When moving across state lines, this is known as an interstate move.
Moving is stressful enough with packing boxes and preparing to move, but a domestic move requires more. It’s important to know that there are requirements that 918kiss interstate movers must follow. When crossing state lines, each state has its own guidelines. Movers that move households from one state to another are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and are required by law to do the following:
- Include the US Department of Transportation (DOT) number in all advertising. Your DOT number is also the identifier of the company that owns the truck and collects and monitors the mover’s safety information gathered during audits, accident investigations, compliance reviews and inspections.
- Obtain a license from the FMCSA
- Offer an arbitration mechanism if a customer’s complaint cannot be resolved amicably. The FMCSA has no authority to adjudicate any claims against interstate movers. However, if a problem arises, the customer can file a complaint against the company by calling the FMSCA
- Homeowners must be given a leaflet entitled ‘Your rights and responsibilities when moving’ so that they are informed before the move begins.
- Allow homeowners to view the list of fees and rates
- Provide the customer with an accurate summary of complaint handling procedures, including a phone number
Interstate movers charge their customers a price based on the item being moved. Therefore, to cut costs, you should try to get rid of things you don’t need before contacting a moving company. If you’re moving for the first time, don’t hire the first company you see on the internet or in the phone book. You should get quotes from at least three different companies. You need to check their reputation and reliability.
When interviewing movers in person or over the phone, consider asking the following questions.
- How long have you been in business as a company?
- Make sure they are properly licensed and insured
- You should check that the DOT number is correctly placed.
- Does the company outsource its work to other moving companies? If you choose to hire the company you are interviewing, you don’t want to find out that another mover you don’t know about is moving your household items.
- Does the mover take extra precautions to protect fragile items from damage during the move?
- Do they offer the option to take out insurance to cover damage to your household items beyond a preset amount?
