Moving industry know-how
Tariffs: mileage, 400N and CWT
What a moving tariff is, why interstate movers must have one, and how the common kinds — mileage, 400N-style, CWT, cubic-foot and flat — price a shipment.
- 2 min read
- Checked against MoveBoard
- For owners & admins, sales
A tariff is a mover's published price list and rules: the line-haul rates, the extra charges (accessorials), valuation charges, storage-in-transit charges, and terms such as minimum weights and payment. An interstate household-goods mover must keep one and make it available to customers — and the customer's estimate and final charges come from it.
Line haul
The line haul is the charge for carrying the shipment from origin to destination. It usually depends on two things:
- distance — in bands, for example 1,001–1,100 miles, and
- size — weight in pounds, or volume in cubic feet.
CWT
CWT means hundredweight — 100 pounds. Most weight tariffs quote a rate "per CWT": $45.00 per CWT on a 7,000-lb shipment is 70 × $45.00 = $3,150.00.
The common kinds
- Mileage tariff — a grid of distance ranges by size ranges, a rate in each cell. Simple to build and read.
- 400N-style tariff — modelled on the industry's old 400N bureau tariff: a rate per 100 lbs by mileage band and weight bracket, a minimum weight, and long sections of accessorials (packing, stairs, long carry, shuttles, appliance service, SIT). Companies often sell at a discount off it.
- Single factor rate — one all-in rate per 100 lbs (by distance band or state to state), with chosen accessorials included.
- Cubic-foot tariff — a rate per cubic foot, with a minimum size and minimum charge. Common for companies that sell by volume.
- Flat rate — a set price by move size and distance band, or by route.
- Regions — prices by route between states or regions.
Weight breaks and minimums
Rates often fall as the shipment gets heavier. A weight break (or breakpoint) is the weight from which charging at the next bracket's lower rate costs less — the mover charges whichever is lower. A minimum weight (for example 2,000 lbs) is charged even on a smaller shipment.
Accessorials
Work beyond loading, driving and unloading: extra stops, stairs, elevators, long carries, shuttles, packing, crating, appliance service and storage. They're in the tariff too.
In MoveBoard
MoveBoard has all six kinds as long-distance tariffs under Settings › Long distance. You choose one kind per move type as the default, and can price any order by another of your tariffs. A mileage tariff's grid shows the breakpoint after each column. See Choose how long distance is priced and Weight-priced tariffs.
Related guides
- Long distanceChoose how long distance is pricedThe six kinds of long-distance tariff — Mileage, 400N-style, Single Factor Rate, Cubic Foot, Flat Rate LD and Regions — what each suits, and how to make one your default.
- Long distanceWeight-priced tariffs ("per X lbs")How a tariff priced by weight works — the "Price Is Per" unit, the weight factor that turns cubic feet into pounds, minimum weights, and the re-rate on the scale weight.
- SettingsMileage tariffMake and edit mileage tariffs — a rate for each distance range and size range, by weight or by volume — and choose the active one.
- Settings400N tariffBuild a 400N-style tariff — line haul per 100 lbs by mileage band and weight bracket, minimums, discounts and accessorials — or import it from a spreadsheet.
- Moving industry know-howBinding, non-binding and not-to-exceed estimatesWhat each kind of moving estimate promises the customer, the 110% rule at delivery, and how to set each one up in MoveBoard.
- Moving industry know-howWeighing and charges (375.521, 375.607)How interstate shipments are weighed — certified scales, tare and gross weights, the right to watch and to a re-weigh — and the notice of weight and charges before delivery.
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