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 Saturday, February 20, 2010

Please note additional changes (underlined), which further define actions to be taken under these revised rules. Previous changes issued in May 5, 2005 and August 14, 2005 are retained and are in italics.

The U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration initiated substantial revisions of the regulations as applies to individual shipping of Household Goods in Interstate Commerce.  The intent of the revisions is to prevent movers from unfairly raising rates and charges for the move after an agreement to cover those services has been signed. This Bulletin outlines the updated Consumer Protection Regulations for Interstate Transportation of Household Goods, and will cover:

• Scope of regulations
• Added quantities & services
• Other issues – documents, weights, etc.

Estimates & Scope – All Interstate Movers

• transportation charges, regardless of tariff application. The balance of the regulations as applies to these revisions also applies to Individual Shippers.
• Must specify form of payment - on both Orders for Service (O/S)  & Bills of Landing (B/L)
• Billing for additional quantities/services not shown on the Estimate must not be presented for 30 days following delivery
• Written estimates must be based on visual inspections if located within 50 miles of the Branch or Agent location. The customer may waive this requirement if done so before the shipment is loaded. Any waiver must appear in writing on the Estimate. The Order for Service should be noted as follows:  “Shipper waives the requirement for a visual survey of the items to be moved”.

New Form

The DOT pamphlet “Ready to Move” must be given to the customer at the time of the estimate.  Also, carrier must provide customer Your Rights & Responsibilities booklet before execution of the Order for Service.

Arbitration Program: The threshold has been raised to include cargo claims and billing disputes in amounts up to $10,000 and is binding on the carrier. A revised arbitration brochure must be provided to every shipper at the time of the estimate.

Telephone Surveys

• Considered same as an Estimate; must be provided in writing – signed by the shipper and the mover.  They are subject to 110% rule.  See visual waiver and inspection provision above.

The biggest change in the Regs is where the original agreement for items to be moved and services to be performed has changed since the original O/S was signed.  Those are covered as follows:

Revised Estimate Before Loading - If additional quantities/services are requested or required, you should:

• Negotiate a revised written Estimate, (Strongly recommended whenever there is substantial difference in scope of work), or
• Reaffirm the Original Estimate, (No substantial change in cost is anticipated), or
• In the case of a Binding Estimate, reach agreement with the shipper in writing, that the Original Binding Estimate will be considered a non-binding estimate. (Not recommended).

Important Note: Whenever a change in weight or scope of work occurs, it is necessary for the service provider performing the work (usually the driver) to immediate notify the Booker so the revised Estimate or Addendum can be completed.  Failure to do so may impede the ability of the van line to collect for legitimate services.

Key Points – For Surveys and Estimates

• Must have complete scope of work - List all articles going & all services
• Itemize cost of any reasonable expectation of services that may be required not currently included
• Details- Items & services not included  - Include articles to be disposed of
• Destination questions??? Key Concerns   (Shuttle, Gated, Mini Storage, Extra Stop, Etc.)

Added Services Requested By Shipper After Loading – Once goods are ”In Transit”, (i.e. Loading has started in any way) and the shipper requests additional items to be moved or added services:

• You must inform shipper that added charges will apply and the cost of those services
• The shipper must be notified, and have at least 1 hour to decide if he wants the added services
• Accomplish a written Addendum
• Payment for services for items not on the original estimate and requested by the customer may be collected at time of delivery subject to the payment at delivery conditions noted below.
• Proper completion of Addendum is necessary in order to pursue collection

 

We attach a sample Addendum & Change Order that will need to be used if this occurs. 

 

Added Services Necessary For Delivery

• If shipper agrees, must be supported by written signed Addendum
• If shipper does not agree, you should still perform the service necessary to accomplish delivery
• In either case, billing will be as noted below

 

Collection Provisions Major Change in Regulation– At time of delivery we are permitted to collect -

• 100% of the binding estimate amount or 110% of the non-binding estimate amount, plus
• Charges applicable for any added services (e.g. waiting time, extra pickup or delivery, storage-in-transit) requested by the shipper after the contract has been executed that were not included in the estimate, and
• In the event that shuttle service is required, you may also collect for the shuttle charges at delivery - provided that the shuttle charges collected at delivery do not exceed fifteen (15%) percent of the total charges due at delivery.
• Any remaining charges are billed to the shipper - and it is these additional charges that are billed to the shipper (and not collected at delivery) that would be subject to arbitration in the event of a dispute.
• Remaining charges are to be paid by the customer within 30 days.  This cancels the previous requirement that we defer billing balance 30 days for Required Added Services to effect delivery, Charges in excess of 110%, and Shuttle or other service in excess of 15% of total bill

Note on Collections: Under the revised rules, we see an increased level of post-move activity involving collection.  Of the files reviewed, more than 60% would have been resolved with the collection of 110% of the non-binding estimate at destination.

