The Massachusetts numbers
Of the 892 household-goods movers on record in Massachusetts, 183 (20.5%) have no federal interstate operating authority. That means they may only move customers within Massachusetts. The figures come from MovePricer's analysis of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing, insurance, revocation and out-of-service data, compiled October 17, 2026.
Massachusetts's share is below the national figure. Across the United States, 12,031 of 37,681 movers on record (31.9%) are in-state only. Massachusetts ranks 30th of the 51 jurisdictions MovePricer ranked on this measure. The state has 308 household-goods carriers with active federal authority, counted by business address. Add licensed household-goods brokers and the total is 313.
An in-state-only mover is not necessarily a bad mover. Many are licensed by the state to do exactly the local work they advertise. But if your move crosses a state line, they are the wrong company to hire.
Two regulators, depending on where your move ends
FMCSA regulates moves that cross state lines. Moves that stay entirely inside one state fall under state law. If you are moving from one Massachusetts address to another, the Commonwealth says your mover must be licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The DPU sets licensing and insurance requirements and investigates complaints about movers. Its Transportation Oversight Division oversees household moving companies.
Why a state line changes things
FMCSA's consumer rules apply when a mover carries your belongings from one state to another. Massachusetts shares borders with five states, so many ordinary moves cross one. Think Attleboro to Rhode Island, Haverhill to southern New Hampshire, or Springfield to northern Connecticut. A company with only in-state authority is not federally authorized to take those jobs.
There is one narrow exception. FMCSA's consumer booklet says its rules do not apply to moves within a "commercial zone," which it describes as roughly a city's local metropolitan area. It gives the example of a move that crossed a state line but stayed inside the New York City commercial zone and so was not subject to FMCSA rules. If your short cross-border move might fall in such a zone, get the mover's position in writing and confirm it with FMCSA. Don't take the mover's word for it.
What federal protections give you on an interstate move
- Required paperwork. Interstate movers must give you the booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a written estimate, a summary of their arbitration program, their complaint-handling procedure, and their tariff of rates.
- A cap on what you pay at delivery. Your mover must hand over your goods once you pay 100% of a binding estimate or 110% of a non-binding estimate. Charges for added services you asked for, and some limited charges for unusually difficult conditions at delivery, can be added on top. FMCSA says a mover that refuses to release your goods after that is holding them hostage in violation of federal law.
- Arbitration. Interstate movers must offer an arbitration program. If you request it, the mover must take part for claims of $10,000 or less.
- Enforcement. Movers that break the rules can face civil penalties of at least $500 per day per violation. FMCSA can revoke a mover's operating authority in some cases, such as failing to keep proof of insurance on file.
FMCSA does not resolve individual claims. It does take complaints about interstate movers at 1-888-368-7238.
A Massachusetts case on the record
The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office sued Billerica-based Father & Son Moving & Storage in 2013 over what it called a "bait and switch scheme." According to NBC10 Boston, the company gave customers low quotes and then raised the price after their belongings were on the trucks. A court order barred the practice. After more complaints, the AG went back to court with a contempt case. In June 2019 a Suffolk County judge ordered the company to pay $75,000 in penalties, some of it as restitution to customers. One customer described in CBS Boston's reporting was moving just one block in the North End. Price disputes on moves that stay inside the state go to state regulators and the AG, not FMCSA.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the USDOT number and look it up with MovePricer's free tool at movepricer.com/check or with FMCSA at protectyourmove.gov. For any move that crosses a state line, confirm the company has active household-goods authority.
- Ask whether you're dealing with a mover or a broker. FMCSA says brokers don't move goods themselves; they sell your job to a moving company.
- For a move inside Massachusetts, confirm the company has a current DPU operating certificate number.
- Get the estimate in writing. FMCSA advises against accepting oral estimates.
- If something goes wrong, report interstate problems to FMCSA. For in-state moves, contact the DPU and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. This article is not legal advice. Those agencies can tell you what applies to your situation.