(907) 868-4756Frequently Asked Questions
Common Moving FAQs
The best way to ship these types of televisions are in their original cartons with the original packaging. Plasma TV’s are especially sensitive since they must remain upright during the entire shipping process. If you have not retained your original carton we typically will suggest making a special wooden crate to protect the television during transit. These arrangements can be discussed during the survey process.
Unfortunately, No. Royal Alaskan Movers does not offer any kind of payment plans or financing options.
We accept cash, money orders, cashiers checks, bank checks, and Visa or MasterCard credit cards.
Yes, Royal Alaskan Movers can accept credit cards over the phone. In this case we will mail the receipt to the address you request.
Yes, Royal Alaskan Movers accept payments by check via the mail. Please keep in mind that we will not ship your goods until your account has been settled in full. Mailing a check can delay the receipt of your payment and shipping of your goods.
Royal Alaskan Movers standard liability on Interstate moves is .60 cents per pound per article. This liability is included in all of our mainland moves. Royal Alaskan Movers standard liability on intra-Alaska moves is .30 cents per pound per article. This liability is included in all of our Intra-Alaska moves.
Full Replacement Value Protection is federally mandated by law. It is a requirement for all licensed movers’ and freight forwarders to offer this protection. The protection requires the mover or forwarder to replace the good at its full replacement value regardless of the age of the item. For a more detailed explanation, please visit the following Department of Transportation website; http://www.protectyourmove.gov and view the tab for understanding valuation and insurance options.
We require any one article that is valued over $500 to be declared as an article of extraordinary value.
If you are considering moving your goods under the Full Replacement Value Protection option, then you must declare a value for the all the goods in your shipment that will fully replace the items. This value cannot be a value less than $6.00/per pound on each item or less than $6,000.00 of total value.
All claims should be sent to the following address: Royal Alaskan Movers, Inc. Commercial Claims Department 2216 N. Post Road Anchorage, AK 99501
All damages should be reported to a customer service representative that assisted you with your move. They will provide you with the necessary claim documents and processes.
No, if you plan on storing your goods you will be required to provide your own insurance protection. If you selected the Full Replacement Value Protection option, we can offer to extend our liability during the storage period, but this will be at an additional cost based on the period of time you plan on storing your items. Your Full Replacement Value Protection documentation will include a form on how to apply for storage coverage.
Royal Alaskan Movers maintains physical locations in Anchorage. For specific addresses and contact information, please go to Contact Us.
We sell a wide variety of packing materials that are typically used by the moving industry, including a large variety of carton sizes, dish packs with cell dividers, stand-up wardrobe cartons, bubble wrap and foam pad.
No, Royal Alaskan Movers does not accept 50% payment terms, as we are required to outlay many of the expenses for your move on a very short-term credit basis. Therefore, we require your actual charges to be settled in full prior to shipping your goods from our warehouse.
The best way to ship computers and electronic items are in their original cartons with the original packaging. If you have not retained the original carton then we will use a carton that best fits the size of the item, or we will form-fit cardboard for larger items. We suggest that you back-up all your important computer files prior to moving your computer as an extra precaution.
Our surveyor will determine the appropriate amount of men that it will take to complete your move in the most cost effective manner. This varies on each move due to the uniqueness of each physical location as well as the required packing/unpacking services being requested.
Yes, our crews will pack your household goods. It is usually best to go over this requirement with our surveyor so the cost can be incorporated into your quote for time and material.
Yes, you can pre-pack your goods and have our crew load the cartons and large furniture only. Keep in mind that we will not accept the liability on owner packed cartons so we suggest that if you have any owner packed cartons that are sensitive in nature/fragile that you move them yourself.
Yes, our crews will use cloth pads to protect all furniture items during transit, unless you specifically request them not to.
Packing materials are not included in the hourly rate. They will be quoted as a separate item on your estimate. You will be billed on the actual material used during your move.
Our liability is limited to $0.60/pound per article. Please refer to our Claims section for more information.
Your charges are due at the completion of your move. Our crew will require payment in full before leaving the job site unless prior payment arrangements have been arranged.
Yes, your final charge will include the round trip drive time from our facility to your residence.
Yes, you will be charged for the time our crew is driving in traffic. Unfortunately we cannot anticipate delays caused by traffic in advance, but we attempt to give you a fair estimate of the drive time we are usually faced with driving to and from your area.
No, unfortunately Royal Alaskan Movers is not capable of storing containers long term. However, we do temporarily hold containers in our secure facilities during the moving process to accommodate delivery scheduling and vessel sailings.
The rates we charge for trucking services will depend on the location and type of service you require. Typically we will charge either an hourly rate for the type of truck and driver or a fixed spot rate. Call our offices for a specific rate.
A port agent is the company that will pick up or return a container to or from an ocean port. Royal Alaskan Movers is a port agent in addition to a mover. This means that we are capable of picking up and returning containers from all of the major ports of Alaska. This will allow Royal Alaskan Movers to make sure that your items are transported in a timely manner.