 

Valuation: All shipments must be transported at Full Value Protection. The shipper can waive this only in writing by selecting $.60/lb/article. In the event the shipper fails to select FVP or $.60/lb,, the valuation will default to FVP.

 

Penalty Provisions - Most Important - We cannot withhold delivery from a shipper if the above collection provisions are met.  Withholding delivery or services would be construed as a willful violation of the rules, and may subject the offending party to severe monetary penalties and sanctions.

 

Orders for Service

• Form of payment that will be honored at delivery (must be same as shown on Estimate)
• Must include any expectation that Additional Services will be required
• Dates or spreads & per-diem required
• Minimums, of applicable, required
• Reasonable expectation Additional Services should be included on the O/S

Bills of Lading

Must include all former information, plus: Indicate form of payment honored at delivery (must be same as shown on Estimate & Order for Service)

 

Shipment Weights

• 49CFR Part 375 (507 & 519) still applies - Certified scales are required for all shipments
• Up to 3000# on certified warehouse scales
• Shipper must have opportunity to observe all weights
• May request re-weigh with charges based on re-weigh weight
• Waiving right to observe re-weigh must be in writing by shipper

 

Orders for Service and Bills of Lading have been reviewed and changed as necessary to comply with the requirements.

 

For more information on these rules, please contact the AMSA website at www.promover.org

 

Saturday, January 16, 2010

We are thrilled to announce that our entire fleet now runs on Bio-Diesel! At Harrington Movers we are always looking for ways to better ourselves by educating our employees, privately running toy drives for the Valerie Center, helping locally with efforts to support our troops and of course finding ways to make your world a little greener.

Harrington Movers has always recycled our paper goods, but we knew we could do more. The ideas for becoming a greener business started in house with basic simple actions. Turning lights off when parts of our facility would not be in use, changing bulbs over to energy saving lights, switching all our vendor statements(Verizon, Verizon Wireless, PSE&G, Comcast, American Express from paper to electronic; but the changing of our paper estimates to an advanced electronic estimating software, this was huge. We no longer use three page carbon estimating sheets. Harrington Movers does a minimum of 1500 estimates per year! Now that’s a lot of wasted material. Not only does this help our environment, the electronic estimates are sent via email, no envelopes for mailing and no printing!

When you streamline items such as these, you not only help the environment, you also raise the bar for your competitors. As most smart business owners have made this switch, I’m not aware of an entire New Jersey Moving truck fleet running on Bio Diesel. So yes once again we look to rise the bar right here at home, to help you breath easier. There are over 340 licensed moving companies here in New Jersey. This morning as we moved the outgoing New Jersey Governor to Hoboken New Jersey, our trucks started with Bio Diesel. Harrington Movers keeps New Jersey Green.

Jeff Harrington

Issues Warning on Charitable Solicitations

It is a topic where everyone when deciding to contribute to a charity has to make sure the help or money is going to the right place. Harrington Movers ® explains that we should be careful when receiving calls from telemarketers who ask for money. First, the BBB warns that just because the word police or firefighter is used doesn’t mean that the organization is actually working for a police dept or firefighters.  Before contributing, ask for written information concerning their organization and where the money will go. Do not let anyone pressure you into giving money.

The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org ) offers the following tips to help donors make wise pre-donation decisions when considering police, firefighter, or veterans’ charities:

• Check with Outside Sources Before Giving. Visit the BBB Wise Giving Alliance online at www.bbb.org/charity to access detailed charity reports and giving advice. Donors can also check out charities with their state government’s charity registration agency, usually a division under the Attorney General.

• Mistaken Identity.  Just because the organization includes the words “police” or “firefighter” in the name it does not mean that any member of the local force is involved. Also, many veterans’ charities include virtually the same words in different order or slightly different form.

• Telemarketing Cautions. Telemarketing can be a costly method of fund raising unless carefully managed. If called, don’t hesitate to ask for written information on the charity’s programs and finances.

• On-the-Spot Donation Decisions. Be wary of excessive pressure in fund raising. Don’t be pressured to make an immediate on-the-spot donation. Charities should welcome gifts whenever provided.

