The New York Times has an article today on interstate moving: Hire Interstate Movers Without Getting Scammed
The writer uncritically recommends checking out your mover on the Better Business Bureau site, which is not that helpful in reality. Far better to consult with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website AND also the attorney general's complaint hotline in your own state and in the home state for the carriers (note the plural) you are considering.
For example, you can search for moving company' complaints reported to the Oregon AG on her website.
NEVER rely just on a BBB check or just on the moving company's own website or its claims about testimonials from past customers.
Here's an old post from this blog that I think still holds up pretty well:Planning an interstate move? Read this before you contact ANY moving companies.
Here's the best tip from the NY Times article:
The writer uncritically recommends checking out your mover on the Better Business Bureau site, which is not that helpful in reality. Far better to consult with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website AND also the attorney general's complaint hotline in your own state and in the home state for the carriers (note the plural) you are considering.
For example, you can search for moving company' complaints reported to the Oregon AG on her website.
NEVER rely just on a BBB check or just on the moving company's own website or its claims about testimonials from past customers.
Here's an old post from this blog that I think still holds up pretty well:Planning an interstate move? Read this before you contact ANY moving companies.
Here's the best tip from the NY Times article:
Vet the moving companies
Once you have a list of recommendations, look deeper into each one. You will need the company’s name, its U.S. Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) number and its Motor Carrier (M.C.) number. If they’re missing either number, cross them off the list — it means they’re not licensed to move property across state lines.
Search the company using their M.C. number or D.O.T. number at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website. The results will show you whether the company is a carrier, broker or freight forwarder. A carrier is a company that you hire directly to move your goods, while a broker will hire a carrier for you, usually for a fee. A freight forwarder takes responsibility for your goods, but will use one or more carriers to move them, sometimes consolidating smaller moves into one larger truckload.
Beyond understanding what kind of company you’re using, the safety administration website will give you the company’s most recent safety rating and insurance data, as well as the number and type of complaints that have been filed against the company in recent years. There are 14 different complaint categories, including loss and damage, weight disputes and holding goods hostage. While it’s common for a company to have a few complaints, beware of numerous complaints about delays in delivery and repeated loss and damage claims.
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