20 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Moving Company

20 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Moving Company

📋 Case Studies: Real-World Hiring Decisions & Outcomes

The $6,166 Estimate That Became 6,166.50 based on 754 cubic feet at 3,475.10, which the broker immediately wired out as the salesperson’s commission. By delivery, the consumer had paid over $20,000. The line items included a fake “Total Tariff” of 0.60 per pound per article, meaning a destroyed 50-pound TV would pay out $30.

The 24,000 in damage. The mover lied to the insurer, claiming the apartment complex was at fault. When the consumer called the owner to verify insurance, she learned the company’s policy did not cover the vehicle or transportation. The owner claimed “they forgot who they hired that day.” The consumer only resolved the claim by tracking down the driver’s name and plate number herself and submitting the video to U-Haul’s insurer, Repwest. Key lesson: Ask whether the company owns its trucks and uses employees or day labor.

The Credential Gap: 81% Confident, 27.6% Verified

The 2026 Consumer Moving Scams Survey of 500 recent movers found that 81.4% felt confident they could identify a moving scam, yet 45.2% still encountered at least one problem during their most recent move. Only 27.6% verified a mover’s licensing, insurance, or official records before hiring. 35.6% cited unclear pricing and unexpected fees as the primary reason they would reject a company. The most common specific complaint was undisclosed fees (20.6%), followed by a final bill significantly higher than the quote (19.6%). Nearly four in 10 relied only on online reviews, which can be purchased or AI-generated.

Florida: 6,187 Complaints and the Broker Problem

From 2022 through mid-2024, Florida movers accumulated 6,187 FMCSA complaints—27.8 per capita, nearly double the next highest state (New Jersey at 1,200). Of the top 20 companies with the most complaints, 12 are in Florida, and 13 operate as moving brokers rather than carriers. Brokers act as intermediaries, arranging services through other companies. Florida leads the nation with 361 registered household goods movers, more than twice the next closest state.

Broker Complaints Tripled in Five Years

FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database data shows broker complaints roughly tripled from ~2,000 in 2021 to ~6,000 in 2025. Carrier complaints grew about 30% in the same period (from ~4,500 to ~5,800). In 2021, broker complaints were 31% of all filings; by 2025, they were 51%. Brokers now generate more complaints than carriers despite performing zero actual moves. The crossover point occurred in late 2024.

The 1.73% Claim Rate: What Good Looks Like

One moving company reported a 1.73% claim rate across 31,031 moves—well below the industry average of 15 to 20% for moves with some level of damage or loss. Industry data puts the share of interstate moves with damage or loss in the 15 to 30% range, mostly minor scuffs and dings. For a typical move, full value protection costs 1 to 2% of your shipment value.

Binding vs. Non-Binding: 37% Paid More Than Quoted

A recent study found that over 37% of Americans who moved in the last 12 months paid more than their original estimate because they didn’t understand the difference between binding and non-binding estimates. A binding estimate locks in a fixed price based on a detailed inventory. A non-binding estimate is a good-faith forecast; the final price follows actual weight and the carrier’s published tariff. For interstate moves with a non-binding estimate, federal law limits what the mover can collect at delivery to 110% of the quoted amount; the remaining balance is billed later.

Military Relocation Contractor: Standardization Cuts Waste

A regional military relocation contractor handling ~2,400 PCS moves per year faced inefficiency from inconsistent packing materials. Crews spent an average of 4.2 minutes per room deciding which container to use—totaling 67 minutes of wasted labor per 4-bedroom move, or 2,680 crew-hours annually. After implementing a standardized three-tier bag kit system, the company achieved significant time savings. Relevance to hiring: Ask movers how they standardize materials and whether their crews use a systematic approach or improvise on site.

