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Mover vs broker: who will actually move your things?
Many companies that advertise “moving” are brokers. That is legal if they are registered, but you should know which one you are hiring. This page summarizes FMCSA’s own explanation (FMCSA, Movers vs Brokers, page updated April 27, 2026).
| Mover (household goods motor carrier) | Broker (household goods broker) | |
|---|---|---|
| Trucks and crew | Owns or operates trucks and employs the moving staff. | Owns no trucks. Acts as a middleman and books a mover for you. |
| Responsibility | Takes full responsibility for your shipment. | Is not authorized to transport your goods. |
| Estimates | Gives estimates based on its own tariff. | Must base any estimate on the tariff of the mover it hires, and have that mover do a physical survey (you can waive it). |
| Registration | Must have a USDOT number and FMCSA registration as a household goods carrier. | Must be registered with FMCSA as a broker. |
What a broker must do
- Give you FMCSA’s “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet and the “Ready to Move” brochure.
- Give you a list of the movers it uses, and use only FMCSA-registered movers with written agreements.
- Show its physical location, MC number and broker status in its ads.
How to tell which one you are talking to
- Ask for the USDOT and MC number, and ask directly: “Will your own trucks and crew do my move?”
- Look up the number in FMCSA’s mover search or SAFER. On SAFER, “Entity Type” shows CARRIER or BROKER, and operating authority shows “Motor Carrier of Household Goods” or “Broker of Household Goods”.
- If it is a broker, get the name and USDOT number of the actual mover, and check that one too.
Every company listed on this site has FMCSA household goods carrier authority (not broker-only) as of its last-checked date.
Last checked October 24, 2026 against FMCSA’s page.