CW International Moving Blog

SHIPPING - You should receive a bill of lading receipt when shipping your vehicle. The receipt is proof that you tendered the vehicle to the carrier and that the carrier is responsible for the vehicle. The receipt contains an inspection of the condition of the vehicle at the time of shipping. All non-factory accessories and personal effects should be listed on the report. The inspection is the prima facie proof of the condition of the vehicle at the time of shipment. The receipt should also contain shipping instructions name of the person receiving the vehicle at the destination, the destination city and state and a contact phone number.

FUEL - U. S. Coast Guard regulations require that vehicles going over water shall be tendered with less than one-quarter  tank of fuel. If there is more fuel, it my be drained at the owners expense.

DELIVERY - Have a copy of the origin inspection when you receive your vehicle at it's destination. Upon delivery, inspect the vehicle thoroughly. In the event there are problems with the vehicle, you must make a note on the delivery receipt at the time of delivery. The notation must be specific and outline all damage and severity. The delivery receipt is the prime evidence of the condition of the vehicle at destination. If the specific problem is not noted on the delivery receipt, a claim will most likely not be honored. You are not obligated to take receipt of a vehicle during hours of darkness. It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to see that the person receiving the vehicle is competent to inspect and receive on behalf of the owner. If no one is available to sign receipt for the vehicle, e.g. at airport parking, the driver will conduct a delivery inspection that will constitute the evidence of condition of the vehicle at destination. All damage discovered after delivery is the responsibility of the consignee.

THE TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT - Vehicles are shipped subject to carrier's tariffs shown on the date of the receipt of the vehicle described on the Bill of Lading. The tariff contains the prices, rules and regulations that govern the transport of the vehicle. It spells out the obligation of both the carrier and the shipper. The tariff specifies the nature of liability of the carrier and the liability that the shipper assumes. A copy of the tariff is available for review at terminals. The Bill of Lading, the Contract Terms and Conditions on the back of the Bill of Lading, and the tariff constitutes the agreement between the shipper and the carrier.

PAYMENT OF CHARGES - Unless otherwise approved by Cartwright, vehicles are moved on a prepaid basis with payment by certified funds, cash, or approved credit cards.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION PAPERS - The vehicle registration should remain in the vehicle and be available at time of shipment.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS and PERSONAL EFFECTS - Whenever a vehicle is on the transport truck or ship or inside storage, the keys must remain in the ignition and the doors remain unlocked. All compartments of the vehicle must be accessible while on the ship. As a convenience, you may pack goods in your vehicle at your own risk since the car will remain unlocked. Contents that are shipped with the vehicle are released to the carrier at a value of 10 cents per pound per piece. That means, for example, if a one pound camera were to be broken or stolen, the carrier's liability would be 10 cents. Goods should be boxed, sealed and stowed so that the vehicle interior will not be damaged. The driver's seat should be able to slide all the way back so the driver has full mobility and visibility. There may be a charge based on weight for personal goods in the vehicle.

PROHIBITED ARTICLES - The following items may not be shipped within vehicles:  commodities requiring temperature protection, drugs (prescription and illegal), ammunition, firearms, hazardous materials (such as poison, compressed gas, explosives, flammable gas or liquid, corrosive, oxidizers, combustible liquid), hazardous waste, liquids, live animals, perishable commodities, property of extraordinary value (e.g. money, bonds, etc.).

There are specific words, terms and phrases associated with moving and shipping your boat, yacht or other maritime vehicle.

We have included a list of the most generally used boat shipping services terms.

A boat that is properly prepared and well secured will serve to protect not only the boat, but the driving public as well. We recommend that the boat be prepared for transport by an experienced boat yard and / or under the supervision of a licensed marine surveyor.

Tips and good things to know when moving or shipping your automobile.

1. Q. How long does it take?

A. Normal transit time is usually within 8 to 10 business days and may vary upon actual route, assuming that at least 2 weeks prior notice of your shipment dates is given. Auto Transporters generally appreciate a three-business day window to schedule the pick up/delivery of your vehicles. As your pick-up/delivery dates gets closer you will receive a confirmation call giving you a specific date and time frame. The transit time referenced above is based on standard transport times and in certain cases transit times may take less time. For example, it only takes a truck 5 days to go from NYC to LA. If your vehicles is the last car to load and the first one to unload, a shorter delivery time frame is possible, however if your car is the first to load and the last to come off, then your transit time will be closer to 2 weeks. Please keep this in mind when planning your transport.

