Moving · Richmond, VA · USDOT 3910442 · MC 1442087
The contract, decoded before you sign it.
A DOT-registered mover in Richmond. This page decodes the nine contract terms that cost customers money — starting with the free coverage that pays 60 cents a pound.
The decoder
Nine words that cost people money.
None of these are tricks. They are all standard, regulated terms — which is exactly why nobody questions them.
- Valuation
- Sounds like Insurance.
- Actually means It is not insurance. It is the mover’s declared limit of liability, regulated by the DOT rather than by an insurer.
- What it costs you The free default pays 60¢ per pound. Actual insurance is a separate product you buy elsewhere.
- Released value protection
- Sounds like Included protection, at no charge.
- Actually means The federally-required free minimum. It pays 60 cents per pound per article, regardless of what the article is worth.
- What it costs you A 40 lb television pays out $24. A 6 lb laptop pays out $3.60.
- Full value protection
- Sounds like The expensive upgrade.
- Actually means The mover must repair, replace or pay cash value. The floor is $6 per pound of shipment weight.
- What it costs you Typically 1–2% of declared value. On most moves it is the difference between a claim and a shrug.
- Binding estimate
- Sounds like A quote.
- Actually means A fixed price for the services and items listed. It does not move unless you change the list.
- What it costs you Nothing extra — but read what is on the list, because anything not on it is not in the price.
- Non-binding estimate
- Sounds like A quote.
- Actually means An informed guess. The final price is based on actual weight and can legally exceed the estimate.
- What it costs you You must be able to pay 110% of it at delivery. The rest can be billed within 30 days.
- Binding not-to-exceed
- Sounds like Complicated.
- Actually means The best of the three. You pay the lower of the estimate or the actual weight.
- What it costs you Nothing. If a mover offers this one, that is a good sign.
- Accessorial charges
- Sounds like Small extras.
- Actually means Anything beyond loading, driving and unloading — stairs, long carry, shuttle, packing, bulky items.
- What it costs you Routinely several hundred dollars, and the single most common source of invoice shock.
- Long carry
- Sounds like A short walk.
- Actually means Distance from the truck to your door beyond an included allowance, often 75 feet.
- What it costs you Charged per 50 or 75 feet. Ask what the allowance is before move day, not on it.
- Shuttle service
- Sounds like A convenience.
- Actually means A smaller truck used because the trailer physically cannot reach your street.
- What it costs you One of the largest single accessorials. If your street is narrow, raise it at survey.
Worked with real weights
What 60 cents a pound actually pays.
Released value protection is free and federally required, so it is the default unless you actively choose otherwise. That is why it catches people — nobody declines it, they just never realise they accepted it.
| Item | Weight | Released value pays | Full value floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Television, 55 inch | 40 lb | $24.00 | $240.00 |
| Laptop | 6 lb | $3.60 | $36.00 |
| Sofa | 180 lb | $108.00 | $1080.00 |
| Dining table | 120 lb | $72.00 | $720.00 |
| Box of books | 45 lb | $27.00 | $270.00 |
Three kinds of estimate
Only one puts the risk on us.
| Type | Price | Risk to you | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binding | Fixed | Only changes if you change the inventory. | Fine |
| Binding not-to-exceed | Lower of estimate or actual | None to you. | Ask for this |
| Non-binding | Based on actual weight | Can exceed the estimate. You must pay 110% at delivery. | Read it twice |
What a move costs
2026 figures, not ours.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average move, all types | ~$3,020 |
| Local move, average | ~$1,489 |
| Long-distance, average | ~$3,124 |
| Local, per mover per hour | $50 – $100+ |
| Local minimum | 2 – 4 hours |
| Long distance | Shipment weight × mileage |
A 7,000 lb shipment at $0.65 per pound is about $4,550 before accessorials. Weight is what you are actually buying on a long move, which is why a survey beats a phone quote.
Where we go
Richmond, and out of state.
Richmond
Fan District · Church Hill · Scott’s Addition · Northside
West
Short Pump · Glen Allen · Midlothian · Bon Air
East & south
Chesterfield · Petersburg · Hopewell · Sandston
Long distance
Interstate, DOT-registered — the whole eastern seaboard
Clients
What Richmond says.
“Wendell explained released value before I asked, then told me full value would cost about $90 on my shipment. The claim I filed for a cracked dresser paid the replacement.”
“Surveyed the house, spotted that the trailer could not get down my street, and priced the shuttle up front instead of on the day.”
“Binding not-to-exceed. Came in under the estimate and they charged the lower number without me having to ask.”
“Third mover I called. First one to say the word "accessorial" out loud before I signed anything.”
Common questions
Before you book.
Is valuation the same as insurance?
No, and this is the single most common misunderstanding in the trade. Valuation is the mover’s declared limit of liability under DOT rules. Insurance is a separate product from an insurer. If you want true insurance you buy it separately — ask us and we will tell you who does it locally.
What does 60 cents a pound actually mean?
It means a 40 lb television is covered for $24. Released value protection is free and required by federal law, so it is what you get by default. It is not a scam, it is a floor — but almost nobody realises it is what they accepted.
Which estimate type should I ask for?
Binding not-to-exceed, every time. You pay the lower of the estimate or the actual weight, so the risk sits with us rather than you. If a mover will not offer it, ask why.
Why does a survey matter?
Long-distance price is weight, and nobody estimates weight accurately over the phone. A survey also catches the things that become accessorials — narrow streets, stairs, a long carry — while there is still time to price them honestly.
Can the price go up on move day?
On a binding estimate, only if you add items or services. On a non-binding one, yes — legally it can, and you must be able to pay 110% at delivery. That difference is why the estimate type matters more than the headline number.
What is the deposit situation?
We take none for local moves and a small one for interstate. A mover demanding a large cash deposit up front is a recognised warning sign; the FMCSA publishes guidance on exactly this at protectyourmove.gov.
Book a survey
Where from, where to.
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