Of the 250 household-goods movers on record in Kansas, 46 have no federal interstate operating authority. They may move you only within Kansas. That is 18.4 percent, according to MovePricer's compilation of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing, revocation and out-of-service data as of October 24, 2026. Kansas's rate is well below the national figure of 31.9 percent (12,031 of 37,681 movers on record). Kansas ranks 35th of 51 on this measure.
A lower share than most states still means about one company in five can't legally take your belongings to Kansas City, Missouri, or to Denver, Tulsa or Omaha. That matters if you are leaving the state. It also matters if you're making a short move across State Line Road.
What "in-state only" means in Kansas
Moves that start and end in Kansas fall under the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Under Kansas law, household-goods movers must get a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity before doing moves within the state. They must also file a Form E insurance certificate and a tariff of rates with the KCC, and give customers a written bill of lading. For intrastate common carriers, Kansas's minimum cargo insurance is $3,000.
A KCC certificate covers Kansas-to-Kansas moves only. To haul household goods across a state line, a mover needs federal operating authority from FMCSA. The 46 companies in this count don't have it.
What federal rules add on an interstate move
FMCSA's consumer rules apply when a mover takes your goods from one state to another. On those moves, the mover or broker must give you:
- A written estimate
- FMCSA's "Ready to Move" brochure
- Information about the mover's arbitration program
Other protections:
- Binding estimates: A binding estimate means you can't be required to pay more than the estimated amount at delivery.
- No changes after loading: You and the mover can agree to change an estimate, but only before the truck is loaded.
- Full Value Protection: The first estimate must include it, and your shipment moves at that level of liability unless you waive it.
- Arbitration: If you ask for arbitration on a claim of $10,000 or less, the mover must agree, and the decision is binding on both sides.
There are limits. FMCSA says it cannot settle disputes for you. You have to work out loss, damage and charge disputes with the mover yourself.
The Kansas City question: commercial zones
Crossing a state line doesn't always mean federal rules apply. FMCSA defines a commercial zone as roughly a city's local metro area. It says moves that cross state lines inside one of these zones are exempt from its household-goods rules. Its example is a move from Brooklyn, New York, to Hackensack, New Jersey. Commercial zones are defined in 49 CFR Part 372.
So in a metro area split by the state line, a short move from Johnson or Wyandotte County into Missouri may not be covered by the federal protections above. Before you book, ask the mover in writing which rules govern your move and which agency you would complain to. If the answer is unclear, contact FMCSA. This article is not legal advice.
What goes wrong, and where Kansas shows up
FMCSA runs a yearly enforcement sweep called Operation Protect Your Move. In April 2024 it investigated in 17 states over complaints about hostage loads, where a mover holds a customer's belongings until they pay much more than agreed.
Kansas has appeared in these stories. In September 2026, FOX 10 Phoenix reported on an Arizona couple who hired a Florida-based company to move them from Arkansas. Their belongings ended up in a warehouse in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the landlord there found a web of changing company names and LLCs. The station reported that federal authorities were investigating the pattern. In 2021, FOX4 in Kansas City reported on a woman who said her mover was holding her belongings. Other viewers then came forward with similar complaints about online moving companies.
We did not find a recent Kansas attorney general enforcement action against a moving company. If you have a problem with an in-state move, you can complain to the Kansas Corporation Commission. Complaints about interstate movers go to FMCSA.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the USDOT number. Look it up in MovePricer's free mover lookup at movepricer.com/check or at FMCSA's Protect Your Move. Check whether the company has active interstate authority or is in-state only.
- Ask if it's a mover or a broker. FMCSA says you should know whether you're dealing with a mover or a broker, and whether it's registered.
- For moves within Kansas, ask for the company's KCC certificate and confirm it with the commission.
- Get a written estimate, preferably a binding one, and don't sign changes after the truck is loaded.
- If your move crosses into Missouri, ask in writing whether federal rules apply. Keep every receipt and message.
- If something goes wrong, contact FMCSA and the Kansas Attorney General.