Sometimes, moves take us hundreds of miles from our hometown to new states, countries or continents. These moves are harder to plan for, and require much more stringent assessment of belongings, so that you can afford the move itself.

Maybe, neither you nor your family had much experience in moving long distance. Perhaps you don't know too much about the moving business procedures and what is ultimately bad is that not knowing enough could make you pay hundreds of dollars for moving long distance. This is why it is critical to know and understand your legal rights and obligations, which apply to the moving industry as with all others.

The business of moving is composed of a set of categories, including making a move within a state otherwise known as an Intrastate Move. To summarize, the company which moves you doesn't have to transport your belongings across state lines.

A move that is from Los Angeles, CA to let's say to San Francisco, CA would be labeled as intrastate moving.

Interstate Moves - relocating across state lines regardless of how a few miles there are between points. Though only a few miles separate Hoboken in New Jersey from Queens in New York, moving between these two places is an interstate move.

We finally have International (Overseas Moves) that cross country boundaries. For example, a San Diego, California to Tijuana Mexico is considered an international move.

In this article, we'll focus on some shady moving practices done by long distance moving companies when they engage in an interstate move. Most people are told that the price to relocate their belongings from State 1 to State 2 is based by the pound on the weight of the moving truck. The more your load weighs, the more the mover will charge to do the move.

For your long distance move, if a mover offers a non-binding moving estimate, then charges will be based on the actual weight of your shipment. By law, the mover may not add transportation charges based on cubic feet, hourly rates, or anything else like that other than weight alone to compile your shipment charges. Your final papers to complete the move should include a weight master ticket which comes from your mover who weighs your belongings on a state certified scale.

Long distance movers arrive at this moving truck weight by taking two scale readings one before your stuff is loaded and another reading once your stuff is loaded - the difference in weight is what you would pay for.

Movers might also take weigh readings once the shipment has reached its destination. The driver will have the truck weighed with your shipment on board and then weighed a second time after your shipment has been unloaded.

Shady movers intentionally don't mention the fact that as a consumer, you have the right to be at the weight station to witness the process and as a result, consumers wind up paying far more than their fair share.

It's beneficial to know that these weights reflect the real weight of what you are moving. Be certain that:

1. tires, various types of tools, blankets and covers, carts, dollies, and other items are all part of the first and last weight. What you don't want is to have these items counted as part of the shipment on the final weight scale when they were not part of the initial weight, thus adding more weight to your load that is not even yours.

2. the gas tank of the vehicle be the same. If the tank is full of fuel on the first reading it must be full on the last reading also. If the reading was done on an empty fuel tank, you don't want to pay for additional weight of a full fuel tank. You must expect the reading to be done consistent so that you can gauge the true weight of your belongings.

3. you're present at these weight stations on both initial and final destination. By law, a reputable moving company should welcome such initiative from consumers.

Dishonest moving businesses might take advantages of this variation in weight and considering the fact that you are not around. These readings do render an opportunity for unscrupulous movers to "slide in" more than it's considered fair charges. Even a shady mover would rethink its strategy to over charge you because it seems like you've done your homework.

If you think there is a discrepancy in your original weight, you can have the mover re-weight the load before the truck is emptied. Warning, you will pay at the new weight, if you choose to have the mover re-weight the shipment again, however, for re-weighting, an honest mover would not charge you for this process.

You are entitled to watch the process on every instance that your cargo's weight is recorded. If you insist upon having the item re-weighed, then you have to waive the right to watch them re-weight it in writing.

Also, not every single move requires a weighing. There are difficulties associated with binding and non-binding estimates, as binding estimates tend to be more rigid than the alternative and they do not carry the requirement of estimating the weight of the shipment, itself.

Finally, small shipments under 3,000 pounds can be weighed on a certified warehouse scale and not be taken to a state certified weight station scale.

Learning as much as you can about the moving industry will save you money, avoid being scammed, and lessen the aggravation of moving.

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