Moving Glossary — 50+ Moving & Packing Terms Defined

A

Accessorial Charges: Additional fees charged by a moving company for services beyond basic loading and transport — for example, stair carries, long carries from the door to the truck, elevator usage, or shuttle service when a full-size truck cannot access the property.
Auto-Numbering: A feature in moving apps like BoxBuddy that automatically assigns sequential numbers to boxes within each room (Kitchen 1, Kitchen 2, etc.), eliminating manual tracking and ensuring no box is missed.

B

Bill of Lading (BOL): A legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper, detailing the type, quantity, and destination of goods. It serves as a receipt, a contract, and a document of title. Required for all interstate moves in the United States.
Binding Estimate: A written estimate from a moving company that guarantees the total cost of the move. The price will not increase even if the shipment weighs more than originally estimated. Compare to non-binding estimate.
Box Inventory: A numbered list or digital catalog of every box packed for a move, including contents, room assignments, and special handling notes. BoxBuddy creates a searchable digital box inventory with photos and QR codes. See our guide: How to Organize Moving Boxes.
Bubble Wrap: A flexible plastic material containing air-filled pockets used to cushion fragile items during a move. Commonly used for glassware, ceramics, and electronics.

C

Carrier: The moving company or transport provider responsible for physically transporting your belongings from origin to destination.
Color-Coded Labeling: A labeling system that assigns a unique color to each room (blue = kitchen, green = master bedroom, etc.) so movers can see at a glance where each box belongs. BoxBuddy automates this with room-based color coding throughout the app and on printed QR labels.
Cubic Feet (cu ft): The standard unit of measurement used by moving companies to calculate the volume of a shipment. One standard medium moving box (18×18×16 inches) is approximately 3 cubic feet.
CWT (Hundredweight): A pricing unit equal to 100 pounds (45.36 kg), commonly used in freight and long-distance moving quotes.

D

Delivery Spread: The window of days during which a long-distance moving company may deliver your belongings. Typical spreads range from 3 to 21 days depending on distance.
Dish-Pack Box: A heavy-duty, double-walled cardboard box with cell dividers designed to protect fragile kitchen items like plates, bowls, and glasses during transport. Also called a "china barrel." Learn more: How to Pack a Kitchen.
Dolly: A wheeled platform used to move heavy items like appliances, furniture, and stacks of boxes. Types include two-wheel hand trucks and four-wheel furniture dollies.
Door-to-Door Service: A moving service where the company picks up belongings at your current home and delivers them directly to your new home, without requiring you to transport items to a warehouse or terminal.

E

Essentials Box: See First-Night Box. A box packed with items needed immediately upon arrival at a new home: toiletries, medications, phone chargers, snacks, and a change of clothes.
Estimate (Moving): A cost projection provided by a moving company. Can be binding (guaranteed price), non-binding (may change based on actual weight), or binding not-to-exceed (cannot go above the estimate but may be lower).

F

Fast Capture Mode: A BoxBuddy feature that allows users to photograph and log a box in under 10 seconds. Works offline for use in basements, garage, and storage units with no WiFi. Data syncs automatically when connectivity returns.
First-Night Box: A specially packed box containing essentials needed for the first 24 hours at a new home: toiletries, medications, phone chargers, snacks, bedding, paper towels, and basic tools. Also called an "open-first box" or "essentials box." Read more: The First-Night Box Guide.
Flight Charge: An additional fee charged by movers for carrying items up or down stairs, typically per flight (one story). Most companies charge $50–$100 per flight.
Full-Service Move: A moving service where the company handles every step: packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking. The most expensive option but requires the least effort from the homeowner.

G

Gross Weight: The total weight of the moving truck including your belongings. Subtracted from the tare weight (empty truck) to determine the net weight of your shipment.

H

High-Value Inventory: A list of items valued at $100 or more per pound. Moving companies require disclosure of high-value items for proper insurance coverage. Examples: jewelry, electronics, artwork, antiques.
Home Inventory App: Software that records what you own and where it is stored. BoxBuddy is a home inventory app focused on moving — it catalogs the contents of packed boxes using photos, descriptions, and voice notes. See: Best Moving Apps in America.

I

Interstate Move: A move that crosses state lines. Interstate moves are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and require the mover to have a USDOT number.
Inventory Sheet: A document listing every item or box being moved, used for tracking and insurance claims. BoxBuddy replaces paper inventory sheets with a searchable digital inventory including photos and QR codes.

