SIT and conversion to permanent storage (375.609)

Storage in transit (SIT) is temporary storage of a shipment on its way — at origin, along the route or at destination — usually because the customer's new home isn't ready. The goods are still "in transit": the mover's liability as a carrier, and the customer's valuation, still apply.

SIT or the carrier's own hold?

• SIT — the customer asked for storage, or the delay is theirs. It is billed to the customer, usually by the tariff's SIT items: a first-day charge, a daily (or per-period) charge, handling in and out, and delivery out of storage.
• Carrier hold — the mover stores the shipment for its own convenience (a full truck, a route that doesn't pass yet, an early delivery the customer can't take). The customer isn't charged for that.

The clock

SIT has a time limit set in the mover's tariff — 180 days is common, some tariffs use 90. When it runs out, the shipment converts to permanent storage. From then on:

• the mover's liability as a carrier ends, and a warehouse's liability (usually less) begins;
• the customer's relationship is with the warehouse, under a storage agreement, with monthly storage charges.

The notice (375.609)

Before SIT converts, the mover must tell the customer in writing:

• the date it converts to permanent storage,
• that the carrier's liability ends then, and
• that the customer may want to arrange insurance for the stored goods.

The notice must go at least 10 days before the conversion — or 1 day before if the SIT period is shorter than 10 days. If the notice is late, the carrier stays liable until the end of the day after the notice is actually given. Keep a record of when and how it was sent.

Delivery out and partial delivery

When the customer is ready, the shipment is taken out of the warehouse and delivered — often by a different truck. A shipment can also go out in parts: some now, the rest later (49 CFR 375.705 allows splitting a shipment).

In MoveBoard

The SIT board under Trips lists every stored shipment by warehouse: carrier holds and billable SIT, the days, the conversion date and the notice. MoveBoard sends the 375.609 notice by email on its day, reminds the sales person three days before, and keeps the record. You can bill the stay onto the long-distance bill of lading, schedule delivery out, deliver part now, or convert to a permanent storage account. See Storage in transit.