Air Freight
Method of transporting goods by airplane. Faster but more expensive than ground/sea transport. Used for urgent shipments and high-value items in international moves.
Packing & Moving Glossary
A-Z guide to packing, moving, and logistics terminology. Understand industry terms before booking your next move with confidence.
59 terms · 21 letters · Updated 2026
A
Articulated Vehicle
A truck with a tractor unit and detachable trailer, used for transporting large household consignments or industrial goods over long distances.
Auto Carrier
Specialized truck designed to transport multiple cars simultaneously. Available in open or closed (covered) variants. Closed carriers offer better protection from weather and dust.
B
Bill of Lading (BoL)
Legal document issued by a carrier acknowledging receipt of cargo for shipment. Acts as both receipt of goods and contract of carriage.
Binding Estimate
A fixed-price quote that doesn't change regardless of actual weight or services used, provided the inventory list remains accurate.
Bubble Wrap
Protective plastic packaging material with air-filled bubbles, used to wrap fragile items like glassware, electronics, and artwork.
Bulk Cargo
Goods transported in large quantities without individual packaging — typically industrial materials, raw goods, or large quantities of similar items.
C
Cargo Insurance
Insurance coverage that protects goods during transit against loss, damage, or theft. Also called 'transit insurance' or 'GIT (Goods in Transit) insurance'.
CFT (Cubic Feet)
Unit of volume measurement used to calculate moving costs. 1 CFT = 12×12×12 inches. Most movers price based on total CFT of household goods.
Closed Container
Fully enclosed transportation container that protects goods from weather, dust, and external damage. Standard for premium car transport and household moving.
Container Shipping
International shipping method using standard 20-foot or 40-foot containers. FCL (Full Container Load) for individual shipments, LCL (Less than Container Load) for shared.
Corporate Relocation
Specialized moving service for businesses relocating offices, including IT equipment, furniture, files, and minimizing downtime.
Crating
Building custom wooden crates around fragile or high-value items (artwork, antiques, machinery) for maximum transit protection.
Customs Clearance
Process of getting authorization from customs authorities for goods crossing international borders. Required for international moves.
D
Dead Weight
Actual physical weight of cargo (as opposed to volumetric weight). For ground transport, dead weight typically determines pricing.
Door-to-Door Service
Complete moving service where the mover handles pickup from origin door and delivery to destination door, including all loading/unloading.
Dunnage
Loose packing material like crumpled paper, foam, or peanuts used to fill empty spaces in boxes and prevent items from shifting during transit.
E
Estimate
Initial quote provided by a moving company based on inventory, distance, and services required. Should always be in writing.
E-way Bill
Electronic waybill required under Indian GST law for transporting goods worth above ₹50,000 between states. Generated on the GST portal.
F
FCL (Full Container Load)
International shipping where one customer's goods fill an entire 20-foot or 40-foot container. Faster delivery and less handling than LCL.
Fleet
The collection of vehicles (trucks, vans, car carriers) owned and operated by a moving company. A larger fleet usually means more reliability and capacity.
Fragile Items
Items prone to damage during handling or transit — glassware, ceramics, electronics, mirrors, artwork. Require special packing materials and handling care.
Freight Forwarder
Specialist who arranges international shipments, customs clearance, and documentation on behalf of the customer.
G
GIT Insurance
Goods in Transit insurance — protects household items during transportation against accidental damage, theft, fire, or natural disasters. Always insist on this for valuable moves.
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Indirect tax in India. Packers and movers charge 18% GST on services. Always demand a GST-compliant invoice.
H
Hazmat / Hazardous Materials
Materials that pose risks during transport — paint, gas cylinders, flammable liquids, fireworks. Most movers refuse to transport hazmat items; they must be disposed of separately.
Household Goods
All personal items in a home that can be transported during a move — furniture, appliances, clothing, kitchenware, decor. Excludes hazmat and perishables.
I
IBA (Indian Banks' Association)
Industry body that approves trusted packers and movers for empanelment with banks for employee relocations. IBA approval is a strong trust signal.
