Moving can be a stressful time! There is so much to remember, pack, and get together that it’s hard to know where to start. Then there’s the issue of hiring a moving company or truck driver to take your essential furniture and belongings to your new location. This is not only a daunting task to find the right movers, but you also worry about the cost.
One of the factors that influence the cost is the weight of your major furniture and appliances. It’s important to know how moving companies figure out the cost so you can plan for this expense.
To accurately estimate the cost of moving, you’ll need to know how moving companies calculate weight. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a booklet entitled, Tour Rights and Responsibility When You Move, in which they illustrate how a shipment must be weighed on a certified scale using either origin or destination weighing.
What is Origin Weighing?
Origin weighing involves weighing the loaded vehicle before leaving the site of origin ( the house you are moving out of). They subtract the truck weight before arrival from your net weight ( your shipment weight) to get the total.
What is Destination Weighing?
Destination weighing is another method a moving company may use to figure the cost of your moving expenses. In this case, they wait until they have arrived at the destination city. Once there, they weigh the gross weight of your shipment inside the truck and subtract any other weight such as “tare weight,” which is anything else that might have been in the truck before loading your stuff, then use that total to bill you.
Which Way is Better?
Either method of weighing shipments is legal and serves the purpose of determining your moving costs based on weight. Some moving companies charge you based on the hourly amount they bill, so you should ask the moving company you choose which method they use so you can check what they do with your figures to make sure it’s accurate and fair.
Warning to Consumers
Some moving companies attempt to shave extra money off the top by assuming the customer does not understand this process. This is known as “relocation fraud,” and it is a serious offense. You should be aware of this concern when choosing a moving company.
About Us
At Connecticut’s Finest Movers, we understand the concerns you may have about hiring a moving company. That’s why we are giving you this important information so that you can do your math to double-check our movers if you want. Our reputation also speaks for itself. We have been in the business of helping families move to their new locations for over a decade. During that time, we have made many friends who we helped to make one of the most important transitions in life less painful.
We have a specific way of weighing and estimating your cost, so you know exactly how we will bill you during the entire process. We know you don’t like surprises, so if you have any questions along the way, just phone us at 203-623-4183. We’ll be happy to help. Located in Milford, Connecticut, we offer the finest moving experience you can get in the state.
