BBB offers tips during National Moving Month

Below is an article printed in the Courier Times today online.  If you follow each tip, this is actually what Consumers Relocation does for it clients and customers for each and every move.   All of our movers and van lines are thoroughly vetted and have a track record of performance with us.  We gather up to 3 estimates, and each shipment is protected with up to $100,000 of replacement valuation coverage at no charge.  So why take a chance and just call Consumers Relocation for your move!

Reprinted from The Courier Times 5/15/18

BBB offers tips during National Moving Month

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 15, 2018) — According to reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) some 35 million Americans will move in 2018. With one third of consumers hiring a professional moving company to assist with their relocation, Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (BBB) is here to help find a trustworthy company.
Moving companies are one of the most searched categories on bbb.org. In 2017, BBB received over 6,000 complaints nationwide against moving companies. Common complaints included damaged or missing items, bills that were higher than estimates, late deliveries and in some cases, goods held hostage for additional payments.
“Moving can be extremely stressful”, says Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern NC. “With May being National Moving Month, we want to bring to light some tips that consumers can use when making the important decision of who hire.”

BBB offers the following tips to help prepare for your move and find a trustworthy moving company:
RESEARCH REPUTABLE COMPANIES.
You can start your search by heading to bbb.org. We have over 20,000 business profiles on moving companies. Move.org is also a great resource for finding useful tips and advice.
GATHER ESTIMATES.
Show your mover everything that needs to be moved and get a written in-home estimate. BBB suggests getting estimates from three different companies. Be weary of unusually high or low estimates and know the difference between binding (guaranteed price) and non-binding estimates (estimator’s best guess).
SIGN A CONTRACT.
Make sure to have a contract between you and the moving company. Read everything and keep a copy of the signed contract including the bill of lading, which is the detailed receipt of all the items that will be moved.
Be cautious of unusual requests. If a moving company says it won’t return your items without an additional payment, contact BBB or local law enforcement.
PROTECT YOUR POSSESSIONS.
Make sure you pick the right protection to cover any loss or damage done during the move. Some options include limited liability, added valuation or full-value coverage. Also, double check your existing homeowner’s policy to see what it will cover.
TAKE AN INVENTORY.
In the weeks prior to your move, take an inventory of your belongings. Document with photos that include a timestamp. Be sure to take all cash, jewelry, photographs and important documents with you.

How do I get my car ready to be shipped?

If you are planning to ship your car, there are some things that you should know before shipping.

-First and foremost, you car needs to be in operable condition; meaning you can drive it, it steers, and the brakes work.  If your car does not operate normally, they it is called an "inoperable vehicle".  Inoperable vehicles must have special arrangements in order to ship. and the quote you receive to ship your car should reflect that it is inoperable.  If the transmission is manual then the emergency brake must be operable.  Additionally, the driver side door and window need to be in working order as well. 

-The auto shipping company should know of any modifications to your vehicle prior to providing a quote to ship.  Examples would be a camper or cap on a pickup truck, low vehicle clearance, four week drive lift, or any other modifications which might effect your cars placement on an auto carrier trailer or its transport.

-You need to prepare for a full set of keys for the auto carrier when they pick your vehicle up; a good plan ahead item.

- If your vehicle is more than 7 feet in height, or lower than 4 inches in ground clearance you need to provide this information to the auto company that is getting your quote.  These dimensions will have an effect on the way the vehicle is shipped and may effect your quote.  

-Most quotes are door to door quotes meaning the driver will pull the carrier up to your the place of origin or destination as close as possible.  If access is questionable for a large tractor trailer, then you should determine an alternate meeting place to meet the truck such as a shopping center parking lot, or other large parking area that would be acceptable to the owner of the property, you and the driver.  If there is a question about the tractor trailer using the property you should seek to get permission ahead of time.

If there are any other questions regarding preparing your vehicle ahead of time you should seek advice from the carrier you choose.  Much better to do this ahead of time than when the carrier arrives!   This can prevent time delays, extra work and potentially added cost. 

What should you do if your auto is damaged when being trasported?

