“A moving broker is an entity that arranges for the transportation of your goods, hiring an actual moving company to do the physical move. Moving brokers are sales teams that book your move and sell it to a moving company. They also must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A broker does not assume responsibility for, and is not authorized to transport, your household goods. Brokers usually do not have moving trucks or professional movers, though some entities who are registered as brokers with FMCSA may have trucks and staff.” fmcsa.dot.org
A moving broker is not the same thing as a moving company. When you are booking your move, be mindful to ask the company if they are an actual moving company or a moving broker.
The Better Business Bureau does not recommend hiring a moving broker because of the risks. When your broker outsources a move to multiple companies you may end up paying thousands of dollars more than what you were estimated at. Not to mention you have no idea who is handling your house goods. David Pasternack unfortunately experienced this first hand – read the article here.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has provided a list to check over if you’re planning to work with a moving broker.
If they are a broker, they must:
1. Be registered with FMCSA
2. Provide you with FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and the Ready to Move brochure
3. Provide you with a list of the moving companies they use
4. Use only movers that are registered with FMCSA
5. Have a written agreement with movers they use
6. Base binding or non-binding estimates on the tariff of the mover that will transport your shipment
7. Reference in their advertisements their physical business location, MC number, and their status as a broker that does not transport household goods but arranges for this service
8. Have the mover that is transporting your shipment perform a physical survey of your household goods if they are within a 50-mile radius of the mover or its agent’s location, whichever is closer. It is your option to waive this requirement.
If you are moving, call a professional moving company like Premier Relocations. We check off all the boxes.
✓ Be registered with FMCSA
✓ Provide you with FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and the Ready to Move brochure
✓ Provide you with a list of the moving companies they use
✓ Use only movers that are registered with FMCSA
✓ Have a written agreement with movers they use
✓ Base binding or non-binding estimates on the tariff of the mover that will transport your shipment
✓ Reference in their advertisements their physical business location, MC number, and their status as a broker that does not transport household goods but arranges for this service
✓ Have the mover that is transporting your shipment perform a physical survey of your household goods if they are within a 50-mile radius of the mover or its agent’s location, whichever is closer. It is your option to waive this requirement.