Delivery spreads and delay notices (375.605)

A long-distance truck usually carries several customers' goods. It can't promise each of them an exact day weeks ahead, so movers agree a window of days — a spread — for the pickup and for the delivery.

Pickup and delivery spreads

• The pickup spread — the days the shipment may be picked up, agreed with the customer. Often just the move date.
• The delivery spread — the days the shipment may be delivered. For example, "first available delivery October 12, within 7 business days" means October 12 to October 21.

Both are written on the bill of lading (49 CFR 375.505). Some movers sell a guaranteed delivery date for an extra charge.

Reasonable dispatch

A mover must pick up and deliver within the agreed periods — "reasonable dispatch" (49 CFR 375.603). A delivery outside the spread can cost the mover: many tariffs pay the customer a per-day amount for a late delivery (often called inconvenience or delay compensation).

When a delivery will be late

If the mover can't make the agreed dates, it must (49 CFR 375.605):

1. 1Tell the customer of the delay at the mover's own expense, as soon as it knows — by phone, email, text or in person.
2. 2Give a new date, and keep to it.
3. 3Keep a record of the notice — when, how and the new date — for at least one year.

Early delivery

A mover may deliver early only if the customer agrees. If the customer can't take an early delivery, the mover may store the goods at its own expense and must tell the customer at once where they are (49 CFR 375.607).

In MoveBoard

• On a long-distance order you set Delivery Days (0 means guaranteed), the First Available Delivery Date and the pickup spread; MoveBoard shows the spread beside the date. See Delivery dates and the delivery spread.
• The Trip Planner checks every planned pickup and delivery against its spread and warns you in red when one falls outside.
• Record a delay on the trip tells the customer, sets the new date and keeps the record on the order. See Record a delay.