📊 Original Data & Statistics for Your Blog

Scam Prevalence & Consumer Behavior

· 13,000 complaints and negative reviews about movers filed with the BBB each year

· 45.2% of recent movers encountered at least one problem: hidden fees, price spikes, damaged goods, or an unreachable company

· 35% increase in moving fraud reports to the FTC in 2025

· 81.4% confident they could spot a scam vs. 27.6% who actually verified licenses or insurance

· 21% hired the first mover they located; only 17.2% personally compared three or more companies

Complaint Trends: Brokers vs. Carriers

Year Broker Complaints Carrier Complaints Broker Share

2021 ~2,000 ~4,500 31%

2025 ~6,000 ~5,800 51%

Source: FMCSA NCCDB data aggregated by Trunk

Top States by Moving Complaints (2022–mid-2024)

Rank State Complaints

1 Florida 6,187

2 New Jersey 1,200

3 Nevada —

4 Wyoming —

5 Delaware —

Only 6.4% of FMCSA-listed movers have a complaint; 1,569 of 24,399 companies

Average Moving Costs by Home Size & Distance (2026)

Home Size Local (<50 mi) Long Distance (500–1,500 mi) Cross-Country (2,000+ mi)

Studio / 1 BR 900 3,500 6,500

2 BR 1,600 5,500 10,500

3 BR 2,800 8,000 14,500

4 BR+ 4,500 11,500 20,000+

Add 20–40% for June–August peak season

Local Moving Labor Rates (2026)

· 2-person crew + truck: 170/hour

· 3 movers: 240/hour

· 4 movers: 320/hour

Rates increase with tight access, stairs, or long carries

Deposit Rules & Payment Practices

· Federal regulation (49 CFR § 375.403) prohibits interstate movers from requiring more than the lesser of $75 or 10% of the non-binding estimate as a deposit before pickup

· ~39% of consumers cite a large upfront deposit as the strongest sign a mover might be untrustworthy

· Legitimate movers generally do not require full payment until after delivery

Damage & Claims Data

Metric Figure

Interstate moves with some damage/loss 15–30%

Moving insurance claims involving damage ~30%

Full value protection cost 1–2% of shipment value

Released value protection payout $0.60/lb per article

Claim acknowledgment deadline 30 days

Claim resolution deadline 120 days

You have 9 months from delivery to file a written claim

Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimates

· 37%+ of movers paid more than their original estimate due to estimate-type confusion

· Non-binding interstate moves: mover can collect up to 110% of quoted amount at delivery

· Binding estimate: price locked based on detailed inventory; changes void the guarantee

Industry Benchmarks

· 484 moving companies surveyed for the 2026 State of Moving Report, ranging from $250K operators to $10M+ regional leaders

· Margin gap: 7% margin businesses vs. 20%+ margin businesses—the difference is systems, standardized sales processes, and real-time profitability tracking

💡 Blog Post Angles to Consider

“The 5 Questions That Separate Legitimate Movers from Brokers in Disguise”

Lead with the broker complaint data (51% of all FMCSA complaints, 0 actual moves performed) and the Florida concentration (12 of top 20 complaint companies are brokers). Then give readers the exact questions: “What is your USDOT and MC number?” “Are you a carrier or a broker?” “Who will physically show up on moving day?” Pair with the Superb Movers case study showing what happens when the answer is “contract workers with a rented truck.”

“Why 81% of People Think They Can Spot a Moving Scam—and 45% Still Get Burned”

Use the credential gap data (27.6% verification rate) and the 20,000 case study to show the cost of skipping verification. Frame the 20 questions as a verification protocol, not just a checklist. Include the FMCSA SAFER lookup and BBB Scam Tracker as tools readers should use before asking any question.

“Binding, Non-Binding, or Not-to-Exceed: The Question That Determines Your Final Bill”

Open with the 37% overpayment statistic and the 110% delivery cap rule. Walk through a concrete example using the cost tables (e.g., a 3-bedroom long-distance move quoted at $6,000 non-binding could legally require $6,600 at delivery, with the rest billed later). Position “Is this estimate binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed?” as the single highest-leverage question on the list.

“The Deposit Question: What’s Legal, What’s Normal, and What’s a Red Flag”

Use the federal $75-or-10% rule as the anchor. Contrast with the broker deposit-as-commission model from the case study. Give readers a decision tree: Is the deposit refundable? Applied to the final bill? Requested before a written estimate? Each answer maps to a specific risk level.