First, make sure the driver understands that the damage is new and was not on the original bill of lading. The damage should clearly be marked and noted, then signed for by the driver. Upon completion of delivery a call should placed to your carrier or broker to inform them of the damage. In most cases the carrier will ask for an estimate and send you payment in a couple weeks. If the carrier is not responsive and unwilling to work with you to resolve the issue make sure you contact their insurance company and make a claim. Be sure however you have all the documentation to back up your claim -

Granite State Human Resources Conference

Last week we attended the Granite State Human Resources conference and Expo in Manchester, NH.  The even was very well attended by over 250 New Hampshire based companies, and exhibitors from all over.

Key note speakers were:

Randy Pierce “Reaching Peak Potential”

An inspiring speech from a man who doesn’t need to see to have a vision – and to

make that vision a reality.

China Gorman “Humanity Means Business”

Begin to innovate more human policies, programs and practises appropriate for your

organization’s culture.

Steve Gilliland “Enjoy The Ride”

Discover an enthusiasm for your work and personal life, decide where you are heading and Enjoy The Ride™!

Look for CRS at other future Human Resource conferences throughout New England. 

Responsibilities upon delivery of shipped household goods and autos

As we enter the busy season and more families are moving, a few simple steps at delivery can make settling in much easier and cost effective.  Taking the time to thoroughly inspect the items being delivered is of utmost importance!

With any delivery of shipped items, there is always a load inspection and a delivery inspection to be sure all items are being delivered in the same condition as when they were loaded.   The drivers of the trucks, who are the managers of your move, will inspect your items as they are loaded onto the truck and note any damages, scratches, or other irregularities with the items at the time of loading.  For household goods, the driver will note these on the inventory listing which you will be asked to sign when loading is completed.  For auto shipments, you will be asked to sign a condition report which notes any scratches or dents present on the auto at loading.  Before you sign these important documents, you must be sure you agree with the driver's assessment of the condition of your items.  If you disagree discuss with the driver before you sign!  This document will be the basis for any future claims you might have for condition of items at the time of delivery and for the paperwork that any claims/insurance person will use in settling a claim for damage. 

When your items are delivered the driver will ask you to inspect items and make any notations necessary regarding damage you believe was incurred during the shipment.  You must make notations on the paperwork that the driver is using to document any condition changes you believe occurred during loading, shipment or delivery.  If damages occur after unloading make notations on the inventory paperwork as well.  Again your written comments will be used by the final claims person in settling your claim. 


If you need assistance with this process please be sure to call your Consultant at Consumers Relocation during the process; not afterward. 

It can be very easy to ignore these important steps in the process of moving.  But... when you sign the delivery paperwork you are acknowledging that the items were all delivered, and in the condition noted on the paperwork  You are the only party at load and delivery besides the driver conducting  these inspections. 

Top inbound and outbound states in 2017

United Van Lines shared some information regarding their statistics for top inbound and outbound household goods shipments during 2017.  

Top moving in states:

1. Vermont
2. Oregon
3. Idaho
4. Nevada
5. South Dakota
6. Washington
7. South Carolina
8. North Carolina
9. Colorado
10. Alabama

Top Moving out states:

1. Illinois
2. New Jersey
3. New York
4. Connecticut
5. Kansas
6. Massachusetts
7. Ohio
8. Kentucky
9.Utah
10. Wisconsin

It would be interesting to know what areas in each state are the top move in and move out  towns and cities. 

Cost of Household Goods shipments going up

Government regulations and driver shortage will be the key factors in the cost of shipping household goods to the consumer and to corporations.  

New government regulations centered around improved safety will increase the cost of moving interstate.  The initiatives are designed to improve highway safety  by reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities.  The main factors are:
- Driver fitness
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Drug Testing
- Crash indicators
- Hours of Service
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD)

The two highlighted areas are the ones that will most impact the cost of moving.  Hours of Services which are now more restrictive will negatively impact driver productivity the most.  Federal regulations have "mandated" the installation of ELDs in all motor transportation units with the first compliance date of 12/17/17 to insure driver compliance and truck operation compliance.
 
 The other major factor facing the household goods industry is the reduced number of qualified drivers effecting Van Line operator capacity during peak periods.  This simple supply and demand factor will dictate higher costs particularly during the late spring and summer months when most of the relocation activity takes place.  According the most recent ATA Driver Shortage Analysis the U.S. is short 100,000 truck drivers; a number expected to be 160,000 by 2025.