What Is There to Know About Moving Permits?

Are thinking of starting a moving company? Well, that’s certainly a sound decision considering there’s an incredibly high demand for services of moving companies. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about that part, and from this point of you, your business has every chance to be successful. However, you do have a long way to go, as you would at the beginning of any other business. One of the very first things you need to take care of when starting a moving company is licensing. You need to obtain all the necessary moving permits a company needs to transport people’s belongings from one place to another. While it may seem complicated at first, considering that the moving industry is heavily-regulated, Verified Movers are here to show that the whole process is much easier than you may think. So, let’s see what you need to know about moving permits.

Why does a moving company need a permit?

Well, we mentioned already that this whole industry is monitored closely. And, it’s the way it is because possible damages are huge. Maybe there wouldn’t be so many moving company regulations if fraudulent movers didn’t exist. However, when you have certain individuals who are taking advantage of their customers, you need to find a way to deal with it as efficiently as possible. So, the protection of customers is the main reason companies need moving permits, and rightly so. Although, there are some exceptions to this rule which we’ll discuss later on.

Things to do before you start the process of obtaining moving permits

A moving company, is, of course, regulated by certain agencies, and needs its permits. However, before you, as a company owner, obtain such licenses, you need to register your business in general. This is one of the reasons why starting a moving company from scratch can feel like a long process. So, first of all, you need to have state licenses for conducting any kind of business. Only then can you turn to obtaining moving permits. When it comes to general business licenses, each state has its own agency that regulates this matter. Usually, this is done at the Secretary of State’s office in the state where your business would be registered, but make sure to double-check before you jump into that process.

Moving permits

Now, let’s jump straight to the point and start talking about the necessary permits to start a moving company. The agency you need to get in touch with depends on the nature of your business. To be precise, it depends on the distance you’re intending to help people move across. We have local, long distance, cross country, and international moving companies. All of them are, in most cases, differently regulated, so let’s take a look.

Local and long distance (intrastate) moving companies

If you’re planning on operating locally, there really won’t be much for you to do. Local companies are usually operating within one metro area, so, in most cases, you’re only going to need a state license. The same goes for long distance moving companies that are transporting people from one city in a certain state to another, but without leaving the state borders. We can’t tell you which institution to contact here, since we don’t know where you’re planning on operating, and it’s a different agency for each and every state. Let’s take Colorado as an example. Top movers in Colorado Springs, Denver, etc., who are moving people locally, or within the Centennial State, have to be registered at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. That’s about it for local and long distance moving companies.

Also, bear in mind that some states do not require moving companies to be licensed, at least not by the state authorities. These states are:

1. Alaska
2. Arizona
3. Delaware
4. DC
5. Maine
6. Maryland
7. Rhode Island
8. South Dakota
9. Utah
10. Vermont

Interstate (cross country) moving companies

Every company that’s transporting people’s belongings beyond the borders of one state is regulated by federal authorities. We call these companies interstate or cross country moving companies and they are registered at the US Department of Transportation. Upon registering here, you will receive a unique USDOT number. Then, you need to register at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can register there by providing insurance, a bond, and a USDOT number. This agency implements safety measures for commercial motor vehicles, to improve the safety of both carriers and customers.

Once you complete the registration process, we also advise you to keep an eye on FMCSA updates so you can always be up to date. Obtaining licenses is a bit more complicated for interstate moving companies than intrastate ones, but nevertheless, once you have a clear plan of what to do, it’s easily doable.

International moving companies

Finally, if you’re thinking of running an international business by helping people relocate overseas, here’s what you need to know. You can obtain your moving permits at the Federal Maritime Commission. This agency ensures competitive and reliable ocean transportation internationally. And, of course, tries its best to protect the customers from any kind of scam.

Be careful and patient when obtaining moving permits since it’s important not to overlook something

Now you know a lot more about moving permits and which ones should you obtain to start your business. Of course, keep in mind that this was only a brief guide and that you should do your research as well. Details really matter when it comes to business licenses, especially moving permits. So, always be on the lookout to ensure that everything is submitted properly. It’s really worth it considering that you’ll be free to grow your business as soon as you finish dealing with licenses.