The rates to move your household goods are mainly determined by the size of your shipment and final destination. We can send one of our professionals to your residence to perform a visual survey of the things you wish to move. Based on this survey we will be able to provide you with a written estimate. For intra-Alaska and mainland moves, the cost is based on the weight and size of your shipment. For local moves, the rates are based on the time it takes to complete.
The cost for a move to and from the mainland, as well as internationally, is generally calculated on the weight and size of your shipment. We will provide you with a quotation that lists the amount per pound you can expect to pay once the job is complete. However, if you have bulky items that take up a large space but weigh very little, the size or volume of your shipment will be calculated in the final cost for your move. In a general household goods shipment about 5.5 pounds of household goods will fit into one cubic foot of space. These points will be outlined in the quotation that we will provide you.
Yes, Royal Alaskan Movers can offer Full Replacement Value protection on your move. This option comes at an additional cost, but it is designed to cover your items for the cost of full replacement or repair in the event that something happens to them during transit.
It is recommended that you obtain written estimates from 2 to 3 movers prior to deciding on any given company. When obtaining these estimates make sure that all the estimates are comparing cost on the same size and weight and you should question any such variances to insure you are obtaining the most accurate estimate from all parties. We would also recommend that you only use a mover that is licensed and addresses all the applicable Federal Regulations that protect you during your move. Be sure to select an asset based company and not an internet broker… you want someone who has a vested interest moving your goods!
The cost for a local move is based on the time, labor, equipment and materials required. The time aspect is calculated from the time our crews leave our warehouse until the time they return to the warehouse. The labor is based on the number of laborers that are required to complete your job. Larger jobs usually require a larger number of laborers. Most jobs are completed with one truck; however, larger jobs may require additional trucks. All of these factors will be calculated by our surveyor and will be provided to you in a written quote.
Yes, Royal Alaskan Movers is a full service transportation provider and we currently run a fleet of Semi-Trucks capable of hauling your steamship container from the port.
Our crews will pack and unpack your goods for all mainland and intra-Alaskan shipments. For local moves within a particular island we can add this service upon your request.
Our quotes to Alaska will include the cost for all materials necessary to perform your move. For intra-Alaska and local moves, the cost of materials is additional, and your final charge will reflect the actual materials used. At the time of our estimate, for an intra-Alaska or a local move, we will calculate the estimated material usage and include it on your quote.
Yes, we provide all surveys free of charge. A survey is the best way for us to accurately estimate the size and weight of your shipment. With this estimate we will be able to provide you with a written quote.
For Local Moves Your items are typically transported in one of our covered box trucks. For Intra-Alaskan Moves, Mainland and International Moves – Containerized Method Larger shipments not requiring storage will typically be loaded directly into a steamship container. These steel containers come in 20ft., 40ft. and 45ft. lengths. A steamship container will be loaded at your origin residence and then transported to the nearest ocean port, where it will be loaded on a ship that arrives at the port closest to your final destination. Liftvan Method For smaller shipments, and for shipments that require storage at origin or destination, we will use the wooden liftvan method of transportation. In this method, we will load your items into wooden liftvan crates at your origin address. These crates are approximately 7 ft. tall x 4 ft. wide x 7 ft deep, and typically hold around 1,000 pounds of goods from an average home. We can use a series of these crates to accommodate all of your goods. This method is useful when you are unsure of your final destination and you will require us store your goods. If you require storage via the containerized method, we would have to offload your items from the container into the liftvan crates for storage, which requires extra handling, and therefore, additional charges.
Consolidation is a term used to describe the grouping of smaller liftvan (see above) shipments that have a similar destination into one container. With our consolidation service we load your household goods into wooden liftvan crates at your origin address. Once we have loaded all of your crates, they will be brought back to our warehouse where they will be grouped with other shipments headed for a similar final destination. By grouping your liftvan crates with other liftvan crates, we are able to fill an entire 40 to 45ft container. This method typically has cost savings, which we can pass on to you. The consolidation method is the best method for transporting smaller shipments, as it allows for the cost savings of using a larger container without requiring you to have a large shipment. Please keep in mind that your shipment will be housed in its own individual sealed crate(s) and your individual items will never by combined with another shipper’s goods.
Depending on your final destination your shipment may be trucked, railed, or a combination of both. Typically shipments that have a final destination near ocean ports such as, Seattle , Oakland/San Francisco, and Los Angeles will be trucked out of the port to our delivery agent near your final destination. For shipments going to the Midwest and the East Coast, the shipment will typically be routed to a west coast port and then put on a rail car to reach a rail head nearest your final destination. Once the shipment has reached the railhead nearest the final destination, it will typically be put back on a truck, to be transported to our agent that will be handling your delivery. However, there are times when a shipment will be trucked for longer distances rather the railed. If you have any questions about your shipment, please ask your sales person or call our offices.
