Choosing a long distance moving company is one of the most consequential decisions in your whole move. The right company makes it easy. The wrong one can hold your belongings hostage, add fees at delivery, or disappear entirely.
Here's what to actually look for — and what to avoid.
1. Verify Their USDOT Number
Any company legally allowed to move your belongings across state lines must have a USDOT number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This is non-negotiable.
Look up any mover you're considering at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. You want to see:
- Active operating authority (not revoked or suspended)
- Cargo insurance on file
- A physical address that matches what they tell you
- A complaint history you can review
2. Understand Who Is Actually Moving You
There are two types of companies that answer when you search for movers:
- Carriers — own their trucks and employ their crew. They do the actual move.
- Brokers — take your money and sell your job to whatever carrier accepts it. They never touch your belongings.
Brokers are legal, but they add a layer of uncertainty. The carrier who ends up with your job is whoever accepted the lowest bid — not necessarily who you'd choose. If something goes wrong, the broker often disappears.
Always ask: "Are you a carrier or a broker?" Get the answer in writing.
3. Demand a Binding Quote
There are three types of moving estimates:
| Type | What It Means | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Non-binding | A guess. Final price can be higher. | High |
| Binding | Fixed price. Can't change at delivery. | Low |
| Binding not-to-exceed | Price can only go down, never up. | Lowest |
Never accept a non-binding estimate for a long distance move. The most common scam in the industry is a low non-binding quote that balloons at delivery — then your belongings are held until you pay.
4. Get Everything in Writing
Before any money changes hands, you should have in writing:
- The binding price and what it includes
- Pickup and delivery window dates
- What happens if the mover misses the window
- The cargo protection coverage amount
- Any additional service fees (stairs, long carries, shuttle)
5. Check Reviews — But Read Them Carefully
Google reviews are your best source. Look for:
- Recent reviews (within the last year)
- Mentions of on-time pickup and delivery
- How the company handles complaints in responses
- A consistent pattern — one bad review among 100 good ones is noise; 10 bad reviews about the same issue is a pattern
6. Red Flags to Walk Away From
- No physical address or a P.O. box only
- Unusually low quotes — significantly below every other estimate
- Pressure to pay a large deposit immediately
- Won't provide USDOT number
- The quote changes significantly after they "see your stuff"
- Demands full payment before delivery
- No written contract — just a verbal agreement
7. Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- Are you a licensed carrier or a broker?
- What is your USDOT number?
- Is this a binding or non-binding estimate?
- Who specifically will be driving my belongings?
- What cargo protection is included?
- What is the pickup and delivery window?
- Are there any fees not included in this quote?
A good mover answers all of these without hesitation. Evasive answers to any of them are a signal to keep looking.