• Donating Cars. Find out how much of the auction price for donated cars actually goes to the charity. Sometimes the charity receives only a small portion of the resale price. Also be mindful of the latest IRS rules on deductibility of such gifts.

• Clear Program Descriptions. Look for a clear program description of the organization’s activities in its appeals and Web site. For example, if it says it is helping veterans, does it explain how (e.g., financial, housing, and/or counseling, etc.) and where it is doing so?  

(Arlington, VA - May 20, 2009 - The BBB Wise Giving Alliance applauds the announcement today by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Harrington Movers ® remarks with the four steps you will be able to know if your hard-earned money you giving to help is not send down the drain.

1º Never give cash. Make a check out to the organization.

2º Never believe that your donation will give you “special treatment”

3º Find as much information as you can about the organization, ask for written information.

4º Harrington Movers ® knows if you follow those steps you will be prepared to make your own judgment about the organization.

MY grandfather started National Van Lines, and my father took it over from him. I began working for my family’s company as a switchboard operator in Illinois when I was 19. I was divorced and a single parent and I needed a job.

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MAUREEN BEAL

Chief executive, National Van Lines, Broadview, Ill.

AGE 66

HER WEAKNESS Shoes

FAVORITE MOVIE “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”

Then I moved to Los Angeles and worked in claims and operations in our office there. I also remarried. When we consolidated operations in Chicago and closed the Los Angeles office, I stayed in California and worked in customer service and inside sales for a company that manufactured carpeting accessories. There, I learned what makes for a good boss.

Since I was no longer the boss’s daughter, people would say things in front of me that they wouldn’t have before. At lunch with my colleagues, I would hear them talk about terrible bosses. This boss was demanding or disrespectful, that one didn’t listen, and another one never asked about anyone’s family when it had a crisis.

Then my father called and asked me to return to Chicago and run National Van Lines’ international division. I told him I didn’t know anything about international matters, and he said it didn’t matter. No one in the family knew anything about the division, and he wanted to remedy that. I agreed to return to Illinois. I had been gone 10 years and it was time.

I found that no matter how complicated something appears to be, if you put your nose to the grindstone, you can do it. When I took over, things weren’t running smoothly. I learned on the job. The experience taught me that if I could be successful at that, I could do anything.

I also learned that you have to surround yourself with people who have the expertise you lack, even if it makes you uncomfortable. My father was a visionary; administration was not his strong point. It’s mine, however, along with the ability to carry out a plan. If someone presents an idea to me, I can determine whether or not it will work. I can’t always define exactly what I want, but I know it when I see it.

In 1985, I attended an air freight school in Germany. It was so cold that it made Chicago feel like the tropics. I met a number of people from countries that included Peru, Israel and Lebanon. We spent a lot of time together that week. I heard their perspective on the United States, and I learned that people aren’t that different when it comes to how they feel about their homes and families.

I took my father’s place as C.E.O. when he passed away at 90 in 1993. Dad chose me to succeed him because he knew I had the same dreams for the company as he did. Since then, one of my brothers has passed away, but my other brother is our computer guru. That’s what he’s happiest doing, and he lets me get the accolades.

Experts say that besides death and marriage, moving is one of the most traumatic life events. Once we received a letter from a woman whose father had Alzheimer’s and had to move to an assisted-living facility. He was upset to be leaving his home, but he loved trucks. The driver picked up on that and let him ride in the cab of the truck for a couple of blocks. It calmed the man, and the move went much more smoothly. She was writing to thank us.

Another woman, who was moving to California, called us after the truck left her house with her belongings. She was frantic because her cat was missing. She said that the animal liked to rest in a dresser drawer, and she wanted us to check the dressers. Luckily the truck hadn’t gotten very far. We called the driver and he stopped to search the dressers. When he opened the drawers, the cat jumped out of one and scared him half to death.

When I was 15, my father would tell people that he loved to go to work in the morning. At the time I thought, “Oh my gosh, he needs to get a hobby.” Now I feel the same as he did.

DOWNSIZING

  It's time. Maybe the children are all finally gone. Perhaps a job is taking you to a city where square footage is more precious and expensive than before. Maybe your life situation or health has changed and the home you are in no longer makes sense. Or perhaps you are just plain ready for the next chapter and want to lighten your load. There are many reasons to plan a move that includes moving into a smaller space, or, downsizing.

"Downsizing" has become a popular term, especially among Baby Boomers who are making lifestyle moving decisions at a younger age than their parents did.

