Missouri has 236 household-goods movers with an active federal (interstate) license. Of those, 17 (7.2%) list a business phone number that also belongs to a different, older mover whose federal license was revoked. MovePricer found this by comparing FMCSA licensing, revocation and out-of-service data compiled on October 17, 2026. Across the U.S., the figure is 348 of 8,473 licensed movers, or 4.1%. Of the 48 states ranked, Missouri has the third-highest rate.
A shared phone number proves nothing on its own. Companies are sold, relatives take over family businesses, and phone carriers reassign numbers. But this kind of overlap is exactly what federal regulators look for when they suspect a mover has reopened under a new name.
What a "chameleon" carrier is
Regulators use the terms "reincarnated" or "chameleon" carrier for a company that shuts down after safety violations and reopens under a new identity to avoid the consequences. FMCSA told FreightWaves that "a chameleon carrier reincarnates to separate itself from negative past behavior." The agency added that it considers these carriers a greater risk to the public because of that history. For a bad actor, the appeal is simple: a new USDOT number usually starts with no inspections, no crashes and no out-of-service history.
How regulators look for it
- Screening applicants. In 2008 a bus crash in Sherman, Texas, involved a company that was re-applying under a new name after being ordered out of service. After that crash, FMCSA began checking passenger and household-goods applicants for ties to carriers with bad records. In 2011 it made those procedures a formal rule.
- Merging records. Under 49 CFR 386.73, FMCSA can order a company out of service, or combine its record with the old company's record, if it finds the company is using a new identity to escape its history.
- The 2026 crackdown. In February 2026, FMCSA announced it would end "ghost offices." Carriers must now have a physical location where records can be inspected within 48 hours. The agency also pledged to shut down chameleon networks that use shell companies.
- New registration system. On May 19, 2026, FMCSA began rolling out Motus, which replaces its older registration systems. The goal is to tie registrations to verified people and businesses and to check addresses and ownership more closely.
Recent Missouri cases
In 2022, then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office filed a petition against a moving company in south St. Louis County. Customers had complained about "hostage loads," meaning the company refused to unload or deliver belongings until they paid more. The office said the company took moving jobs from brokers and then did not honor the brokers' quoted prices and terms. The petition asked for restitution, a permanent injunction and civil penalties.
In a later case, Missouri women told reporters a moving company stole valuables and held their belongings hostage. One woman said she received a texted invoice of about $980 as the crew pulled up to her house. The man accused in that case was scheduled for a bench trial.
In September 2026, FOX 10 Phoenix reported on an Arizona couple caught in a hostage-load scheme. A woman helping victims told the station that landlords in Missouri, where some belongings had been taken, had served eviction notices over the same issue. She described the businesses as "pretty much the same players" switching names on their LLC paperwork. That is her account, not a finding by regulators.
Missouri's own rules
Moves that stay inside Missouri are regulated by the state. Movers need operating authority from MoDOT Motor Carrier Services before operating in or between Missouri cities, and MoDOT publishes a list of authorized household-goods movers. Complaints about moves that cross state lines go to FMCSA. For disputes, contact FMCSA and the Missouri Attorney General's Office. This article is not legal advice.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the USDOT number and look it up. FMCSA's Protect Your Move site and MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check both work. For a move within Missouri, also check MoDOT's list of authorized movers.
- Compare the license date with the sales pitch. If the salesperson says the company has been in business "for 20 years" but its federal license is a few months old, ask why.
- Search the phone number and address as well as the company name. If they lead to other company names, ask about the history.
- Find out who will actually move you. If you are dealing with a broker, ask for the name and USDOT number of the carrier doing the move, and check that company too.
- Watch for FMCSA's red flags: no in-home estimate, being asked to sign incomplete paperwork, or a company that isn't registered with FMCSA.
- Report problems to FMCSA's hotline at 1-888-368-7238 or through protectyourmove.gov.