2. Q. What kind of truck will it be transported on?

A. In most cases, your vehicles will be transported on an 8 or 10-car hauler, the same type of trucks used to deliver new cars to your local dealerships. These trucks are 75 to 80 feet long (that's nearly twice as long as a conventional freight truck or moving van) and are almost 14 feet high. Therefore they are very hard to maneuver and are restricted to main roads that do not have any overhanging trees or low clearance bridges. Please bear this in mind when directing the truck to your home or pick-up location. A local service may be used should the hauler/transporter encounter difficulty in reaching your pick-up/delivery.

3. Q. What does door-to-door delivery mean?

A. It means that the car carrier will get as close as physically possible to your front door as long as it does not compromise the cargo and/or your vehicles. If you live on a main road (at least 2 lanes wide) with no overhanging trees or low bridges and the streets leading to your house can accommodate trucks of that size and length, then the carrier will pick up your vehicles from your door and deliver it to your door if the same conditions apply at your destination. As the driver approaches your pick-up/delivery location, he will call you to confirm your address and discuss accessibility. If accessibility is limited the drive may suggest meeting at a local supermarket or mall with ample space to load/unload your vehicles.

4. Q. Will my car go to a terminal?

A. This may depend on your pick-up/delivery locations and/or your scheduled dates for the pick-up/delivery. Should your area not allow for or have restricted access and there are no areas locally which can accommodate the loading/unloading of your vehicles, then a local flatbed service will used to pick-up/deliver your vehicles. A terminal service is only used when the carrier cannot pick-up/deliver your vehicles due to scheduling conflicts, inaccessible areas or both. All terminals used are licensed and fully insured.

5. Q. How does it work?

A. Once your order has been placed, your shipment will be scheduled according to the dates on your order form. After a truck has been assigned, you will get a call either from the truck driver or from the flatbed service in order to schedule a pick up/delivery time and day. During the pick up of the car the carrier will complete a detailed physical inspection of the car, on a bill of lading, which you must sign and acknowledge. This same inspection will be presented upon delivery, so that you can re-inspect the car for any discrepancies. If any damage did occur during transit, please be sure to note it on the bill of lading at the time of delivery and have the driver sign in agreement. No claims will be honored if the damage is not noted at the time of delivery and acknowledged by the driver.

6. Q. Can I put things in the trunk?

A. No, Auto Transporters are not permitted by law to transport personal belongings, as they do not have a household goods transportation license. By violating this law they can be fined up to $10,000 per occurrence. In addition, if you were to place things in the car they would not be covered by insurance.

7. Q. How much notice is needed?

A. In a perfect world an Auto Transporter would like to have 2 to 3 weeks notice of your preferred transports dates, this insures that the carrier can schedule your vehicles within the time frame you requested. However if you need to move a car immediately we may be able to accommodate your request. For example, most transporters have terminals in most major cities and can usually get a car picked up within 24hrs if no one can be available to pick-up the vehicles. You also have the option to drop the car off at a terminal if you cannot wait for the carrier to pick-up the vehicles.

8. Q. What forms of payment are accepted?

A. All carriers accept cashiers checks, cash and most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). If it is arranged prior to the scheduled pick-up of the vehicles you may pre-pay your transport in full via personal check, money order or cashiers check. Usually a minimum deposit of $150.00 is required to initiate and reserve your order and any form of payment is acceptable. If you use a credit card for the deposit, the balance will be due C.O.D. with CASH or a cashiers check at the time the vehicles is delivered. No other form of payment will be accepted upon delivery. Ultimately you will need to pay the freight charges in full before your vehicles is delivered. You cannot withhold or deduct monies from the C.O.D. amount to cover damages that may have occurred in transit. All claims are handled separately once the auto transporter has received the signed bill of lading noting the damages.

There are some very important steps your should take when preparing to move.

We have included a list of the Top 10 ways to Plan for a Smooth Move.

The next question in a remodeling job is should you move out? Based on the length of the project, you need to understand how disruptive the remodeling process will be. Most homeowners don't realize how intrusive renovation is. So…should you move out during renovation? If it's a large project, it is easier on your contractor when you move out, but it's not easier for you and it may be a lot more expensive. You need to understand what is going to happen and how you are going to feel. Then you will be better able to make the correct decision.

Even though we are always trying to avoid having to move ourselves, often the circumstances, whether time or money, demand that we do. Not to worry, there are many places that rent moving trucks to help you from one home to another.

If you consider when you leave your home to go on vacation and that sinking feeling rises that you have forgotten something—left the iron on, the water running, etc—this same feeling when you are moving yourself is twofold. You have to make sure that you have left your old home in the condition that you said you would, that everything is securely on the truck, and that everything will be as it should be when you get to your new home.

