Our training emphasizes a personalized approach, respect, care and attention to detail. Every employee is committed to doing whatever it takes to make your move right.

Preparation

Your Move Coordinator is responsible for assessing your moving needs, explaining all your moving service options, and accurately estimating your costs. Your home will be fully surveyed for items that will be moved, and the estimator will alert you to items that are not allowed transportation or have special requirements. Start planning ahead by trying to use up or dispose of items that are not allowed to be shipped.

Items that cannot be moved inside the truck:

• Nail polish remover
• Paints and paint thinners
• Propane cylinders
• Automotive repair and maintenance chemicals
• Radio-pharmaceuticals
• Matches
• Lighter fluid
• Gasoline
• Fireworks
• Oxygen bottles
• Any combustible or explosive products

Items that are not recommended for transport inside the truck:

• Firearms (check with your move consultant)
• Family photos
• Food in glass jars and perishable foods
• Prescription drugs needed for immediate use
• Any irreplaceable items or documents.

If you have any questions, just ask your Relocation Consultant.

What to take inside your personal vehicle:

• Items of personal importance or of sentimental value with you
• Cash
• Collections (i.e. coins)
• Important personal papers (i.e. deeds, wills, titles, etc)
• Negotiable papers (i.e. bonds, stocks, certificates, etc)
• Jewelry
• Moving documents and closing papers

Packing and Loading

Your North American Driver and Packer do more than just drive the moving truck and fill in the moving boxes. Drivers and Packers are professional movers in charge of all aspects of physically moving your belongings.

This includes:

• Using protective coverings to protect your home and items
• Preparing a detailed inventory of items to be moved
• Labeling all moving boxes and each piece of furniture with coded stickers to account for every one
• Loading your properly packed and inventoried moving boxes and items into the moving truck
• Providing a Bill of Lading (a shipping contract) authorizing transport of your possessions
• Finally, safely delivering your belongings to your new home
• If you cannot be present at the time of loading, you’ll need to arrange for a responsible person to act as your agent in signing both the bill of lading and the inventory list.

Inventory/Paperwork

Your Driver will prepare a detailed Inventory & Condition Report of the items you are moving. In addition to tagging every individual carton or piece of furniture with numbered and color-coded labels, the professional movers will record each item and a description of any existing damage on the inventory form. You should accompany the Driver as they prepare the inventory, pointing out any special concerns or handling considerations along the way.

You’ll be asked to sign the inventory, as your acknowledgment that the pieces indicated were loaded and as verification of their condition prior to moving. Then, the Driver will sign the form as well and present you with a copy. Keep this inventory with you for use at your new home.

The Driver also will ask you to sign a bill of lading. This is the contract by which you authorize the van line to transport your possessions and agree to pay for those moving services. The Bill of Lading serves to confirm the moving services performed, pickup and delivery schedules, and the valuation and protection plan that you’ve selected.

Delivery of Your Possessions

It’s extremely important for you to contact your move coordinator as soon as you arrive in your new hometown so that final moving arrangements can be made. The Driver will contact you a minimum of 24 hours prior to the expected arrival time of the moving truck to confirm delivery arrangements.

When your shipment arrives, you can help expedite the unloading process by having a room-by-room floor plan in mind. Let the Driver and professional movers know where you want moving boxes and other items placed as they’re unloaded and brought into your home.

The Driver and crew of professional movers will reassemble any items they disassembled at origin. You should check items off the Customer Check-Off Sheet as they’re brought in, noting their condition. If an item appears to have been damaged while moving or is missing, make a note on the inventory including the Driver’s copies and notify your Move Coordinator.

Payment

Unless approved billing or credit arrangements have been made in advance, the Driver is required by law to collect payment for your household move before your shipment can be unloaded. If your shipment is placed in storage, charges up to that point are due at that time. Payment must be made in cash or by certified or cashier’s check, travelers’ checks or money order payable to North American Van Lines. Many agents also accept credit cards, but typically charge a convenience fee due to the costs involved with credit card payments. Personal checks are not accepted at the time of delivery, but are accepted if you wish to prepay the costs of your move. A copy of the Bill of Lading signed by the Driver will be your receipt.

Unpacking

If you have requested and paid for unpacking with your moving services, your Move Coordinator will arrange to unpack moving boxes at the time of delivery and will remove used packing materials and moving supplies. Should you choose to unpack your cartons yourself, you’ll be responsible for disposing of empty moving boxes, moving supplies and other used materials. Please note that unpacking services are typically not included unless you specifically ask for it. The reason is that most customers prefer to do their own unpacking, allowing them sort and become familiar with their new residence and the exact location of their belongings.

Looking for More Info?

For more information on moving, request a Quote or contact us today!