Intra-Alaska (i.e. Anchorage to Juneau)
At Royal Alaskan Movers we are generally able to provide quick service between these locations, but are unable to guarantee transit times. However, we do provide the following guidelines.
| To: | Anchorage | Fairbanks | Juneau | Kodiak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | ——- | 7 – 9 days | 9 – 11 days | 5 – 7 days |
| Fairbanks | 7 – 9 days | ——- | 10 – 21 days | 10 – 21 days |
| Juneau | 9 – 11 days | 10 – 21 days | ——- | 10 – 21 days |
| Kodiak | 5 – 7 days | 10 – 21 days | 10 – 21 days | ——- |
From Alaska to the Mainland
We cannot provide our customers with an exact delivery date at the time of estimation or booking. However, we can provide you with an estimated transit window.
Consolidate Shipments to the Mainland
| To: | Western US | Central US | Eastern US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | 4 – 6 weeks | 5 – 7 weeks | 6 – 8 weeks |
| Fairbanks | 6 – 8 weeks | 7 – 9 weeks | 7 – 9 weeks |
| Juneau | 6 – 8 weeks | 7 – 9 weeks | 7 – 9 weeks |
| Kodiak | 7 – 9 weeks | 8 – 10 weeks | 8 – 10 weeks |
Full Container Shipment to the Mainland
For full container shipments going to the mainland your transit time will typically be 1 to 2 weeks faster than the consolidated transit times. We include estimated transit times in our quotes.
International Shipments
For international shipments, transit times can vary widely depending on your final destination. At the time of quote, we will be able to provide you with an estimated transit time to your final destination.
For intra-Alaska and mainland moves, the “door to door” service typically includes the following:
- The packing of your household goods at your residence
- The loading of your packed goods in Wooden Liftvan(s) or a Container at your residence
- The ocean transportation of your shipment to the port closest to your destination
- The overland transportation from the port to your final destination
- The delivery of your household goods shipment into your destination residence
- The placement of your furniture items and your cartons in the designated areas within your new residence, the “set-up” of any furniture items that were disassembled by our crews at our origin address, the unpacking of “carrier packed cartons” on a space available basis, and the removal of the “carrier packing rubbish” from your residence on the delivery date only
Royal Alaskan Movers is not affiliated with a national van line. However, we have been doing business in the Alaskan Islands for over 25 years, and do work for and reciprocate with all the major van lines in the United States.
Over the past 25 years Royal Alaskan Movers has established its own network of quality agents on the mainland and internationally. Many of these agents are affiliated with national van lines like Allied, Arpin, Bekins, Graebel, Interstate, National, North American, Mayflower and United and some of them are independents like our company. Royal Alaskan Movers prides itself on using the most reputable agents to service your move.
For intra-Alaska shipments your items will be transported via trucks. For shipments going to the mainland, we use the two, major container ship lines that service Alaska: Horizon Lines and Matson Navigation. Both companies offer similar services and similar routes.
The geographical local of Alaska limits the methods of transportation to and from the mainland to ocean or air. Ocean transportation is more economical and is the most common method of transportation for household goods shipments. However, if you require assistance with transporting items via air, we can assist you with that as well. Please keep in mind that air shipments tend to be costly.
We can arrange for storage of your shipment at origin or destination. It is best to use the Liftvan method for transportation to make sure that we avoid extra handling and extra charges when your shipment is put into storage. The cost for storage is usually determined by its size and weight. If you let our sales team know that you are anticipating storage for a period of time, we can provide you with the cost for such services.
When your items are stored with Royal Alaskan Moves they will be stored in one of our alarm equipped warehouses. Goods are usually stored in the wooden liftvan crates as discussed earlier. Royal’s storage facilities are not climate controlled, but our warehouses are well maintained and your items generally remain cool, and they are always kept dry.
Royal Alaskan Movers can assist you with your international move. We can provide you with pick up and packing services here in Alaska and then arrange for an international forwarder to send your shipment on to your final destination. We have assisted customers with moves all over the world.
For all of our household shipments, there is a 1,000-pound minimum charge. In a typical household, 1,000 pounds of goods would fit in a space that is 7 feet by 4 feet by 7 feet.
The answer depends on the type of move you are looking to have done. For a local move (a move that takes place within the state of Alaska) you can save some money by packing your own goods before the crew arrives, as the move will take less time for our crews to complete. However, for inter-state and mainland moves, we typically include all packing services in the quote. Additionally, we recommend that you let our trained staff pack and prepare all household items for shipments that will be transported over water. This will ensure that your items will be well protected during your move.
When we provide you with a quote for your move, we will outline all of the known charges that you will incur for that particular move. However, sometimes there are surprises at the final destination that we have not been made aware of. For example, if there are things like a flight of stairs (typically 8 stairs or more), or a long carry (a distance of more than 50 feet from the truck to the entry of residence), then you will incur additional charges for delivery. However, if you provide us with this type of information at the time of the estimate, they will be included in your quote.
The rate will be based on the size and weight of your shipment, whether we pick it up at your residence or you drop it off at our facility. However, a discount may be applied to the standard rate if you drop it off.
Royal Alaskan Movers requires full payment on your moving date or after our warehouse has processed your shipment. The charges due are based on the origin services, shipping charges, Full Replacement Value Protection, and the delivery agent’s charges, which are prepaid by our company for your shipment. We accept cash, money orders, cashiers checks, bank checks, and Visa or MasterCard credit cards.
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