Of the 83 household-goods movers on record in Alaska, 34 (41%) have no federal interstate operating authority. That's from MovePricer's analysis of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data, compiled October 24, 2026. These companies may only move you within Alaska. Across the country the share is 31.9% (12,031 of 37,681 movers on record), and Alaska ranks 11th of 51 on this measure.
This doesn't mean those companies are doing anything wrong. A mover that only works inside Alaska doesn't need federal authority. It becomes a problem when your belongings are leaving the state.
The numbers
- 83 household-goods movers on record with an Alaska business address
- 37 with active federal household-goods operating authority
- 34 limited to in-state moves (41%), compared with 31.9% nationally
- Rank: 11th of 51
Source: FMCSA licensing and insurance, revocation and out-of-service datasets (data.transportation.gov), compiled by MovePricer on 2026-10-24.
Why crossing a state line changes everything
FMCSA enforces federal consumer-protection rules for household moves that cross state lines. Moves that stay inside one state fall under state law. Interstate moving companies need FMCSA authority to do this work, and they have to follow federal rules on estimates and on releasing your goods.
In many parts of the country, a short trip across town can cross a state line, so a local move turns out to be an interstate one. Alaska has no neighboring-state suburbs, so the rule here is simpler. A move from Alaska to anywhere else in the U.S. is interstate. A move from Anchorage to Fairbanks or Juneau is intrastate, even though it's hundreds of miles. Distance doesn't decide it. Crossing a state line does. If you're relocating to Seattle or Phoenix, you need a company with federal authority, not just a familiar local name.
In-state moves also come with fewer mover-specific protections. According to a summary citing the Alaska Department of Law, Alaska doesn't require a special state license for intrastate household-goods movers. They do need a general State of Alaska business license. Alaska's Consumer Protection Act (AS 45.50.471–45.50.561) still bans unfair or deceptive business practices.
What federal rules give you on an interstate move
- Required paperwork. Before an interstate move, movers and brokers must give you FMCSA's booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move and its Ready to Move brochure.
- Written estimates. FMCSA's handbook says your mover must provide written estimates on every shipment.
- A choice of liability coverage. Interstate movers must offer you Full Value Protection or Released Value coverage for loss or damage.
- Dispute resolution. Interstate movers must explain their dispute-settlement program before the move and offer a neutral one.
- Broker rules. A broker is a sales operation that books your move and sells it to an actual moving company. It doesn't have trucks. Brokers must be registered with FMCSA, tell you which movers they use, and use only registered movers.
FMCSA can't settle your individual dispute with a mover. It takes complaints at 1-888-368-7238 and uses them to find carriers that may be breaking the rules. FMCSA says state attorneys general and consumer agencies are responsible for pursuing suspected moving fraud.
Hostage loads and enforcement
FMCSA started Operation Protect Your Move after a sharp rise in complaints about movers holding people's belongings until they paid large extra charges. In Alaska, we didn't find any recent attorney-general actions or court cases against moving companies to report. That doesn't mean there haven't been problems. The Alaska Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit says it focuses enforcement on complaints that show a pattern of unfair or deceptive practices, so filing a complaint helps even if it isn't resolved right away. The unit usually tries to settle complaints through informal mediation. You can reach it at 907-269-5200 or consumerprotection@alaska.gov.
This article isn't legal advice. For help with a specific move, contact FMCSA's Protect Your Move and the Alaska Department of Law's Consumer Protection Unit.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Look up the USDOT number. Enter it in MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check or in FMCSA's mover search at protectyourmove.gov.
- Leaving Alaska? Make sure the company has active federal household-goods authority, not just a USDOT number.
- Ask whether the company is a broker or the mover. If it's a broker, find out which carrier will actually move your things and check that carrier too.
- Get everything in writing. That means a written estimate and, for interstate moves, the FMCSA booklet and brochure.
- For in-state moves, confirm the company has a valid business license in the State of Alaska's online business-license database.
- Report problems to FMCSA (1-888-368-7238) and the Alaska Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit.