I know what you’re thinking, ‘… said no one ever!’ But the truth is, for our company, one that prides itself on operating ethically and providing the highest level of service to our customers, we really do.

Dozen’s of calls roll in each day and often the first words said are, “I’m just calling around to shop rates.” This is the launching point for us to provide some education about industry regulations in Oregon, the reason behind the regulations, and the importance of them. The regulations are in place ultimately for the protection of the consumer, but they also allow us to run our business in a highly customer-centric way with a focus on providing the best quality experience possible instead of chasing after one gimmick or marketing scheme after another.

After all, choosing a moving company isn’t just about transporting your furniture from one location to another, most of the time it’s about transporting family heirlooms, items that represent cherished memories as well as collectibles and investment pieces that perhaps you’ve worked years to obtain. The regulations, which dictate what we (moving companies with authority to transport household goods) can charge, allow you to choose based on the highest quality of service and best reputation.

You’ll find dozens of “moving companies” online when you look in the Eugene/Springfield area, but currently there are only six that have ODOT authority. The web is like the wild wild west in this way. Google, Yelp and others simply don’t vet businesses that list with them. One postcard and your business is in. A couple of 5-star reviews and your business looks legit! So while you’re calling around to the dozens online, you’re likely to find some offering much lower rates, not realizing that they haven’t gone through the rigors of ODOT requirements to gain authority, nor do they adhere to their standards. It’s important to vet prospective movers during the pre-move screening process by verifying that they are in good standing with the agencies that regulate them. Another good resource to find out if they’ve had complaints filed against them is the Better Business Bureau.

You put your belongings and bank account at risk when you choose what we like to call our ‘local rogue movers’. We’ve all heard the horror stories of shipments being hijacked and held for ransom or thousands of dollars in damages caused during a move and no one who will answer their phone afterward or a storefront to go to for a resolution. These folks often fly under ODOT’s radar and if something goes wrong with your move, you have little to no recourse.

On a national level, the USDOT and FMCSA license moving companies that perform interstate moves (moves that cross state lines). Every interstate carrier has a DOT number as well as an MC number and can be found on the FMCSA website. But remember, any intrastate move within Oregon is governed by ODOT and any mover must adhere to ODOT’s regulations.

The following are just some of the regulations that help protect you when you move in Oregon:

- All moving companies that have been authorized by ODOT have an operating authority number. This operating number must be posted on all marketing materials and the mover’s website. Ask for this number when making your initial contact.

- Moving companies with a valid ODOT number have met state requirements for insurance, safety and financial stability.

- All Moving companies with authority to move household goods in Oregon are listed on the ODOT website at https://www.oregon.gov/odot/mct/pages/householdgoodsmoving.aspx.

- Liability and cargo insurance must be maintained by carriers at all times.

- Criminal background checks as well as health and fitness screenings must be completed and maintained on each employee.

- All moving companies must charge ODOT-approved tariff rates. Discounts, sales, under-estimates and kick-backs are not allowed.

- Moving companies are required to provide customers with a General Information Bulletin for Moving Household Goods in Oregon, which explains the rights and responsibilities of both the customer and moving company.

- A Bill of Lading must be provided to customers on move day. This Bill of Lading is the contract between customer and mover and outlines the charges for services rendered.

- In general, any move within 30 air miles of your city is considered a local move and charges will be based on the number of workers and the hours spent performing the move. Anything outside of this radius and still within Oregon is considered an intra-state move and charges are based on a weight times distance calculation.

- Estimates are always non-binding. At the end of the day, charges will be based on actual hours spent or the weight time distance calculation.

- For local Eugene/Springfield moves, time starts when the crew departs the terminal and ends when they return to the terminal.

- At Elite Relocation Services, we encourage all of our clients and potential clients to reach out to us with questions about regulations, rights and responsibilities and anything else relating to a move. And if you’ve scheduled a move with us, we always provide you with move day tips and reminders to help you prepare. Your comfort is always our first priority.