Whatever the reason, the realities are the same: before you move, you are going to have to decide what possessions to take with you and what to leave behind. You'll have to decide what to sell, what to donate and what to give to friends or family.

Here are ten tips for downsizing your possessions so you can move into a smaller space:

  1.     Calculate, don't guess. Get the exact dimensions of your new space - room by room. Then measure what you have now in similar rooms in your current home. You'll quickly start to see what will fit and what will not.

2.    Make a list of all the things you do not plan to move with you to your new space. Once that list is compiled, it will be easier to start deciding which of these items you want to sell, donate or gift to family members or friends. If you have adult children, it will also help them decide what they might want.

3.     Come up with a system. Whether it's putting color-coded stickers on items as you decide where they go, creating room by room lists or even using a spreadsheet, decide what system works for you and use it.

4.    Start with the easy stuff. No matter your reason for moving, there is emotion involved and some rooms and items will be more emotional than others. Start with the less sentimental rooms (like the laundry room) and work your way up to those more memory-laden ones.

5.    Ask yourself the hard questions. We've all done it - moved boxes and clothing from home to home without ever opening the boxes or wearing the sweater. Ask yourself, honestly, when was the last time you used this item? Will it really fit in with your new home and lifestyle?

6.   Ask a friend to help. Downsizing decisions can be difficult and tiring. Invite the most organized friend you have to come over and help. Sharing your memories with a friend as you make the hard choices can relieve a lot of the stress of this process.

7.    Hire a professional. There are people who do this for a living. Some organizers even specialize in helping people move and downsize. The National Association of Professional Organizers www.napo.net is a good place to find one in your area.

8.    Set aside specific blocks of time. The sooner you start the better. Try setting a schedule and working on your downsizing decisions a couple of hours at a time. Try not to overwhelm yourself by pushing too hard for too long at a stretch.

9.    Keep your eye on the prize. There are good reasons you have decided to downsize. Remind yourself of the excitement and benefits of your new destination to pull you through the downsizing process.

10.  Talk to your mover. Your National Van Lines moving counselor will be more than happy to assist you in making good decisions about what to keep, what to find a new home for, and what to discard.

Services Tailored to Priority Accounts

Whether you are a corporate office or a General Services Administration (GSA) agency, your contract with National Van Lines gives you Priority Account status. As such, we create an individualized moving plan for you that will adhere to the restrictions and requirements contained in your organization's moving policy. Our flexible approach allows for the inclusion of many options:

• Priority Service - Your transferee will be given top consideration regardless of how busy the season, or the size of the move.
• Optimum Pricing - Our company structure minimizes administrative time and efforts which, combined with corporate rates and discounts, can result in substantial cost savings to your organization.
• Protection Plans - Because homeowner's policies typically do not cover goods in transit, we offer a range of protection plans, from coverage-based on load weight through full replacement value.
• Packing Options - Your contract may include full-service, fragile-only or self-pack options.
• Performance Reports - We can customize a reporting system that is consistent with your moving policy and administrative needs.

What makes an item antique?

As a child I defined antiques as items I was never allowed to play with. So like all little boys, a fascination grew. My favorite antique to play with was my grandmother’s spinning wheel. The spinning wheel was in perfect condition. I was captivated when she told me how people would spin wool from sheep. So when ever no one was around I was always a little more amazed to see how fast I could get that old bobbin single drive wheel moving!

Antique: What defines an item as “antique”, an antique (Latin: antiquus; old) is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features. It is an object that represents a previous era in human society.

Antiques are usually objects which show some degree of craftsmanship, or a certain attention to design such as a desk or the early automobile. They are ought at antique shops, or passed down as an estate. Some valuable antiques can be bought from antique dealers and auction services or purchased online through websites and online auctions. Antique dealers are often members of national trade associations, many of which themselves belong to CINOA , as confederation of art and antique associations across 21 countries, representing 5000 dealers.

As I googled antique this is the definition give by Wikipedia.org., as we all now there are exceptions, exceptions to exceptions, and of course exceptions to the exceptions of our original exception. The most widely accepted definition comes from the United States Tariff Act of 1930. In the United States it seems the rule is 100 years It was the 1830’s when manufacturing began to take the place of making each individual piece by hand. We have experience in handling these items. When disassembling any true antique whether it is a desk with drawers or a four poster bed, you must make note of where each and every item was, otherwise you can damage the item during the reassemble. Good luck to all of you “treasure hunters”.