How to Spot a Fake Moving Company Before You Hire?

Finding a moving company that can assist you with your relocation process is the first thing you do when you decide to shift your home. However, did you know that it's crucial to look out for warning signs while choosing a moving company for yourself in the US? Also, are you aware of what they are?

Let's take a closer look at all these indicators. Assuming you are relocating within the United States, you will require the services of a professional and the top movers in the country. When choosing a mover, the first thing you should look for is whether the mover has the appropriate U.S. Department of Transportation license or not.

To demonstrate its legality, it needs also hold a license issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). There is a good probability that you may become a victim of a moving scam if you do not verify the legality of your mover.

For this reason, while selecting a moving company, you should consider the following factors to make sure the organization is legitimate. Just ten to fifteen minutes will be needed to verify a mover's legal status. This security check will help you avoid major problems later on.

Top Things to Keep in Mind When Hiring a Mover in the US

Finding a legitimate moving company that can handle your relocation process easily is not a difficult task if you know what things you need to keep in mind when hiring them. Here are some of the excellent tips that you must consider before hiring professionals.

Tip 1: Things that make a mover genuine

If a moving company is legal, then it must have a license and registration number allotted by either the State Department of Transportation the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or both. You must check for the same when you are about to hire a moving company in the US for your shifting process. Do ensure that the local moving companies must be licensed by the State Department of Transportation within the state in which they operate. Remember, the in-state movers are not allowed to operate outside the boundaries of the state of origin. The interstate movers are allowed to do so but they must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Make sure to check these licenses before hiring them.

Tip 2: The USDOT number

The interstate moving company always receives a USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) number, which is a unique identification number assigned by the U.S. Government to every state-vise moving company. With the help of this number, it becomes easier to track the moves of the company and maintain the safety records accordingly. Government can keep a record of registration status, inspections, crash investigations, ratings, reviews, and much more. This will help you in identifying the authenticity of the moving company. If a company holds a USDOT number, then it must also be registered with FMCSA and thus, you can trust it as it is completely genuine. This implies that the company confirms the strict federal regulations, follows all the laws related to safety, and is adequately insured. A valid USDOT number is demanded across 38 states in the US for operations within the state.

Tip 3: Make sure your movers are insured and licensed

Before hiring any professional moving company, make sure to check that it is properly insured and licensed. The movers need to be BBB (Better Business Bureau)-accredited. Thus, you can easily check the status of the company by simply looking for it on its official website. With the help of this, you will be easily able to decide whether to trust a random company or not. In short, make sure to check the BBB rating of the company along with their business card, online customer reviews, business details, customer complaints, and much more.

Tip 4: Things you must check when hiring interstate movers

Amidst the pool of interstate moving companies, you need to check a few things to ensure the legitimacy of the movers before hiring them. For this, you must check their USDOT number, their registration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and their address as well as other details of the moving companies before hiring them. To check the company’s authenticity, you can open the official website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and search for the company name on the website. Check the details properly including the company name, address, phone number, USDOT number, MC number, etc. You can also check the safety and insurance data of the movers. You will also get other information including fleet size, complaint history, safety ratings, and more.

Tip 5: Things you must check when hiring intrastate (local) movers

State-specific regulations determine the legitimacy of the local movers. It's possible that operating lawfully in some US states does not require a current USDOT number. To find out if the business has a legitimate USDOT number, follow the verification procedure outlined in point number 4. If no information is available, get in touch with your state's Department of Transportation. They will inform you of the license status of a moving firm that does not have a USDOT number. To find out the legal details of the moving company you are choosing, you can also get in touch with the State Movers Association of that state.

In conclusion

Doing thorough research on the moving company you plan to choose is extremely crucial. Do keep in mind all of the above-mentioned pointers before hiring the best movers in the US.