Delivery windows and delays on an interstate move
Researched and written by Daniel Novak · Reviewed by Brittany Evans · Last reviewed August 2026
An interstate household goods move is sold with a delivery spread rather than a delivery date, and the spread is a contractual term written on the paperwork. The federal rules govern the money side of delivery tightly and the timing side through what the carrier agreed to. Knowing which is which is what keeps a late delivery from turning into a payment dispute at the kerb.
What the delivery window is
The dates or the spread of days the carrier agreed to are recorded in the order for service and the bill of lading. A spread is not a delay: a move sold with a seven day window and delivered on day six was delivered as agreed. What matters is that the window is written down before loading, in a document you hold, rather than stated on a call.
Where a carrier cannot meet the agreed period it is required to notify the shipper of the delay and of a revised delivery date. BestMovers.info holds no verified section number for that notice duty, so this page states the duty and no citation for it. What you can do in advance is confirm in writing how notice will reach you and to which contact.
What the delivery cap governs
On a non-binding estimate the carrier may require no more than 110% of the estimated charges at delivery, under 49 CFR 375.407. That is a cap on what must be paid before the goods come off the truck, and it is the rule that stops a shipment being held against a bill nobody agreed to. It caps the collection, not the final total: charges above that amount are billed afterwards and are payable within 30 days of delivery under the same section.
A binding estimate works differently, and binding not to exceed differently again. Which one you hold is written on the estimate itself, and it is worth reading the word rather than assuming from the price.
Weight, and why it changes the number
On a non-binding estimate the charge follows the actual weight of the shipment. You may observe each weighing and may request a re-weigh before the charges are computed, under 49 CFR 375.519. A delivery day dispute about the total is very often a weight question wearing other clothes.
What to confirm in writing before loading
- The delivery spread, in days or dates, on the bill of lading rather than in an email.
- Whether the estimate is binding, non-binding or binding not to exceed, in the document's own words.
- The amount collectible at delivery, and the payment methods the carrier accepts.
- How the carrier gives notice of a revised delivery date, and to which contact.
- Whether the shipment travels alone or is consolidated with others, which is what usually drives a wide spread.
- The valuation level, which decides what a claim pays if something is damaged en route.
What this page does not say
Whether a late delivery entitles a shipper to compensation for expenses is governed by the carrier's tariff and the contract, and it varies. This page states what the rules require and what to confirm; it does not advise on how to pursue a delay.
Official sources
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Frequently asked questions
How much can a mover charge at delivery on a non-binding estimate?
Is a delivery window the same as a delivery date?
What can I do if the weight looks wrong?
Does a mover owe compensation for a late delivery?
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