Household Goods Shipping Glossary for Employee Moves

Access

The immediate area around a property—both inside and out—that affects how easily movers can load or unload. Includes driveways, stairs, elevators, narrow roads, low bridges etc. Poor access can lead to added charges (e.g., shuttle, long carry).

Accessorial (Additional) Services / Charges

Extra services outside the standard move scope, such as stair carries, appliance handling, shuttle use, etc. These are typically charged separately.

Agent / Origin Agent / Destination Agent

A local representative who works on behalf of the main moving company. The origin agent handles packing and loading in the home location; the destination agent manages customs clearance and delivery in the host location.

Allowance

The maximum shipment volume or weight the employer will cover under the relocation policy. Often stated in either a container size or cubic feet/meters or kilograms/pounds, and can include or exclude packing materials and crating as well as any items not included in policy, i.e. motor vehicles or pets, for example.

Blanket Wrap

A packing method where movers wrap furniture in reusable blankets. Suitable for direct deliveries (property to property), but not if the shipment requires storage or containerization.

BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)

A surcharge sometimes added to sea freight rates to cover fluctuations in the price of marine fuel (bunker fuel). Shipping lines apply BAF to protect themselves from volatile fuel costs. 

CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)

A surcharge applied to account for currency fluctuations between the quote currency and the operating currency of the shipping line or port. Especially relevant when international freight is billed in a different currency (e.g., USD or EUR). CAF is used to stabilize pricing in response to exchange rate volatility.

Chargeable Weight (Airfreight)

For air shipments, pricing is based on chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight. Volumetric weight accounts for the space a shipment occupies in the aircraft. Even lightweight items can incur higher charges if they take up a lot of space. Accurate volume calculation is critical for budgeting airfreight.

Consignee

The person or party receiving the shipment; regarded as the owner for purposes of customs clearance.

Consolidation

A shipping method where multiple customers’ shipments are combined into one container or vehicle to share space and reduce costs. This is commonly used for smaller shipments that don't fill a full container or vehicle (e.g. groupage). While cost-effective, consolidation may involve longer transit times or less control over delivery dates.

Container Haulage Vehicle

A truck designed to transport shipping containers. Enables efficient container movement for international or long-distance shipments.

Crating

A custom-built wooden box used to protect fragile, high-value, or awkwardly shaped items (e.g. artwork, glass tables, TVs) during transport. Crating is typically an additional charge and may be required for insurance coverage.

Cubic Meter / Cubic Foot

A unit of volume used to calculate shipment size and cost. 1 cubic meter ≈ 35.3 cubic feet. Used to estimate pricing for international and long-distance moves.

Customs Clearance

The administrative process by which a shipment is approved to enter or exit a country. It involves paperwork, inspection (where applicable), and verification of eligibility for duty-free status. Often included in quotes as a service fee, but duties/taxes are charged separately by local customs authorities.

Customs Duties / Import Taxes

Government-imposed fees applied to imported goods that don’t meet duty-free criteria (e.g. new items, ineligible vehicles). These are not included in most moving quotes, as they vary by country, item, and individual eligibility.

Dedicated Load / Truck

A vehicle or container used exclusively for one customer’s shipment. Offers direct transit and faster delivery but at a higher cost than shared/grouped options.

Declared Value

The total value assigned to household goods for insurance purposes, usually based on replacement cost or depreciated value. Determines the level of coverage under transit insurance.

Demurrage

Demurrage is a penalty fee charged by the shipping line when a container isn’t collected or returned within the allowed free time at the port or terminal. This can occur due to customs delays, missing paperwork, or scheduling issues. It’s charged per day and can escalate quickly if not resolved promptly.

Destination Agent

See ‘agent’

Door‑to-Curbside

A delivery option where items are delivered only to the outside of the destination property, not carried inside.

Door‑to‑Door Service

A comprehensive service where items are collected from and delivered inside the homes at both origin and destination. Reduces handling and coordination.

Door-to-Port

Delivery service where goods are taken to the port of entry in the destination country; onward customs clearance and delivery are the recipient’s responsibility. Occasionally used where you contract with separate movers at origin and destination rather than engaging one provider door to door.

Duty

See ‘customs duties / import taxes’                   

ETA (Estimated Time/Date of Arrival)

The approximate date when goods or shipment are expected to arrive at the destination port (this is not the delivery date to customer residence).

ETD (Estimated Time/Date of Departure)

The approximate date when goods or shipment are expected to depart the origin port.

Exclusions

Specific charges or items not included in the contract or quote.

Export Wrap / Full Export Packing

A professional-grade packing service using heavy-duty materials (e.g. bubble wrap, paper, cardboard) to protect items for international or long-term storage transit. Recommended for warehouse or deep sea moves. 

External Elevator

An external elevator (also called a furniture lift) is a mechanical platform lift used outside a building to move goods through upper-floor windows or balconies, especially where internal staircases or lifts are too narrow or unavailable. The cost includes equipment rental, setup, and specialist operators, and is often required in dense urban areas.