Inventory List
Detailed itemized list of all goods being moved. Used by movers for estimation, insurance, and damage claims. Always check items off during loading and unloading.
L
LCL (Less than Container Load)
International shipping where multiple customers share one container. Cheaper than FCL but slower due to consolidation/deconsolidation.
Loading
Process of moving items from the home into the truck/container. Includes carrying, stacking, and securing using straps and padding.
Local Shifting
Moving within the same city, typically same-day or next-day completion. Pricing based on hourly rates or fixed package.
Long-distance Moving
Inter-city or inter-state relocation, typically over 200 km. Pricing based on distance + volume + services.
M
Moving Blanket
Thick padded blankets used to wrap furniture and prevent scratches during transport. Often used along with stretch wrap.
Moving Truck
Specialized commercial vehicle for transporting household goods. Sizes range from 14ft (1 BHK) to 32ft (large 4 BHK).
O
Origin
Starting point of the move — the home/office being moved out of. Opposite of 'destination'.
Open Carrier
Auto carrier truck without a roof, exposing transported cars to weather and road dust. Cheaper than closed carriers but offers less protection.
P
Packing Material
Supplies used to protect items during a move — bubble wrap, packing paper, cardboard boxes, foam, stretch wrap, packing tape, corner protectors.
Pallet
Flat wooden or plastic platform used as a base for stacking and transporting goods. Common in industrial and warehouse storage.
Pickup Date
Scheduled date when the moving team arrives at origin to begin loading. Should be confirmed in writing in the moving contract.
PoD (Proof of Delivery)
Document signed by the recipient confirming successful delivery of goods. Includes condition notes and any damage claims.
Q
Quote
Price estimate from a moving company. Can be 'binding' (fixed) or 'non-binding' (estimate that may change based on actual services used).
R
Relocation
Comprehensive term for moving from one place to another — encompasses packing, transport, unpacking, and settling in. Used for residential, corporate, and international moves.
Rigging
Specialized service for moving extremely heavy or large items — pianos, safes, industrial machinery, gym equipment. Requires equipment like hoists, dollies, and skates.
S
Sea Freight
International shipping by ocean cargo ships. Slower than air freight but significantly cheaper for large household consignments. Typically takes 30-60 days.
Storage / Warehousing
Holding goods in a secure warehouse during interim periods — between move-out and move-in dates, during home renovation, or for seasonal items.
Stretch Wrap
Stretchy plastic film used to wrap furniture and bundles of similar items. Protects against scratches and keeps items together during transit.
Survey (Pre-move Survey)
On-site visit by a moving consultant to assess household goods, plan logistics, and provide accurate quote. Always insist on a free pre-move survey.
T
Tare Weight
Empty weight of the truck before loading. Subtracting tare weight from gross weight gives the net weight of goods being moved.
Transit Time
Total time goods spend in transportation from origin to destination. Local: same day. Inter-city: 1-3 days. Inter-state: 3-7 days. International: 30-90 days.
U
Unloading
Process of moving items from the truck into the destination home/office. Includes carrying, careful placement, and (optionally) unpacking.
Unpacking
Service where movers unpack boxes at destination, removing packing materials and placing items as directed. Usually optional add-on service.
V
Valuation
Declared value of goods for insurance purposes. Higher valuation = higher insurance premium = better damage coverage. Always declare actual market value.
Volumetric Weight
Calculated weight based on dimensions (CFT) rather than actual weight. Used in air freight where space matters more than weight.
W
Warehouse
Storage facility for goods. Modern warehouses are climate-controlled, CCTV-monitored, pest-controlled, and fully insured.
Wardrobe Box
Tall cardboard box with built-in hanger bar, used to transport hanging clothes without folding or wrinkling.
Waybill
Document accompanying goods during transport, listing details about origin, destination, and contents. Includes the GST E-way Bill in India.
White Glove Service
Premium moving service with extra care — special packing, careful handling, unpacking, debris removal, and white-glove cleanliness throughout.
Z
Zero Advance
Pricing model where customer pays nothing upfront — payment only after successful delivery. Sign of a trustworthy mover. Avoid companies asking for large advance payments.
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