ALL MY SONS 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 and go to the FMCSA's
Web Site, 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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