Long Distance Moving Guide!
Long Distance Moving, also called Interstate
moving, means that your new residence is
located in a different state.
How is the cost estimate determined
on a long distance move?
Reputable moving companies use a base rate
book published by the Household Goods Carriers
Bureau. The book, Tariff 400-M, provides
estimates for all long distance moving transactions
based on the weight of your belongings and
on the distance they are shipped, plus the
amount of packing and other services that
you require. The weight of your items is
actually measured on a scale. Only, the
scale is for the truck. Before the move,
the weight of the truck without your goods
is measured. This is called "empty
weight". The scales are usually located
at the nearest truck stops. You are allowed
to accompany the driver to the scale during
the weigh-in to ensure that everything is
in order. Make sure that your mover provides
you with an "empty weight" receipt.
How to Choose the Right Moving
Company for Your Long Distance Move:
Are you a little nervous about who to trust
with moving your earthly possessions to
a new home? Follow these steps to finding
a reliable moving company and a little peace
of mind.
- Talk to friends, neighbors and co-workers
for personal recommendations and warnings.
- If you are looking for choices on the
Internet make sure you DO NOT USE A BROKER.
Current consumer protection laws related
to the movement of household goods do
not apply to Household Goods Brokers.
Once a broker sells you, he sells the
job to the highest bidder, and he is no
longer responsible to you. Brokers are
not licensed to do the actual moves. With
a broker you’ll never know who is
going to show up on moving day and they
will usually charge you a lot more then
you where told by the broker. Always ask
are you a broker?
- Spend some time talking with each moving
company it’s a good sign if they
take the time to understand your moving
needs. Ask questions. If the company representative
isn't friendly and helpful on the phone,
call someone else.
- Don’t let a moving company bait
you with low quote. If the price seems
too good to be true, it probably is. Most
honest professional movers are competitive,
and there prices will differ but be within
a reasonable range. If a mover comes in
with an estimate way below all the others,
that should be a red flag to examine the
basis of the estimate before accepting
it.
- Occasionally, no matter how careful
a moving company is, an item may be damaged.
That’s why it’s important
to ask the moving company about their
claims policy.
- Verify they are a member in Good Standing
of your Local Better Business Bureau.
- Verify that the moving company is licensed
and regulated. An interstate (moving from
one state to another) moving company must
be licensed with the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT), the federal agency
that regulates moving companies. A moving
company that holds a proper license is
subject to all of the consumer and other
regulations administered by the DOT. Call
the moving company's office and ask for
their DOT number. Then click here http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_carrlist
and input their DOT number and click search.
- If you get a message: “No record
found, please try different search parameters.
This moving company is not licensed and
it is highly recommended you do not use
their services.
- In the next screen: Click on HTML and
then check under the column "Authority
Type" to make sure your moving company
has at least "Common" marked
as active. If the columns "Application
Pending" or "Revocation Pending"
do not say "NO" for common authority,
then you should be aware that something
might be wrong.
- Under the column Property check under
“Household Goods” and make
sure its marked “YES”. If
its marked NO your moving company does
not have the authority to move your personal
belongings.
- Then scroll down to “Insurance
Type” to make sure your moving company
has the insurance required for moving
companies. A long distance moving company
is required to have BIPD ($750,000 minimum)
and cargo insurance filed with the FMCSA,
so if your moving company does not have
either one of these insurances, you should
be looking for a different moving company.
- One final way to check your moving company
is to call the FMCSA's Safety Violation
and Consumer Complaints hotline at 888-368-7238
and ask about the complaint history of
your moving company.
Warnings:
You may have seen recent news stories about
the proliferation of scam movers who have
been abusing customers across the U.S. Typically,
they come in with an estimate that is much
lower than legitimate movers. However, once
these scam movers take possession of your
household goods, they significantly increase
the price and refuse to unload your possessions
until you pay the higher price, usually
in cash.
Here are some ways to protect yourself
from these rogue movers:
- If the price seems too good to be true,
it probably is. Most honest professional
movers are competitive, and there prices
will differ but be within a reasonable
range. If a mover comes in with an estimate
way below all the others, that should
be a red flag to examine the basis of
the estimate before accepting it.
- Legitimate movers generally don't require
a significant deposit before moving you,
and if they do it is a small good faith
deposit. However, scam movers frequently
require large deposits even for the simplest
and least expensive moves.
- DO NOT USE A BROKER Many Internet moving
sites are hosted by household goods brokers
whose names sound like real movers, which
they are not. These brokers turn over
your shipment to a mover, many of which
are rogue movers instead of professionals.
Be sure to ask if your shipment is being
brokered.
- The principle governing industry tariff
specifies that interstate household goods
rates (prices) should be based on the
weight of your shipment (and that weight
should be determined on a scale that has
been certified by an official state agency).
If the mover you are considering tells
you that he is going to base your charges
on the number of cubic feet in your shipment
(which means there is no way for you to
verify the amount you will be charged),
you may want to consider using another
mover.
What can I do to keep costs down
during my move?
If you're engaging professional movers,
you should mention your cost concerns during
your initial call with a sales person. Similar
to airlines or hotels, most moving companies
have a sliding scale of prices that reflect
supply and demand on a particular day. Generally,
the summer months are the busiest. Saturdays
and the beginning and end of each month
are busy year-round. The less busy times
tend to be Monday through Thursday in the
middle weeks of the month. If you are flexible
with your move date-an overlap between when
you need to be out of your old home and
are able to get into your new home helps-
you're certain to get the best value. Additionally,
a professional moving company will take
the time to provide you advice on other
cost-saving measures, including efficient
preparation in advance of moving day.
Can I keep costs down by having
a family member or friend help with the
move?
Having your friends move you in a rented
truck may seem to be the lowest cost-option
but it may turn out to be a costly nightmare.
Back injuries, friends who back out at the
last minute, damages, nicks and scratches
and other uncertainties can make it a very
stressful moving day. Ask anyone who moved
themselves and most will tell you wish I
would of hired a moving company. Choose
the right moving company and you’ll
be happy you did.
You Rights and Responsibilities
If you are moving from one state to another,
you should read and understand all of the
information you will receive from your mover.
In addition to brochures explaining their
various services, interstate moving companies
are required by law to give you a copy of
a consumer booklet titled Your Rights and
Responsibilities When You Move and information
regarding the mover's required participation
in a Dispute Settlement (Arbitration) Program.
Be sure you understand:
- The rates and charges that will apply.
- The mover's liability for your belongings.
- Estimating requirements.
- How pickup and delivery will work.
- What claims protection you have.
What can I do to keep costs down
during my move?
If you're engaging professional movers,
you should mention your cost concerns during
your initial call with a sales person. Similar
to airlines or hotels, most moving companies
have a sliding scale of prices that reflect
supply and demand on a particular day. Generally,
the summer months are the busiest. Saturdays
and the beginning and end of each month
are busy year-round. The less busy times
tend to be Monday through Thursday in the
middle weeks of the month. If you are flexible
with your move date-an overlap between when
you need to be out of your old home and
are able to get into your new home helps-
you're certain to get the best value. Additionally,
a professional moving company will take
the time to provide you advice on other
cost-saving measures, including efficient
preparation in advance of moving day.
Can I keep costs down by having
a family member or friend help with the
move?
Absolutely, having your friends move you
in a rented truck may seem to be the lowest
cost-option but it may turn out to be a
costly nightmare. Back injuries, friends
who back out at the last minute, damages,
nicks and scratches and other uncertainties
can make it a very stressful moving day.
Ask anyone who did their own move before
and most will tell you wish I would of hired
a moving company. Choose the right moving
company and you’ll be happy you did.
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