Carrier

"A licensed and registered moving company that owns the trucks, employs the drivers, and physically moves your goods. Distinguished from a broker."

Why it matters

The carrier is who shows up on moving day, loads your stuff, drives it, and unloads it at the destination. Federal law requires every interstate carrier to register with FMCSA and display a USDOT number on their trucks and paperwork. You can look up any carrier by USDOT number at fmcsa.dot.gov to see their complaint history, insurance status, and inspection record.

A reputable carrier has been operating for years under the same name, has a physical address you can visit, has positive reviews across multiple platforms, and is willing to provide a binding estimate after an in-home survey.

Best practices

Always work directly with a carrier rather than a broker for an interstate move. Verify the USDOT number on FMCSA before signing any contract. Read the FMCSA complaint history; carriers with patterns of damage or non-delivery complaints will repeat that pattern with you.

Frequently asked

How do I tell a real carrier from a broker?

Ask directly. A real carrier owns trucks and will tell you. Look up their USDOT number at fmcsa.dot.gov; it lists 'Operating Authority' as 'Common Carrier' for real carriers. Brokers are listed as 'Broker' authority only. The carrier's website usually has photos of their trucks at their physical yard.