New York has 450 household-goods companies with active federal operating authority, and 34 of them are brokers only. That's 7.6 percent, according to MovePricer's compilation of FMCSA licensing data as of November 1, 2026. Across the country, 655 of 9,128 such companies (7.2 percent) are brokers. New York's broker share ranks 11th among the 49 states MovePricer ranked.
A broker doesn't own the trucks or employ the crew. It books your move and sells it to a company that does the work. That is legal, and brokers are federally regulated. But it changes who you are actually dealing with, and some customers only find out on moving day.
What the numbers cover
MovePricer counted companies by business address, using federal (interstate) authority only. New York has 416 licensed household-goods carriers and 34 companies licensed only as brokers. A broker based in another state can still sell moves to New Yorkers. So the figures show which companies are based here, not every company advertising here.
How a moving broker works
FMCSA calls moving brokers sales teams that book your move and sell it to a moving company. The agency says a broker “does not assume responsibility for, and is not authorized to transport, your household goods.” Some registered brokers do have trucks and staff, but FMCSA says most usually do not.
Because a broker sells the job instead of doing it, two things can change after you book:
- The company. The crew that arrives may work for a company you have never heard of. FMCSA also warns that sometimes a broker can't sell the job at all, because the estimate was too low, no one is available or resources are limited. Then you can be left without a mover on moving day.
- The price. On an interstate move with a non-binding estimate, the most a mover can demand at delivery is 110 percent of the estimate. With a binding estimate, the limit is 100 percent. Get it in writing which kind you have.
The federal rules brokers must follow
For moves across state lines, FMCSA rules (49 CFR Part 371) require that:
- Estimates are in writing. A broker's estimate must be in writing. It must be based on a physical survey, in person or by video, done by the carrier that will move you, and on that carrier's published rates. A broker can only give an estimate for a mover it has a signed written agreement with.
- Brokers say what they are. Their ads must list their physical business location, their MC number, and the fact that they arrange moves but don't transport goods. Brokers may hire only FMCSA-registered movers. They must also list the carriers they use and state that they are not a motor carrier.
- Brokers hand over two federal documents: the booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” and the “Ready to Move” brochure, which has checklists for before the move, moving day and delivery day.
These federal rules don't cover a move that starts and ends in the same state. For moves within New York, the state Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) handles licensing, safety and insurance for for-hire carriers, and it oversees the rates and services of household-goods movers. Every mover in the state must file its rates with NYSDOT, and applicants must have a real place of business in New York.
What has gone wrong in New York
In 2018, the New York Attorney General went after Goldy Sandhu and his businesses: Pan-American Relocation Services, AAA Moving Services and Mayflower Moving Services. The AG alleged that Sandhu worked as a broker, took consumers' money before hiring an actual moving company, and paid for at least 60 fake positive online reviews. A state judge permanently banned him from the household-goods moving industry and ordered $65,000 in penalties and costs.
In December 2023, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted two employees of moving companies controlled by Yakov Moroz of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Those companies operated under names including Great Moving USA, Green Movers and New City Moves. Prosecutors said the defendants drew in customers with fake reviews and lowball quotes. After contracts were signed, and sometimes after belongings were already on the truck, the movers added new fees and threatened to hold the goods until customers paid.
These cases don't mean that brokers are crooked. They show why you need to know who will have your belongings before you pay.
How to tell a broker from a mover before you pay a deposit
- Ask directly whether the company's own trucks and crew will do your move. FMCSA says a legitimate company will tell you whether it is a broker or a mover.
- Look up the USDOT or MC number at protectyourmove.gov. The database shows whether a company is authorized to transport household goods or only to arrange the move.
- If it's a broker, ask for its list of carriers and check that each one is registered. Ask whether it has a written agreement with the carrier, and ask which carrier is assigned to you.
- Be wary of quotes given without a survey. FMCSA advises avoiding brokers and movers that refuse to do a physical survey, in person or by video.
- For a move within New York, check that the mover has NYSDOT authority.
How to check a mover before you sign
Type the company's USDOT number into MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check. It shows whether the federal record lists a carrier or a broker, and whether its authority is active. Then check the same number in FMCSA's database at protectyourmove.gov or by calling FMCSA at (800) 832-5660. If something goes wrong on an interstate move, file a complaint with FMCSA. For moves within the state or questions about consumer fraud, contact NYSDOT and the New York Attorney General's office. This article is not legal advice.