--- title: What Is a Delivery Spread? Moving Glossary | O'Brien's url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/delivery-spread/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving and storage glossary](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/) - Delivery spread # What is a delivery spread? A delivery spread is the stretch of days on your bill of lading during which your shipment may be delivered. The FMCSA booklet says your mover owes you 24 hours of advance notice before arriving, and you must be ready to accept delivery. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) Long-distance trucks pick up from several homes and deliver to several others, so a single delivery day is rarely realistic. A spread gives the window in writing. Your written estimate sets the delivery window for your own move. ## What the federal rule says Section 375.603 requires a mover to tender a shipment for delivery on the agreed date or within the period shown on the bill of lading, unless you ask for or agree to something different. Section 375.505(b)(6) says that for standard service, without fixed-date terms, the bill of lading carries the agreed date or period for delivery. A period is the spread. The FMCSA booklet explains the result in everyday words: your shipment could arrive any time within the spread, the mover gives 24 hours of advance notice of when it plans to arrive, and you must be available. ## If the spread slips Section 375.605 says that when a mover cannot deliver within the period on the bill of lading, it must tell you as soon as the delay is apparent, at its own expense, and give you the new dates or period it expects. It must keep a written record of that notice. Your household plans usually depend on that call, so ask early who will make it and what number it will come from. ## What it means for your move Plan to be reachable and flexible through the entire window, not only on one day. If you are not ready on the first day, the booklet notes that the mover may store the shipment near the destination, at your expense. Arranging a place for the truck, an elevator reservation and a helper for the day before the window opens is a quiet way to avoid that outcome. On local moves inside Nevada there is usually a single agreed day, and the spread idea mainly belongs to long-distance work through the Bekins network. O'Brien's can walk through your own dates when you call 775-359-6683. ## Delivery spread checklist - Read the delivery dates or period on the bill of lading before you sign - Save a phone number that reaches dispatch - Reserve any building elevator or loading space for the whole window - Keep your first-night box and valuables with you For the pickup side of the same idea, see [pickup spread](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/pickup-spread/); for a longer explanation, see [pickup and delivery spreads on long-distance moves](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/delivery-spread-explained/). ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [eCFR, 49 CFR 375.603 (delivery)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375/subpart-F/section-375.603) - [eCFR, 49 CFR 375.605 (delay notice)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375/subpart-F/section-375.605) - [FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2023-10/FMCSA_R%26R_Handbook_Web_v1.pdf) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [Moving and storage glossary](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/) - [Pickup spread](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/pickup-spread/) - [Pickup and delivery spreads on long-distance moves](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/delivery-spread-explained/) - [Bill of lading](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/bill-of-lading/) Moving glossary ## Read next - [Pickup spread](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/pickup-spread/) - [Tariff](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/tariff/) - [Weight ticket](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/weight-ticket/) - [Reweigh](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/reweigh/) - [Usdot number](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/usdot-number/) - [Mc number](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/mc-number/) - [Cpcn](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/cpcn/) - [Household goods carrier](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/household-goods-carrier/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Does the delivery spread mean my goods are late? No. The spread is the agreed window, and delivery inside it is on time. Delivery after it is a delay that triggers the notice rule in 49 CFR 375.605. ### Can I choose one exact delivery day? You can ask. Some tariffs offer fixed-date service for an added charge, and the bill of lading records what you chose. Ask the estimator what applies to your move. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) S Sonia P. August 4, 2023 Talk about organized people. I peeked in the truck about an hour into the job and was amazed at how well organized it was and how many of my things had protective coverings. Our bed is a mechanical one and a nightmare to us, but these guys had no issue with it at all. Although I have no desire to ever move again--but if I did, I would be calling these guys for sure!!! J Jennifer C. August 3, 2023 Customer service, packers, and loaders were very responsive, professional, and did an overall great job. C Christy R. March 25, 2023 All of the above! Have used o'briens several times in the past and always had great timely service! ### Owner's reply Christy thank you so much, not just for the 5 star review but also for continuing to stay a O'Brien's Customer. We appreciate your repeat business and you know we love talking with you anytime! You know where to find us when you need us! ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070