Moving Companies and Moving Brokers – What’s the difference?

If you’re preparing for a move, selecting the right option among the numerous moving companies available can be quite challenging. As you start your search for the ideal service, you’ll encounter a crucial decision: moving companies versus moving brokers. To assist you in making an informed choice, let’s explore the pros and cons of each!

Moving Companies vs. Moving Brokers – Key Differences

When it comes to moving brokers, it’s important to understand that these are not moving companies in the traditional sense. They don’t employ staff to handle the physical relocation or own and maintain any vehicles. Instead, their role is to coordinate with various moving companies to help you find the right one for your needs. Essentially, moving brokers act as intermediaries, obtaining quotes from different moving companies for you.

However, industry statistics indicate that opting for a broker doesn’t always guarantee a better deal. There are some less reputable brokers who may not offer the best service.

On the other hand, moving companies – or carriers, as they are sometimes called – are fully equipped to handle your move. These companies have their own staff and fleets of vehicles. Although hiring a moving company directly may be more expensive, it often provides a more transparent process, even if you need to invest a bit more effort to find the right one.

Moving Brokers

As established, moving brokers do not run the relocation process themselves. Instead, they serve as middlemen between you and moving companies. While this might seem unnecessary at first, brokers can offer benefits and drawbacks similar to moving companies.

Why Choose Brokers

One of the primary advantages of using moving brokers is convenience. Depending on the complexity of your move, you might need to hire multiple moving companies, each offering different services. Handling this on your own can be cumbersome. Brokers can manage these logistics for you by coordinating with various moving companies.

Moreover, moving brokers often facilitate competition among moving companies, which can result in significant discounts for you. This can be beneficial for moving companies seeking to expand their customer base, and for you as a client, it could mean cost savings.

However, while this all sounds appealing in theory, there are practical drawbacks to consider.

Why Avoid Brokers

The choice between moving brokers and moving companies isn’t straightforward. Brokers may seem advantageous in theory, but their business model can have significant shortcomings in practice.

There are numerous irresponsible or fraudulent brokers who are more interested in quick profits than in providing honest services. These brokers might engage in practices such as holding your goods hostage or advertising misleading prices. To avoid falling victim to such scams, it is crucial to verify the credibility of brokers, which can be done through the FMCSA website database.

Moving Companies

Now let’s turn to moving companies. These are the traditional movers you envision when you think about relocation. As discussed, moving companies have their own vehicles, staff, and often offer online quote calculators. This setup typically provides a more straightforward and consistent experience compared to using a broker.

Why Choose Moving Companies

In the context of moving companies versus moving brokers, choosing a moving company directly generally offers a more seamless experience. From your initial contact to the final stage of your move, everything is handled by one entity. This reduces the risk of miscommunication and ensures that you know exactly whom to contact if issues arise.

Why Avoid Moving Companies

Despite their advantages, moving companies are not without limitations. Unlike brokers, which can source services from various providers, individual moving companies may have a more restricted service portfolio. For instance, a local moving company might not offer additional services such as in-house cleaning or vehicle shipping.

Conclusion

Deciding between moving brokers and moving companies involves weighing various factors related to your specific needs. We hope this overview helps you consider all the relevant aspects to make the best choice for your move.