{{Short description|Business that provides packing and moving services for relocation}} {{pp-semi|small=yes}} {{redirect|Removalist|the 1970s Australian play and movie|The Removalists}} {{redirect|Removals|the Polish TV series|Removals (TV series)}} {{refimprove|date=May 2017}} [[Image:Julien Demenagement 1876.jpg|thumb|right|Early movers in [[Montréal, Québec]] 1876]] [[Image:Alex Pickering van.jpg|thumb|Movers in [[Salt Lake City]], 1911]] [[Image:Britannia movers appleyard and sons truck.jpg|thumb|Removalists in [[England]], 1930]] [[Image:Umzugslift.jpg|thumb|Moving van and lift, [[Germany]], 2007]]
A '''moving company''', also known as a '''removalist''' or '''van line''', is a company that specializes in assisting individuals and businesses with relocating their goods from one location to another. Moving companies may offer additional or all-inclusive services for relocations, like packing, loading, moving, unloading, unpacking, and arranging of items to be shifted. Additional services may include cleaning services for houses, offices or warehousing facilities.
==Overview== According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], in 2007, 40 million United States citizens had moved annually over the previous decade.<ref>{{cite news| title=The Movers Are Here. Have You Done Your Homework? | work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/business/yourmoney/29move.html | access-date=2008-12-07 | first=Susan | last=Stellin | date=2007-07-29}}</ref> Of these movers, 84.5% relocated within their own state, 12.5% moved to another state, and 2.3% moved to another country.<ref>{{cite web | title = American Moving & Storage Association -- Industry Fact Sheet | website = [[American Moving & Storage Association]] | publisher = American Moving & Storage Association | url = http://www.promover.org/files/forms/industry_fact_sheet.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307162615/http://www.promover.org/files/forms/industry_fact_sheet.pdf|url-status=dead | access-date = May 9, 2015| date=2012| archive-date = 2016-03-07 }}</ref>
The U.S. Department of Defense is the largest household goods shipper in the world, with the Personal Property Program accounting for 20% of all moves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gresik |first=Dylan |last2=Shane III |first2=Leo |date=2020-03-20 |title=Sudden halt on military moves due to coronavirus could cripple industry, officials warn |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/03/20/sudden-halt-on-military-moves-due-to-coronavirus-could-cripple-industry-officials-warn/ |access-date=2020-12-11 |website=Military Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
A 2020 OnePoll survey showed that 64% of participants consider their recent move to be one of the most stressful events they have ever encountered.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-30 |title=Americans say moving is more stressful than divorce, having children, survey claims |url=https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/americans-moving-more-stressful-survey |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=foxnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Pricing and services ==
=== United States and Canada === In the U.S. and Canada, the cost for long-distance moves is generally determined by several factors:
* Weight of the items to be moved * Distance between the original and new location * Speed of the move * Timing of the move, including the specific time of year or month
Some movers also offer consolidated shipping, which reduces costs by transporting several clients' items in the same shipment.
=== United Kingdom and Australia === In the United Kingdom and Australia, the price is based on the volume of the items rather than their weight. Some movers may offer [[flat rate]] pricing based on the number of rooms or bedrooms.<ref>{{cite web |title=How much does it cost for removals |url=https://www.britannia-movers.co.uk/faqs/how-much-does-it-cost-for-removals |website=Britannia Movers International |publisher=BMI |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
== DIY moving == The use of truck rental services, or simply borrowing similar hardware, is referred to as [[do-it-yourself|DIY]] moving. Individuals or families may rent a [[truck]] or [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] large enough to transport their household goods. They may also acquire moving equipment such as dollies, furniture pads, and cargo belts to facilitate the move and protect their belongings.
== Packing and materials == The moving process also involves finding or buying materials such as boxes, paper, tape, and bubble wrap with which to pack boxable and/or protect fragile household goods and to consolidate the carrying and stacking on moving day. Self-service moving companies offer another viable option: the person moving buys space on one or more trailers or [[shipping container]]s. These containers are then driven by professionals to the new location.
== Legal regulations == The moving industry is governed by a dual framework of jurisdictional oversight designed to prevent [[Moving scam|unlicensed operations]] and ensure consumer safety. These regulations vary significantly based on whether a move is performed within a single state consider Intra-state , not to be confused with Interstate which is considered across state lines (interstate), or internationally.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the difference between interstate commerce and intrastate commerce? |url=https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/what-difference-between-interstate-commerce-and-intrastate-commerce |website=Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |publisher=FMCSA |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
=== United States === In the United States, oversight is divided between federal and state agencies. Interstate moves are regulated by the [[Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration]] (FMCSA), which mandates that carriers obtain a unique [https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/do-i-need-usdot-number#:~:text=Between%20a%20place%20in%20a%20State%20and%20a%20place%20outside%20of%20such%20State%20(including%20a%20place%20outside%20of%20the%20United%20States)%3B USDOT number] and provide consumers with standardized documentation, such as the "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Protect Your Move |url=https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move |access-date=2026-01-19 |publisher=FMCSA}}</ref>
==== State-level oversight ==== Intrastate moves are governed by state-specific agencies, such as a Department of Transportation or a Public Utility Commission. While specific requirements vary by jurisdiction, most states utilize a standardized model for household goods (HHG) carriers:
* '''Licensing:''' Most jurisdictions require a "Common Carrier Certificate" or a state-specific permit. For example, in [[Louisiana]], the [[Louisiana Public Service Commission]] (LPSC) requires a certificate under La. R.S. 45:164(E), while in [[Texas]], movers must register with the [[Texas Department of Motor Vehicles]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Revised Statute 45:164 |url=https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=99915 |access-date=2026-01-19 |publisher=Louisiana State Legislature}}</ref> * '''Financial Security:''' Regulators typically mandate public liability (Form E) and cargo insurance (Form H). Minimum requirements often include specific liability thresholds and a mandatory [[surety bond]], such as the $5,000 bond enforced in Louisiana to protect against [[Unfair business practice|unfair trade practices]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Application for Household Goods Carriers (Form T-77) |url=https://www.lpsc.louisiana.gov/docs/trans/T-77-Household-Goods-Carrier-Packet-Sept-2019.pdf |access-date=2026-01-19 |publisher=Louisiana Public Service Commission}}</ref> * '''Advertising Compliance:''' To assist in identifying "rogue movers," many states require the display of license credentials in all marketing. Under LPSC General Order R-30507, carriers must list their legal name and certificate number on all websites and invoices.<ref name="CredentialProof">{{cite web |title=Regulatory Credentials and Licensing Compliance |url=https://atmospheremovers.com/questions-and-answers/ |access-date=2026-01-19 |publisher=Atmosphere Movers |quote=LPSC #6892-B; USDOT #1043891}}</ref>
=== International variations === In '''Canada''', moving services are regulated at the provincial level through consumer protection acts to prohibit "hostage load" tactics. In the '''United Kingdom''' and '''Australia''', movers (often called "removalists") must adhere to national fair trading laws and transport safety standards.<ref>{{cite web |title=About BAR |url=https://bar.co.uk/ |website=British Association of Removers |publisher=BAR |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Manual handling of loads]] * [[Moving scam]] * [[Relocation service]] * [[Structure relocation]] * [[Relocation (personal)]]
==References== {{reflist}}{{wikibooks|Packing & Moving Household Goods}}
{{Movers}} {{Real estate}} {{Trucking industry in the United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moving Company}} [[Category:Moving and relocation]] [[Category:Moving companies| ]] [[Category:Truck rental]] [[Category:Mobile businesses]]