Looking for a moving company?
Make sure you’re not accidentally hiring moving brokers.
Transferring everything you own from one location to another can be a strenuous task. It’s no wonder that many households opt to hire a moving company to help with the heavy lifting (literally!).
Instead of getting a moving company, however, many of these families will actually end up signing a contract with a moving broker without even realizing it.
In this article, we’ll talk about what a moving broker is and why you should do your best to steer clear of them.
What Is a Moving Broker?
Moving brokers are not the same as a licensed mover!
A broker is a middleman who gathers your information (and your money) and in turn hires a third party to perform the work for you. Unlike a moving company, brokers are not licensed to transport cargo, don’t own their own trucks, and don’t have a team of trained movers.
Instead, the staff members are salespeople who then sell your job to a moving company who is responsible for the actual move.
Risks of Moving Brokers
“So what if they’re a broker? As long as someone shows up on moving day, I’m satisfied!”
The problem is that you don’t know who will show up!
Moving brokers have relationships with multiple moving companies and will hire whoever accepts the bid for the job. (You will not get a say in this decision.) If the broker can’t find a mover who is willing or able to accept the job, you may be left without a mover at all.
Even if the moving company does show up, there is still so much that can go wrong. For example, if the brokers were dishonest or sloppy when collecting details about your move, the moving company could end up increasing the final cost.
Shady moving brokers have been known to give a rock-bottom estimate to draw in customers. The movers accept it, thinking it’s a small job, only to find out that it’s an entire household of things. They then need to collect more money to pay for the extra time and labor (and rightfully so!), leaving the customer feeling duped.
Remember, it’s the moving company—not the moving brokers—who are responsible for your move. If issues arise, each of them will blame the other, with no accountability taken for the wrongdoing.
While it is possible to have a good experience with a moving broker, the risks are not worth the so-called convenience.
How To Identify a Moving Broker
While some entities are upfront about being moving brokers, others use slick salesmen and flashy websites to trick you into thinking they are legitimate moving companies.
How can you tell the difference?
The best and easiest way to determine if a company is a moving broker or a moving company is to verify with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Enter the USDOT number or company name into the search and look at the Entity Type.
A moving company will be listed as “CARRIER” while a broker will be listed as “BROKER.” Occasionally, you may see a business listed as both (i.e. “CARRIER/BROKER”). If you decide to hire them, you will want to first verify whether your move will be brokered.
Move Safely
Relocating is a process that’s already rife with uncertainties. Who you’re entrusting with your personal belongings shouldn’t be one of them.
As a full-service moving company, Cento Moving & Storage is fully licensed to pack, move, and store your belongings. We own our own trucks, hire and train our crew, and write up estimates ourselves, so you’ll always know exactly who you’ll be working with during your move.
Furthermore, we are experienced at moving across state lines and specialize in long-distance moves.
Your family’s belongings are simply too precious to entrust to complete strangers. Before you sign a contract, make sure you hire a moving company, not a moving broker, and do the work of vetting them beforehand so you know exactly what to expect.
Looking to move? Cento Moving & Storage can help! Read some reviews from our satisfied customers and then call for your free quote.
