Know the Key Players of the Moving Industry

There are a lot of things that consumers may not know about the moving industry that may be helpful to them as they begin planning for their relocation.

Probably one of the biggest misconceptions is that the industry is unregulated and filled with unscrupulous companies. In fact, there are thousands of companies, large and small, that provide quality customer service. At the federal level, the industry is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Moving companies are also regulated and licensed according to the guidelines established by the state in which you’re moving.

More than 450,000 people, operating over 100,000 pieces of moving equipment and trucks, work for the moving industry. The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), which has more than 3,800 members, acts as an advocate for consumers and works with its members to maintain high professional standards.

The industry consists of four primary groups:

Van lines. There are approximately 25 van lines that provide moving services to the public through an agency system. Many van lines have been in business for many years and have moved tens of thousands of people. The companies are usually large and provide a full scope of services across the continental United States and, in many cases, around the world. Each company is owned and operated separately, with a corporate structure that may include both public and private companies. Among the largest van lines in the U.S. are United Van Lines and Mayflower Van Lines (both owned by Unigroup), and Allied Van Lines and North American Van Lines (both owned by Sirva, Inc). Others include Atlas Van Lines, Bekins Van Lines and Wheaton Van Lines.

Van line agents. There are approximately 4,500 van line agents, which operate as independent companies and provide interstate moving services by acting as agents of a van line company. Agents can function from a single office or a large, national structure. They agree to certain quality guidelines established by the van lines in order to operate under their licensing authority. Many agents have long histories in their communities and have been family owned and operated for generations. Because they’re part of a van line, you can be confident that there’s a high degree of checks and balances built into their policies and services.

Independent or full-service carriers. These independent carriers provide moving services to the public without having a van line affiliation. There are more than 1,200 independent moving companies providing interstate service under their own licenses and more than 5,000 offering only intrastate service. Many of these independent companies can provide you a high degree of personal service, which could include direct involvement in your move by the company owners. However, due to the lack of affiliation with a van line, there is a higher degree of risk associated with an independent moving company. Do some additional research to ensure that their level of service and experience can meet your expectations.

Owner/operators (independent contractors). These people and companies who own and drive the moving tractors that are responsible for transporting, loading and unloading the trailers they pull. Today, there are over 30,000 owner/operators in the moving industry.

How you interact with the various industry players will be based on your particular move needs, the services you require and your budget. With careful research, you can find companies that will provide quality service.