Know who you're hiring before you hire them

Carrier vs. broker

A carrier transports your household goods with its own trucks and crews and holds the operating authority for the move it performs. A broker arranges for a separate carrier to perform the move and does not transport goods itself. Some companies operate as both.

Neither model is inherently better, but they carry different responsibilities. If you book with a broker, the company that arrives on moving day may not be the company you first spoke to. Ask directly: who will physically perform this move, and under whose authority?

Verifying a company yourself

• Ask for the legal company name, DBA, USDOT number and MC number.
• Look those up independently rather than trusting a screenshot or a website badge.
• Ask whether the company is acting as a carrier or a broker for your specific move.
• Get written estimates and read what is and isn't included.
• Ask how claims are handled and what valuation coverage applies.
• Be cautious about large deposits demanded before anything is written down.

Official resources

For interstate household moves, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes consumer guidance and a company lookup tool at Protect Your Move. Requirements for moves within a single state vary, so also check your state's regulator.

How MoveBird handles your information

• Your request is only shared after you accept a plain-language consent disclosure.
• Until a company unlocks your request, it sees only a masked preview — metro areas, approximate date, home size, inventory summary and requested services.
• After an unlock, only that company sees your name, phone, email and full move details.
• You can deactivate your request at any time from your dashboard.

What MoveBird is not

MoveBird is a lead-generation technology platform. MoveBird is not a moving company or a household-goods broker, does not provide transportation estimates, and does not arrange, book, or select movers on your behalf.

MoveBird does not guarantee, endorse, certify, or insure any moving company. Always independently evaluate a company and verify applicable licensing or registration before hiring.

Verification status on MoveBird reflects a review of business information a company submitted. It is not a certification, a license check substitute, a guarantee of quality, or a recommendation. Always evaluate companies independently.