Flat Pack Furniture

Furniture sold disassembled and packed flat for moving; repeated assembly and disassembly may affect stability - check with the manufacturer.

Freight

A general term referring to the transport of goods by air, land, or sea.

Freight Charges

Costs related to transporting goods via ship, truck, or air. In sea shipments, this includes container handling, loading, and the sea voyage itself. Often the largest component of the quote and impacted by container size, route, and fuel surcharges.

Fuel Surcharge

A variable fee added to offset fluctuations in fuel prices. This may be updated frequently and shown as a separate line item to reflect real-time market conditions.

General Average

A maritime law provision where all shippers on a vessel share recovery costs if the vessel is saved at the expense of some cargo; insurers may reimburse shippers whose cargo is sacrificed to save the vessel.

Groupage

When a moving company consolidates multiple customers’ household goods into a single container bound for the same destination region. The mover manages the consolidation so that the container is filled entirely with household goods shipments, and the costs and space are shared between customers.

Haulage

The act of transporting goods by road from point A to point B. Typically used referring to transport from the origin / destination property to/from the sea port or airport.

Inventory / Packing List

A detailed list of packed goods and their condition at loading.

Insurance (Transit Insurance / Move Protection)

Optional coverage to protect the assignee against loss or damage during the move. Different levels of cover are available (e.g. full replacement vs. limited liability), and assignees are usually required to declare the value of their belongings for coverage.

Less than Container Load (LCL)

When a customer’s goods do not fill a full container they can be packed into liftvans or pallets, then shipped as part of an LCL booking with an ocean carrier. Their shipment is combined in a container with other shipments, with each consignment handled separately under its own bill of lading.

Lift Van

A wooden shipping crate used for smaller shipments or consolidation.

Long Carry

A long carry fee is charged when there’s a significant distance between the truck and the residence, usually beyond a standard allowance. This might occur if parking is not available directly outside the property, requiring the crew to manually carry goods over a longer distance.

Origin Agent

See ‘agent’

Part Load / Shared Load / Groupage

A cost-saving shipping option where multiple customers’ goods are combined in one vehicle or container. Ideal for smaller shipments with flexible delivery timeframes.

Pre-Move Survey

An in-person or virtual consultation to assess volume, packing needs, access conditions, and special requirements. Essential for accurate quoting and planning.

Policy Exception

A move-related service or cost approved outside the standard relocation policy (e.g., extra volume for large families).

Port Charges / Terminal Handling Charges (THC)

Fees applied by ports or terminals for the handling and processing of containers. Often not included in some quotes unless specifically requested, and can vary widely between countries.

Port Storage Fee

A charge applied when a shipment stays at the port longer than the free storage period (usually a few days). Port storage is billed by the port operator and can quickly accumulate if paperwork or customs clearance is delayed.

Shipping Container

A large steel container (typically 20ft or 40ft) used for international transport. Can be loaded at residence or via warehouse depending on access and documentation.

Storage (Temporary or Long-Term)

Charges for storing goods before delivery, either in origin/destination warehouses or in port facilities.

Storage-in-transit (SIT) refers to short-term delays between packing and final delivery.

Shuttle

A smaller vehicle used when a full-size truck or container can’t access the property due to narrow roads or parking restrictions. Adds cost and handling time.

SIT (Storage‑in‑Transit)

Temporary storage of goods during the move process—either before delivery or due to delays. May incur additional daily storage and handling fees.

Stair Carry

A stair carry charge applies when movers need to carry items up or down flights of stairs, typically beyond a certain threshold (e.g., more than one or two floors). It compensates for the added time, physical effort, and risk involved when an elevator isn’t available or usable. This can apply at either the origin or destination.

Survey / Estimate / In‑Home Visit / Move Consultation

An appointment where a move consultant inspects the property to assess volume, packing needs, and access conditions. Forms the basis of an accurate quote.

Tranship / Transhipment

The process of transferring goods from one vessel (or mode of transport) to another during the shipping journey. This could be at a port (e.g. changing to another vessel for the second leg of a journey) or at origin or destination if access means the container vehicle can't be directly loaded at the home. 

Transit Time

The estimated duration of the move, from pick-up at origin to final delivery at destination. Transit time can vary depending on shipping method (air, sea, road), route, consolidation, customs clearance, and local conditions. It's important for planning delivery dates and managing assignee expectations.

Van Line

A network or large moving company with multiple trucks and depots providing a range of relocation services (packing, loading, transport, unpacking) for both local and international moves; more common in the USA or Australia.

Valuation / Valuation Coverage / Transit Insurance

Insurance coverage for loss or damage during transit. Options range from lump sum to full value protection based on declared item value. Find out more about insurance valuation options for employee household goods moves. 

Volume

The total space your shipment occupies, typically measured in cubic feet or cubic meters. A core factor in determining transport and packing costs.

Warehouse Handling

Charges for moving goods into, out of, or within a warehouse during the moving process. This includes unloading from trucks, placing items in storage, reloading, and preparing for onward delivery. These costs are often incurred when goods cannot go directly from origin to destination.