A moving agent is not a moving agent. An agent does not assume responsibility nor is he authorized to transport your household items. The best and easiest way to determine if a company is a moving agency or a moving company is to check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Enter the USDOT number or company name in the search and look at the type of entity.
Moving agents are intermediaries between the moving household and the moving companies. Brokers aren't the real movers, and they usually don't own trucks or moving teams or have professional movers. They offer the convenience of finding a moving company and are sellers who sell the move. Program participants who move on their own often believe that they have contacted a moving company for a quote and, once the move is complete, they discover that they were working with an agent who sold their move to a moving company. Many learn that they were working with a broker after filing their expense report and find that some of their expenses are not refundable.
A moving agent organizes the transportation of your shipment, but does not provide line transportation. While a household goods removal company transports your shipment, a moving agency is a company that organizes the transportation of your cargo, using contracted carriers to handle the transportation by truck. The best and easiest way to find out if you're working with an agent or a moving company is to ask. However, there are also other ways to research any company you plan to work with.
You won't know who your moving companies are, you may not get accurate quotes and you may end up with additional fees or poor quality service. As evidenced by customer testimonials posted on the web, one of the main disadvantages of using a broker is that not all brokerage agencies adequately vet the moving companies in their networks. Being informed helps you avoid scams, better plan your move and enjoy a more efficient and excellent relocation. Moving agents have relationships with several moving companies and will hire whoever accepts the offer for the position.
Carriers generally offer greater responsibility, since you deal directly with the company that is in charge of your move. For people looking for help with a business move, it's important to take extra precautions when working with movers and movers. Moving companies accept it, thinking it's a small job, only to discover that it's a whole family of things. Moving agents may also request large deposits or full payment before the day of the move, which is not typical of professional moving companies.
Regardless of whether customers choose a broker or moving company to make the move, they should always research the company's credibility and reputation online by consulting with the Better Business Bureau and the FMCSA. If your customers aren't moving on their own, there are two ways they can hire a moving company to handle the move. Working with a licensed moving company in Georgia, such as USA Family Moving, gives you control, protection and, in general, a better moving experience. Usually, movers give estimates of a move over the phone or online and collect payments from the person moving. Many legitimate moving companies and moving agencies work with customers to carry out long-distance removals.
In addition to verifying that you work with a legitimate moving company, be sure to take steps to protect your business documents and all of the company's electronic devices at home before the business move. While reaching an agreement with a moving company can give more confidence when moving, since the company can be held responsible for anything that goes wrong with a move, additional fees must be taken into account when hiring a professional moving company, including additional valuation coverage of the merchandise; additional services, such as preparing appliances for the move or moving a piano; and additional charges, such as urgent services and long-distance charges.
