revised amount and estimate treatment
    • date and written acceptance of the change

    Compare it with

    • Written estimate
    • Inventory or pricing basis
    • Bill of lading
    • Applicable tariff and accessorial terms

    Question to resolveWhat changed from the prior document, and is the change described before the affected work occurs?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.401 — Written estimates of chargesCurrent federal estimate framework for an interstate household-goods shipment; state and local move rules can differ. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

    49 CFR 375.403 — Binding estimatesCurrent binding-estimate requirements and written-change paths for an interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

    49 CFR 375.405 — Non-binding estimatesCurrent non-binding-estimate requirements and written-change paths for an interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  7. 07

    Weight ticket

    What it commonly records

    • scale, date, and vehicle identification
    • tare, gross, or net recorded weight
    • shipper and shipment reference

    Compare it with

    • Inventory or pricing basis
    • Bill of lading
    • Invoice, delivery record, and any claim

    Question to resolveDo the ticket identifiers and weights tie to this shipment and the pricing basis shown in the documents?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.519 — Weight tickets and invoicesWeight-ticket fields and invoice-copy context for a weight-based interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

  8. 08

    Invoice, delivery record, and any claim

    What it commonly records

    • charges presented and payments made
    • delivery condition or exceptions recorded
    • written claim details and supporting records when applicable

    Compare it with

    • Written estimate
    • Bill of lading
    • Applicable tariff and accessorial terms
    • Written revision or addendum
    • Weight ticket

    Question to resolveCan each billed amount or recorded delivery issue be traced back through the written document chain?

    Official context

    49 CFR 375.519 — Weight tickets and invoicesWeight-ticket fields and invoice-copy context for a weight-based interstate household-goods shipment. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

    49 CFR part 370 — Loss and damage claimsFederal claim-processing context that may apply after an interstate household-goods shipment; it does not decide an individual claim. Reviewed 2026-10-17.

Source review and material changes

The registry was reviewed against the linked primary sources on 2026-10-17. These notes record changes that materially affect how the chain is described.

  • 49 CFR 375.505 — Bill of lading: Effective June 27, 2022, the federal rules no longer require a separate order for service; shipment information was consolidated into the bill of lading.

What this reference does not decide

A mismatch is a question to resolve in writing. This page does not determine whether a law was broken, whether a mover is good or bad, what a final bill should be, or how an individual dispute or claim will turn out.