Movers vs. Brokers: Who You Are Actually Hiring
A mover owns the trucks and carries your goods; a broker is a middleman who arranges the job and may not transport it. Both must be registered with FMCSA for interstate moves, and a broker's estimate has to rest on the tariff of the mover who will actually do the work.
On this page
Why the difference matters
Plenty of businesses answer the phone as "a moving company" and never touch a truck. That is not automatically a problem. FMCSA, the federal agency that registers interstate household goods movers, sets separate rules for brokers. The problem comes when you do not know which one you hired, because the answer decides who gives you the estimate, who shows up with the truck, and whose paperwork you are signing.
The rules in this guide apply to interstate moves, meaning from one state to another. A move inside a single state is governed by state rules, so ask your state's consumer protection office what applies.
The two roles side by side
FMCSA's Movers vs. Brokers page lays out the comparison under four headings. This table follows that page.
| Moving company (mover) | Moving broker | |
|---|---|---|
| Trucks and crews | Owns trucks and employs moving staff | Does not own trucks or have professional movers |
| Responsibility | Assumes full responsibility for the transport of your goods | Acts as a middleman and is not authorized to transport goods |
| Estimates | Provides estimates based on its own tariff | Must base estimates on the tariff of the hired mover |
| Registration | Must have a USDOT number and be registered with FMCSA | Must be registered with FMCSA as a broker |
The same page adds that brokers for interstate moves may only use interstate movers that are registered with FMCSA. The Ready to Move brochure defines a broker as a company that arranges transportation using for-hire carriers, and says a broker "does not assume responsibility for the cargo and usually does not take possession of the cargo."
What FMCSA says a broker must do
If you are working with a broker, FMCSA's page says the broker must:
- Be registered with FMCSA.
- Give you the Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and the Ready to Move brochure.
- Give you a list of the moving companies it uses.
- Use only movers registered with FMCSA, under a written agreement.
- Base binding or non-binding estimates on the tariff of the mover that will transport your shipment.
- Show its physical business location, its MC number and its status as a broker in its advertisements.
- Have the mover that will transport the shipment perform a physical survey of your goods. The page adds that you can choose to waive this.
The federal rule on this is 49 CFR 375.409. It allows a broker to give an estimate only when there is a written agreement with the carrier adopting the broker's estimate as the carrier's own, and it tells the carrier it must still follow every estimate rule, including releasing your shipment when you pay no more than the delivery cap on a non-binding estimate.
How to tell which one you are talking to
The rights booklet says "a legitimate mover explains whether they are a broker or a mover," and its closing checklist says you should know which you are dealing with and whether they are registered. In practice:
- Ask directly: "Do you own the trucks, or do you arrange the move with another company?"
- Ask for the registered name and USDOT or MC number, then look both up in FMCSA's search tool. The USDOT number guide shows how.
- Ask for the list of movers the company uses, which a broker must give you.
- Look at the advertising. A broker's ads should state that it arranges moves and does not transport household goods.
- Ask which company will do the survey, load the truck and sign the bill of lading.
What changes when a broker is involved
Three things shift. The estimate comes from the broker but must follow the hired mover's tariff, so the mover's rates, not the broker's, set the price. The survey should be done by the mover that will transport your goods, unless you waive it. And your paperwork is with the mover: the booklet says a mover prepares the bill of lading, and the bill of lading must name the carrier, its USDOT number and its registered address.
As for claims, the booklet tells you to file a loss or damage claim in writing "to your mover or to your mover's third party company for claim processing." It does not describe filing a claim against a broker, and FMCSA's page says the mover assumes responsibility for transport. Before you book, ask the broker in writing who handles claims.
Worked example
Suppose you request quotes online for a move to another state and a company calls back with a price. Before you agree to anything, ask whether it is a mover or a broker. It says it arranges the move. You ask for its MC number and its list of movers, and you check the registration in FMCSA's search tool.
Next, ask which mover would carry your goods and who will survey your home. If a video walk-through is offered, confirm that the survey will be done by the carrying mover. Ask for the booklet and brochure in writing. Then check that the estimate names the hired mover and uses its tariff. Keep every message, because the bill of lading, not the first phone call, is your contract. Compare the result with the vet-a-mover checklist. The rights walk-through covers the paperwork that follows.
Questions people ask
Is a broker illegal?
The saved FMCSA pages do not call brokers illegal. They set out what a broker must do, such as registering and using only registered movers, so you can see who is doing what.
Should I avoid brokers entirely?
The saved FMCSA sources do not say either way. They say to know which you have and to check registration. The booklet advises avoiding any broker or mover that is not registered or that refuses a physical survey.
Where do I report a problem?
FMCSA's Protect Your Move site and its complaint line, 888-368-7238, take complaints. FMCSA says it cannot resolve claims for you, and this guide is not legal advice. For a dispute over damage or charges, see the booklet's arbitration section or ask an attorney.