If you are moving into a fixer-upper, then you most likely have found a place in a great location or with great potential, and with your vision and hard work, you will make it into your dream home. If you are just fixing it to sell it quickly for a profit (fix-n-flip), most likely you will not be moving into the home.

Because all this work has to be done, you want to make sure that two things happen. One, you want your home to be livable while you are doing all this work. Two, you want the work you do to be done smartly and efficiently. Because of these things, how you move into your fixer-upper can make all the difference. Use this checklist to expedite the process from move-out to move-in.

Moving Out

Storage Unit: Find a storage unit to house many of your things. Giving yourself more room in your home from storing some of your possessions, can provide a bigger, better work environment in your home. Storage units are fairly inexpensive, and if you find that you cannot go two days without some items, just go back to the unit and get what you need.

Remodeling List: Make a no holds barred list of the things that need to be replaced/ updated/remodeled. Also, list the things you would do if money were no object.

Flooring Work: It is best to do any flooring work before you move in. Whether you are ripping up the floors, refinishing the old ones, laying carpet or tile, get this done first so that you are not constantly moving furniture around.

Electrical Improvements: Before you move in, ensuring that you have sound electrical is of high importance. Chances are that if this is a fixer, then the electrical main will likely need to be upgraded, and the two-pronged sockets replaced with three-pronged. This is a safety issue, and updating the electrical can sometimes reduce your homeowner's insurance.

Drywall Finishing: Many people like to replace lath and plaster walls with drywall. This can be pretty expensive and messy, especially if you have your things in there. If you are sure you want to do this, but don't yet have the funds to do the whole house, consider replacing all of the walls in one room first, then you can have one room nice and set up.

One Room at a Time: Decide on which room you would to like work on first and then don't move anything into that room. Once you have remodeled this room to your liking, you can move the items from the next room to be remodeled in there, and start the whole process over. If the idea is to remodel one room at a time so that your entire house is not a wreck, this plan will work best for you.

What is Your Move?

There are several different types of moves for people who are moving into a fixer-upper. Here are links to articles that address the many different moves that you may be undergoing.

Professional Move

Moving Yourself

In Town Move

Moving an Aging Parent

Post-Graduation Move

Fly-By Night Move

One of the most headache-ridden tasks for homeowners in this country is moving from one house to another. This gets especially aggravating when the move is across state lines instead of simply across town. Hiring professional movers is one way to make certain that this task creates as few hassles as possible, but for those who would rather do it themselves, here are a few packing tips the pros use that could make boxing up your belongings a little less strenuous.

Professional Packing Tips

Professional movers know that the most efficient way to pack a room starts with a good plan. When you're ready to get down to business, set up a table in the center of the room as a staging area. Place your boxes and packing materials near the table so they are easily accessible. Pick a starting point in the room (if there's something you're dreading, it might be a good idea to get it out of the way first) and begin packing in a clockwise direction. Packing a room is tedious, but when you've got a definite plan of action, your progress is sure to improve.

Another professional packing tip deals not with what you pack, but how you pack it. Packing boxes is more of a science than some might think. In addition to putting heavier items at the bottom of the box and lighter, more delicate things on top, make sure that the boxes themselves are the right size. If you use a box that's too big, you'll either end up storing too much weight in it to maintain its mobility, or you'll end up with a lot of empty space that will take up room in your moving truck or van. It's also a good idea to try to fit items closely together in the box to prevent them from shifting during the move.

Packing Breakables Like a Professional Mover

Once again, professional movers have tasks like packing fragile items down to a science so they won't have to worry about unhappy customers. Long distance moves can be particularly hard on your breakables, so make sure you take every precaution to keep them secure.

Be sure to line your box with soft padding material—crumpled newspaper works well. When preparing individual items to go into the box, start by laying out a piece of bubble wrap or several sheets of clean newspaper. Place your item several inches below one corner and fold it over so the item is covered. Fold the item over so the backside is exposed. Wrap a side corner over, turn it over and wrap the other side corner over. Repeat this process until the item is adequately protected. If you're wrapping dishes, you can stack four to five together, as long as there is bubble wrap between each dish.

Labeling: The Most Important Packing Tip

Making sure that everything gets to its destination in one piece involves more than just careful wrapping practices. Professional movers must be diligent in keeping accurate inventory records and labeling each box. This not only helps them keep track of all the items to be loaded, but it will help you when it's time to unpack in your new home, as well. Label each box with not only a description of its contents, but what room it was originally taken from. When it's time to set up your belongings in your new place, you'll be sure of what's in the box, and you'll know where it is supposed to go, too!