Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: When do I pay?

A: You are welcome to make payments towards your move at any time however, no payment is required until the truck arrives at destination. Payment is due 24hrs prior to unloading the truck. The only expectation is payment via cashier’s check or money order which is due upon the driver’s arrival at residence prior to unloading.

Q: Why is there an additional charge for picking up/ dropping off my household goods from a mini storage?

A: Due to having to stack and restack boxes, it makes the labor more intensive rather than just packing and loading from a house with individual rooms.

Q: How many people/movers will there be?

A: The number of crew members on a move varies depending on many factors but is typically between 2-4. We are estimating the number of days we anticipate it could take. If more resources are available the move crew may finish loading early.

Q: What payment methods are accepted?

A: All major forms of payment. Atlas accepts payment for moving services by cash or credit card. Atlas accepts your cashier’s check, traveler’s check, and money orders.

As of January 2022 Atlas Van Lines no longer accepts personal checks of any kind.

Q: Why do I need to pay before the truck unloads? What if I have claims?

A: Payment can be made at any time before the shipment is unloaded at destination. We typically ask that payment be made the day before delivery or if delivering over the weekend or on a Monday the Friday before to minimize any delays. However, you can wait until the truck is at residence to make your payment. Your household goods will not be unloaded until payment is received. Claims are not settled until payment is made in full, this includes the valuation you purchased on your household goods. You have 9 months from the day of delivery to file your claim and we are here to assist you with any questions throughout the process.

Q: Will my household be the only items on the truck?

A:While we can arrange for a dedicated truck at an additional cost, most often there may be 2-3 or up to 5-6 shipments on a truck at a time. Each shipment is kept separate by the inventory sticker that is specific to your shipment. In addition, the driver will make a physical separation of your items from other shipments using the mattress cartons, cardboard, or straps

Q: Can I ship items inside my safe?

A: No, transporting the safe with your valuables, guns, ammunition, etc inside is a safety hazard, even if everything is secured inside. Also some state and federal regulations require that the contents of your safe be emptied. Please feel free to look into laws in your area.

Q: We plan to do a lot of packing ourselves. We just bought a bunch of totes. Are they okay to pack and ship?

A:(COD) Totes are okay to pack & ship, we do just like the customer to be aware that since we cant ensure the durability of totes(lids and handles tend to crack), they may break in transit, Interwest wouldn’t be liable for the damage of totes.

Q: How long will the move take? Loading or unloading

A: We ask that you be available all day to direct the crew, answer any questions and sign paperwork. We typically arrive between 8-10am and pending the size of your home leave for the day between 4-6pm so everyone can rest for the evening.

***Even though you have a smaller home I am unable to say approximately how many hours it will take to get everything completed.

*** We currently have your move scheduled for 3 days and until the crew is able to put eye on your household goods I cannot guarantee we will be done in 2 days. We ask that you keep your schedule open based on the dates on your estimate and we will keep you updated on any changes in scheduling.

Q: What if I am delivering to a Self Storage?

A: If you are delivering into a Self storage unit (Mini Storage) please be aware this is considered final delivery. All Claims must be declared at time of delivery.During unloading you will be asked to complete a Customer Check Off sheet (a.k.a BINGO). This form is an easy way to track that everything picked up at origin is being delivered. If you are unavailable to accept delivery in person you will need to have a representative available at delivery

FAQs