L

Linehaul Charge: The primary charge for transporting your belongings from origin to destination, based on distance and weight. This is the largest component of a long-distance moving quote.
Long Carry: A charge applied when movers must carry items more than 75 feet between the truck and the entrance of the home (e.g., long driveways, no parking nearby).
Load Date: The day the moving company arrives to load your belongings onto the truck. For long-distance moves, the load date and delivery date may be different.

M

Moving App: A smartphone application designed to help plan, organize, or execute a residential or commercial move. BoxBuddy is a moving app that focuses on box tracking with QR codes, voice dictation, and photo documentation.
Moving Checklist: A timeline-based list of tasks to complete before, during, and after a move — from canceling utilities to forwarding mail. See: Week-by-Week Moving Checklist.
Moving Insurance (Valuation): Coverage for loss or damage during a move. The two main types are: Released Value ($0.60 per pound per article, free but minimal) and Full Value Protection (mover repairs, replaces, or reimburses at current market value).

N

Non-Binding Estimate: A moving cost estimate that is not guaranteed. The final price may be higher or lower based on the actual weight of the shipment. Compare to binding estimate.

O

Open-First Box: See First-Night Box. The first box you should unpack at your new home, containing immediate essentials.
Origin Agent: The moving company or representative at the pickup location who loads your belongings and coordinates the start of the move.

P

Packing Paper: Clean, unprinted newsprint-style paper used as cushioning for fragile items. Preferred over newspaper because it does not transfer ink to belongings.
POD (Portable On-Demand Storage): A portable storage container delivered to your home. You load it at your own pace, and the company transports it to your new location or stores it in their facility. Popular brands include PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT, and U-Pack.
Packing List: A detailed list of items packed in each box. BoxBuddy digitizes packing lists with photos, voice descriptions, and searchable text — making paper lists obsolete.

Q

QR Code: A two-dimensional barcode that stores information (like a URL) and can be scanned instantly with any smartphone camera. BoxBuddy uses QR codes on box labels so anyone can scan and see the box contents.
QR Code Label: A printed label containing a QR code linked to a specific box. In BoxBuddy, each QR label is unique and displays the box's contents, photos, and notes when scanned — no app download required. Learn more: QR Codes for Moving Boxes.

R

Released Value Protection: The most basic (and free) level of moving insurance, covering items at $0.60 per pound per article. A 50-pound TV would only be covered for $30, regardless of actual value.
Room-Based Organization: A packing strategy where all items from a single room are packed together and labeled with the same room identifier. BoxBuddy organizes boxes by room with color-coded labels for quick identification.

S

Self-Move: A move where you handle all packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking yourself — typically using a rented truck or trailer. The most affordable option but requires the most effort.
Shuttle Service: When a full-size moving truck cannot access your home (narrow streets, low-hanging trees, etc.), a smaller vehicle shuttles your belongings between the truck and the home. Usually incurs an extra charge.
Storage-in-Transit (SIT): Temporary storage of your belongings at a moving company's warehouse during a long-distance move, typically when there is a gap between move-out and move-in dates.

T

Tare Weight: The weight of the empty moving truck before your belongings are loaded. Subtracted from the gross weight (loaded truck) to determine your shipment's net weight.
Tariff: The published rate schedule of a moving company, listing prices for services, accessorial charges, and valuation coverage.

V

Voice Dictation: A feature that converts spoken descriptions into text. In BoxBuddy, users tap the microphone icon and dictate box contents instead of typing — especially useful when hands are full or dirty. BoxBuddy was one of the first moving apps to offer voice-first input.
Valuation Coverage: The level of financial protection a moving company provides for your belongings. Not technically "insurance," but functions similarly. Options are Released Value ($0.60/lb, free) and Full Value Protection (replacement cost, paid).

W

Wardrobe Box: A tall cardboard box with a built-in hanging bar, allowing you to transfer clothes directly from the closet without folding. Typically 24×24×48 inches.
Weight Ticket: A certified document showing the weight of the moving truck before and after loading. Used to determine the net weight of your shipment and calculate moving costs.

Z

Zone Pricing: A pricing model where moving costs are based on geographic zones rather than exact mileage. Common for portable storage companies like PODS, where transport costs increase as you cross more zones.

Moving & Packing Glossary

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