Editor’s Note: This is a guest post, written by Nathan Weeb, a freelance writer for a1autotransport.com.
As if moving long distances wasn’t enough of a hassle (to say nothing of the stress factor) – finding a trustworthy company to ship your valuable goods over many miles, can seem like a gargantuan task. There are plenty of horror stories circulating about cross-country moves gone bad. They typically involve dishonest outfits who either aren’t moving companies at all, but merely an Internet front to steal your money and/or goods, ou moving companies who hold your possessions hostage until you pay more than agreed. Either way, that’s not a path you want to go down. To help you stay as far away as possible from any shady transport companies, here are some suggestions for choosing the best long-distance movers.
Confirm They’re Licensed and Insured
You wouldn’t dream of taking your car out on a long distance trip without having the proper insurance, would you? Imagine the horror if you got into an accident (even just a fender-bender), 1,000 miles from home. Now imagine that same scenario, except it’s a large moving truck with all of your belongings inside. They might be damaged at best – and at worst, destroyed. You would want to be compensated if this type of scenario occurred.
USDOT Number
Hiring a properly insured moving company is important regardless, but it’s especially imperative if you’re having your goods hauled over long distances – where anything can happen along the way. The best way to discover the insurance status of a prospective moving company is by tracking their USDOT number. They receive this from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a subset of the United States Department of Transportation.
Look around each prospective moving company’s website – do they clearly and openly have their USDOT number displayed for consumers? Some companies might require you to call and request this information. If the website makes no mention of it, or you call and can’t seem to get a straight answer – this is your first red flag that this company is not entirely legitimate.
The FMCSA Website
You should be able to easily obtain the USDOT number and use it on the FMCSA website, to look up pertinent information about the moving company in question. This will include if they have any complaints filed against them or if they’ve incurred any safety violations while operating. The best place to check is the FMCSA’s Search Movers and Complaint History page. This site enables you to search interstate movers not only by USDOT but also by company name (even partial name) or MC number. This MC number is attributed to them when they register with the FMCSA and receive “authority to operate” as licensed movers.
If you have an uneasy feeling about a moving company, but they are offering you a good price, check the FMCSA’s website. Discovering that an interstate moving company isn’t even registered with this federal (and therefore mandatory) government department, is a huge warning sign. If the transport company does appear on your search, and there are complaints lodged against them – you’ll have to decide if you want to risk moving with them.
Full Value Protection Coverage
Federal law stipulates that movers who travel between states are obliged to offer their customers two different types of coverage.
The first is called Full Value Protection. Like it sounds, it means that if anything were to happen to your entire shipment of goods, the moving company is liable for the full valuation of your items. Hopefully nothing this far-reaching would occur, so it’s more likely that if one or two items are damaged during shipment – the moving company would have to offer you one of three options.
They could have the item fixed if it’s something like a broken chair leg. They could pay for an item of equal value and condition, such as a television. Or they could simply give you an amount of money equal to the item(s) damaged. The moving company will likely have it written into their contract, that in the event that damage occurs, they have the power to select whichever option they’d prefer. You should also note that in most cases, extremely high-value items (like a priceless antique vase) – are often exempt from coverage.
Released Value Coverage
The other kind of valuation coverage, which is typically applied only if you specifically request it, is called Released Value. You might choose this option because it knocks a significant amount of money off your moving bill – but you should be aware of how it works. In fact, it provides quite minimal coverage. If something is damaged, the moving company only owes you 60 cents per pound for any broken item.
This means that while your brand new iPad Pro might have cost $1,200 or more because it weighs just 1.53 pounds – the moving company would only owe you 92 cents if it were damaged. Perhaps if you don’t have many expensive items, Released Value coverage would be a good way to save yourself some money – but you’ll have to decide this for yourself. Again, you must specifically request this option or you will be charged for Full Value Protection automatically.
Company Insurance
In addition to this valuation coverage, a trustworthy moving company will have its own insurance. If you request proof of their coverage, they should be able to accommodate you without any problem. If they cannot, you should seek out another company. Further, you’ll want to verify that the moving company’s insurance is valid, in all of the regions through which your goods will be traveling.
Weigh the Costs
Detailed Price Quotes
A good rule of thumb when shopping around for a reliable moving company is to obtain at least three price quotes in writing. These quotes shouldn’t include the total cost as a single large number. Rather, each quote should break down the specific costs in a detailed fashion, including both a description of services and their associated prices. This allows you to learn what you’re getting and why your bill will add up to the total final tally. Arming yourself with knowledge (and documentation) at this step is an excellent way to protect yourself from predatory moving companies – who might seek to tack on extra charges when your goods arrive.
Deposits
Some moving companies do require a deposit. However, an unusually large deposit that’s more than 20 percent of the total quote you’ve received – is a major indicator that you should avoid doing business with that company. Also, if they request your deposit be made in cash, this is also a bad sign. Unethical moving companies or scam operations, might collect this money and then never appear on the day arranged for them to pick up your belongings.
Research Their Reputation Among Consumers
The FMCSA website is a great place to start looking into complaints against prospective moving companies. However, there are also other sites where you can research their reputation in the community.
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau, or BBB, is a non-profit organization designed to help consumers make more educated decisions about which company to hire. Their website is a good complement to the FMCSA, as consumers can not only file complaints – they can have their complaints settled through the BBB’s arbitration process. This means that while you might see complaints against a moving company, you don’t necessarily have to write them off – if you see that they were quick to resolve any issues.
It’s also important to note if you search for a moving company and find that it’s accredited by the BBB – this is an excellent indication that they are a valid, reliable moving company which you can count on.
Yelp and Other Review Sites
Yelp isn’t just for restaurant reviews. Many moving companies are now listed on Yelp, with accompanying reviews and comments from real customers. These unvarnished opinions can help you make the most informed decision possible. Another site that you might consider trying is Consumer Affairs. Finally, a simple web search with the company’s name can display results from blogs or message boards, where you can glean more information and end up with a much more educated and well-rounded assessment before making your final decision.
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