Moving is a stressful experience even under the best of circumstances. Moving can be emotionally and physically draining. Quite frankly, moving all of one’s possessions is inconvenient and exhausting. Consumers can reduce the amount of emotional, mental and physical stress related to moving by planning ahead and hiring reputable, professional movers.
Peak moving season in the United States occurs between Memorial Day and Labor Day when many families throughout the country are moving. Due to the increase in demand, summer rates for moving services are much higher in comparison to off-season. Along with the increase in consumer demand for moving services during the summer months is an increase in criminal activity. Consumers can avoid becoming a victim of moving fraud by ensuring the moving company is legitimate and reputable. Following is information you should be aware of when hiring moving services.
The United States Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “FMCSA” regulates moving companies crossing state lines. Companies operating commercial vehicles that haul cargo, including moving companies, in interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number. The legal name or trade name of the business entity and USDOT Number must be prominently displayed on the driver’s side door. Moving companies operating without authority are operating illegally; checking a moving company’s operating authority is as simple as visiting http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/.
Most states, including Florida, regulate the moving industry. Whether moving locally or to another county in Florida, ensure the moving company you hire is licensed with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Each of the mover’s vehicles must display on the driver’s side door “Fla. Mover Reg. No. ____” or “Fla. IM No. ____”; checking a moving company’s license status is as simple as visiting https://csapp.800helpfla.com/cspublicapp/businesssearch/businesssearch.aspx
Most consumers move infrequently and are unaware of the cost of moving services. The cost for a long-distance move is primarily determined by the weight of the shipment (household goods) and distance with additional services.
