A ballpark cost is impossible to arrive at without first knowing the type of relocation options being considered.
Full-service household goods motor carriers licensed by the FMCSA to provide interstate transportation can price their services using fixed price (binding) or actual weight estimates. A “typical” three bedroom home can have anywhere between 6,000 lbs to 14,000 lbs stored inside depending the size of the rooms, number and age of family members, education level, job responsibilities, type of furniture and furnishings, economic resources, etc.
Before you start your plans be sure read the FMCSA's
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move http://1.usa.gov/gPR1Lk information at the Protect Your Move.gov website at
https://www.protectyourmove.gov/ .
If you're going to go the full service route, arrange at least three estimates with reputable LOCAL movers. Do this at least eight weeks in advance, if possible.
Many unregulated but legitimate moving service companies operated by move brokers, general freight common or contract carriers, or third party move management companies use dimensional measurements to price their services. ABF uPack, for instance, bases their charges on linear feet – the same measurement used by many rogue movers.
Mobile/portable container companies like PODS, GoMinis, uPack, PackRat, SmartMove, etc, charge by the number of units used, length of rental, and distance transported. Some provide quotes for loading/unloading services.
Most professional motor carriers have enacted a fuel surcharge which is adjusted each month to reflect the average price for a gallon of gasoline or diesel that is published by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Those higher energy charges are passed on the customer in their invoice.
The amount of each company’s surcharge can be expressed either as a percentage of the linehaul transportation charges or applied on a ‘per mile’ basis based on the average price per gallon as recorded by the DOE.
Each motor carrier maintains their own method of calculating their individual fuel surcharges which are explained in their filed tariff. Some national household goods movers such at
Atlas Van Lines and motor freight common carriers such as
ABF Freight Systems,Inc have their rating application information posted at their websites. Others require that you contact a company representative to obtain the current surcharge amount.
Rising fuel costs will also affect the price of moving supplies like packing paper, cartons, and tape.
The smartest way to avoid the pinch of the pump is to reduce the size of your move. Remember, the best way to pack is to purge. Allow yourself plenty of time in the relocation planning process to sort, separate, donate or discard any items that might require an unnecessary energy expense to move.
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