Cartus has launched a new service for small shipments that it claims offers faster transit times, fewer claims, exact-day delivery for eligible customers, and potential cost savings for clients.

The company’s MicroMoveSM serves the growing volume of US domestic transferees who have less than 5,000 pounds of household goods.  Cartus says that over the past 10 years, the number of smaller shipments (approximately three rooms or less) has increased by nearly a quarter. Today, more than four out of ten shipments are under 5,000 pounds, with an average weight of approximately 2,500 pounds.

Historically, smaller shipments had a multitude of factors that could complicate the transferee's relocation experience. Smaller shipments require the moving truck to make more stops to reach capacity. This increases the likelihood of mishandling a shipment as well as the amount of time it takes for belongings to arrive at the destination. Pinpointing the delivery times is also challenging, which can cause unnecessary stress and headaches for transferees.

In a typical MicroMove scenario, the transferee’s household goods are padded, wrapped, and sealed into their own individual container. The contents are not handled again until they are delivered and unpacked by the local moving company at the date and time of the transferee’s choosing. Containerisation also ensures quicker, more efficient transportation as moving vans are not stopping to pack and unpack shipments at other households along the way.

Key findings from the successful MicroMove pilot program - which Cartus implemented in Q2 2019 - include:

• 98% customer satisfaction – higher satisfaction based on customer’s ability to lock in specific load and delivery dates;
• 97% claims-free moves – thanks to reduced handling, no co-mingling of shipments, and no warehouse handling;
• 80% reduction in average claim amounts – compared to non-MicroMove small shipments;
• 1.5 fewer days in interim housing – reducing temporary living costs thanks to shorter transit schedules;
• Free service enhancements – such as up to 30 days of guaranteed storage.

Costs were reduced by around 30% compared with full-service van line moves.

 “After a successful pilot, we are focussed on launching the product immediately for all eligible moves,” commented Mike Brannan, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Broker Services. “Urban–to-urban moves are on the rise as well as an overall trend of transferees moving fewer household goods. The MicroMove program is custom-built for those situations.”