Frequently Asked Questions

What will take place during my move?

Prior to arrival, the truck will be weighed at a certified public weigh scale.
At residence our loading crew will prepare your home for the move by covering floors and railings and removing doors as needed. If you are moving from an apartment you are responsible for making all moving arrangements with the building staff and ensuring the elevator is available.
An inventory of items being shipped will be prepared. This inventory will list all of the goods being shipped and indicate pre-existing damage. This would be the best time to point out to the loading crew any items of for which you may have special concern.
Some furniture, such as beds or tables, may require partial disassembly to ensure safe transport.
You will receive copies of all paperwork. Make sure the driver has complete and accurate contact and delivery information for destination.
Upon completion of loading, the truck will again be weighed at a public weigh station. The difference between this weight, (gross), and the initial weight, (tare), will determine the net billable weight of your move.

Destination:

Advise your move planner if there are any new delivery or access restrictions that were not known earlier so that the delivery crew will be properly prepared. The driver will confirm delivery times 24 hours prior to delivery.

Payment must be made by certified cheque to the driver prior to unloading. If previously arranged with our office, payment can be made by credit card.
Your home will once again be prepared for moving. (Due to safety concerns, our crews cannot remove their shoes or wear “booties”)
All items will be placed in the appropriate rooms and all items disassembled by the loading crew will be reassembled.
If you have any concerns after delivery, contact your move planner at Centennial Moving Systems immediately.

PACKING SERVICE OPTIONS

What is an “Owner” Pack?

If you are an energetic “hands-on” person with the confidence to safely pack all of the household contents on your own, this can be the most economical packing and move preparation choice. As a general rule, all items smaller than a microwave oven need to be packed. Mirrors must be removed from dressers and packed. Lampshades, including harps and bulbs must be packed. Remember, you are taking the responsibility for all small items being shipped so take your time and be thorough.

What is a “Fragile” Pack?

You can choose to do most of the packing yourself and have one of our experienced packers come to pack the more delicate or valuable items that you may be especially concerned about. This service is typically charged on a per carton basis.

What is a “Full” Pack?

A full pack has become the popular choice of today’s busy professionals. You can maintain an uninterrupted lifestyle very close to the actual move date. A full packing crew pack can typically pack a 2 or 3 bedroom home in a single day. A professional packing crew will remove all mirrors from dressers and keep parts in a well marked location for re-assembly. Packers or movers cannot remove items that are mounted to walls or ceilings. Once your goods have been delivered to your new home, all cartons can be unpacked, dresser mirrors can be re-installed and the packing debris removed. Unquestionably the most complete service available on a long distance move.

Is storage available?

Timing a move across the country is a task in itself. Short term storage can help you to relax while you find just the right home in your new city. You can be confident that your goods are being held in an indoor, temperature controlled warehouse until you call for them. All items are checked against your movers inventory both in and out of storage and are stored in such a way as to prevent any blending or combining of any two shipments. Long term storage can provide a safe haven for your belongings while your new dream home is being built or you take time off to travel before settling into a new home. Either way, we are here to answer the question, “What do I do with all my stuff?” Some customers choose to have some items delivered to their new home and the remainder delivered to temporary storage. Various options are available to suit your specific needs and our sales team can give you the information you need to help decide which ones are best for you.

Can you ship my vehicle?

Yes, we can ship your vehicle inside the moving van with the rest of your belongings. Shipping a vehicle in the van can keep it protected from the harsh conditions of over the road travel and exposure. Our sales team can quote you on door to door service for your vehicle. Complete the appropriate areas of our online estimate or contact us direct.

How do I track my shipment?

During peak moving season, a cross country move typically takes 5 to 21 days from the time of loading to the time of final delivery. During the off season maximum delivery times may be extended. Once a shipment has been loaded you can keep track of where it is by contacting your move planner. You will be contacted prior to delivery. Our drivers are responsible to remain in daily contact with our central dispatch and to personally call you at least 24 hours prior to delivery.

What Transit Protection options do I have?

It is not easy to entrust the whole of your worldly possessions to complete stranger. It is an unfortunate truth that regardless of the care taken, accidents can happen. First and foremost, protect yourself by ensuring that your mover is a fully insured and experienced household goods carrier. Centennial Moving Systems has experienced leadership and specific household moving coverage with Lloyds of London and Lombard Canada, a leader in Canadian household moving insurance for over twenty-five years.

Transit Protection Options

Centennial Moving Systems offers 3 transit protection options. The options are Basic, Market Value and Premium protection plans. Details are as follows, with examples:

Basic

Every shipment transported by Centennial Moving Systems has basic transit protection. We are legally obligated to provide this protection free of charge to our customers. This protection however is limited. Centennial Moving Systems’ liability is limited to a maximum of sixty cents per pound per article towards repair or replacement.

Example:

A shipment weighing 5,000 lbs will carry transit protection up to a maximum of $3,000.00 if there is total loss.
Damage to a single item of the shipment that weighs 100 lbs will be limited to $60.00.
This coverage is provided without cost to the customer.

Market Value

For an additional fee, you can increase Centennial Moving Systems’ maximum liability from sixty cents per pound to five dollars per pound per article towards repair or replacement. The cost of Market Value Transit Protection is $7.50 for every thousand dollars worth of coverage.

Example:

The same shipment weighing 5,000 lbs will carry Market Value Transit Protection up to a maximum of $25,000.00 if there is total loss.
Damage to a single item of the shipment that weighs 100 lbs will be limited to $500.00.
This coverage is provided at a cost of $187.50 to the customer. (7.50 x 25 = 187.50)

Premium Transit Protection

For an additional fee, you can increase Centennial Moving Systems’ maximum liability from sixty cents per pound to ten dollars per pound per article towards repair or replacement. The cost of Premium Transit Protection is $6.50 for every thousand dollars worth of coverage.

Example:

The same shipment weighing 5,000 lbs will carry Premium Transit Protection up to a maximum of $50,000.00 if there is total loss.
Damage to a single item of the shipment that weighs 100 lbs will be limited to $1000.00.
This coverage is provided at a cost of $325.00 to the customer. (6.50 x 50 = 325.00)

A $250.00 deductible applies to all claims.

The following are some of the more common items are not covered under either option:

Contents of cartons, bags, dressers, suitcases, etc. that are not packed by the carrier and unpacked by the carrier at time of delivery.
Items of extra ordinary value that are not identified on the inventory or bill of lading prior to loading. Additional charges may apply for coverage of these specific items.
Items that are not properly prepared for shipping. Such as, but not limited to, glass, marble, lamps, shades, etc.
Pressboard or particleboard furniture that is “self-assembled” unless it is completely disassembled prior to transport.
Items that have pre-existing damage or repairs.
Internal electronic or mechanical workings of items such as, but not limited to, computers, televisions, stereos, microwaves, musical instruments.

A complete list of liability limitations and responsibilities is detailed on the reverse side of the Carrier’s Bill of Lading under the heading, Conditions of Carriage. Click here for a printable version.

In the event of a claim, quick and fair resolution is appreciated by both the customer and the carrier. Should you have need, click here for a printable claim form. When submitting a claim form, please include as much information and back-up documentation as possible, including inventory tag numbers, photos, original purchase receipts, etc. and forward to Centennial Moving Systems, P.O. Box 1004, Cobourg, ON, K9A 4W4 or fax to 905-372-7048.