Written by Claudia Schouten Jones, Owner

Picture this - crews dispatch at 8 a.m. and arrive at their respective job sites around 8:15 to perform their moves. 8:20 the phone rings. It’s the crew lead for one of the jobs. “Boss, this customer is not move-ready. I’m going to text you some photos.” Ping, ping, ping, the photos start arriving. What we see are garbage bags full of clothing, plastic bins with no lids stuffed with items that are not wrapped, an array of untaped boxes such as grocery store produce boxes, shoe boxes, partially crushed boxes, and a number of items not boxed or packed at all. So we get on the horn to the customer, who by this time is overwhelmed with stress, sleep-deprived and often an emotional wreck. It’s at this moment we realize that the term “move-ready” is not fully understood by everyone.

You might be thinking that being move-ready would simply be common sense, but as it turns out, most folks don’t move very often, some not at all, and there are several things people simply don’t think about until the day of the move when there’s a flurry of activity and no time left to prepare!

Over this last year, more than ever before, our crews have arrived to perform a move only to find that the customer was really not ready. So, in an effort to help our customers and relieve some of move-day stress, we came up with a move-prep checklist, including tips and suggestions to help the move go smoothly.

The following are the most important excerpts from our Moving Guide & Checklist and Move Day Tips & Reminders. For a full list of tips starting one month before your move, visit us online at https://www.eliterelocationservices.com/moving-guide--checklist.html.

Label, Label, Label - Clearly mark every box and container with the room it’s from, its contents, what priority it will be to unpack, whether there’s anything breakable and whether the box is heavy. Use different colors and a consistent format to help identify each box at a glance. Example: Kitchen, Pots and pans, High (priority), or: Office, Books, Low (priority), Heavy. Label cords to electronics or take photos of how they attach so reconnecting them in your new home will be a breeze.

The Cleaner, The Better - Clean dust and debris off of furniture and appliances, especially the tops of items that may not get regular cleaning. We pride ourselves on providing clean equipment and pads. We don't want to bring someone else's dust into your home on our pads and do not want to take yours with us to the next move.

Clear The Way - Make sure walkways are clear and have a rough idea of where you would like furniture placed in your new home.

Do Double Duty - Pack breakables in packing paper or clothing, towels and bedding. Pack lightweight clothes, towels or linens in dresser drawers. If your dresser is antique, fragile, made of composite material such as particle board or is in an area of your home that is difficult to maneuver out of, the extra weight in drawers may put unusual torque on that dresser, so we suggest all drawers be empty.

Be Box Smart - Be sure to use appropriate boxes for their contents. Boxes made for moving and packed well can make all the difference in the protection of your belongings. Containers to avoid as they may not withstand stacking and/or the rigors of transport are: plastic totes, garbage bags, shoe boxes, used boxes that are partially crushed and/or have been exposed to moisture. Make sure boxes are taped along all seams. Find the perfect fill. Don’t overstuff a box, and don’t make it too heavy to safely lift and carry. Try to pack contents firmly so items don’t shift and so the box can be stacked without crushing inward. Pack heavier items in smaller boxes. Lighter items can go in bigger boxes.  Heavy boxes are hard to carry.  Trust us.

Avoid Spillage - Pack items such as toiletries, soap containers, jars, etc. in plastic bags, and make sure to stand them upright in a box, then clearly mark the box as containing liquid items, and note which end must remain up.

Take it Apart - For anything that has to be disassembled, keep all the parts together. Put screws, bolts, brackets, curtain rings, etc., in plastic ziplock bags and pack them in a box marked "Parts Box" so that all of your parts will be easy to locate. Furniture with glass shelving should have the glass removed and boxed if possible.

What We Can’t Haul - Plan to haul flammable or caustic liquids or combustible items such as household aerosols, weapons and ammunition yourself.

Pack a Suitcase - Pack a bag with all your daily essentials as though you were going on a trip or vacation. That way you’ll have a change of clothes and all your necessary toiletries, medications and personal items handy when you get to your new place, without having to rummage through boxes.

Mind Your Littles - Make any necessary arrangements for your children or pets on move day. Line up babysitting or daycare for children and boarding or pet-sitting for pets the day(s) of your move. If children and pets are onsite during your move, (for their safety and the safety of the crew) please ensure they are safely away from movers, trucks and equipment.

Be Available - Make sure someone is at the house while the crew finishes loading. If you leave before everything is loaded, you won’t be able to do a final walkthrough to make sure everything that should be moved is on the truck.
Paying for Your Move - Payment is due when your items are delivered to your new home.

With these tips, you’ll be more than ready for your move and move day will be stress-free!