The Pennsylvania numbers
Pennsylvania has 311 household-goods movers that hold active federal (interstate) operating authority. Of those, 40 had their cargo insurance cancelled in the 12 months before October 17, 2026. That comes from MovePricer's analysis of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) licensing, insurance, revocation and out-of-service data. It works out to 12.9% of the state's licensed movers, compared with 11.1% nationally, where 943 of 8,473 licensed movers had a cargo cancellation over the same period. Pennsylvania ranks 10th of the 48 states ranked on this measure.
A cancellation on the record doesn't by itself mean a mover is uninsured. Movers switch insurers, renew policies and replace old ones. But as of the data date, 3 of those 40 Pennsylvania movers had no cargo policy on file with FMCSA. Across the country, 51 had none on file.
What a mover's cargo insurance covers
Federal rules require household-goods movers to file proof of cargo insurance, on FMCSA forms BMC-34 or BMC-83, along with their liability insurance. The federal minimum under 49 CFR 387.303 is $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence. FMCSA says that once a company gets operating authority, it must keep proof of insurance on file to avoid revocation proceedings.
Cargo insurance is the mover's own policy. It pays for loss or damage to the goods it is hauling, for example after a fire, theft or crash. You don't buy it, and you aren't named on it. Its job is to back up the mover so the company can pay the claims it owes you.
Why a cancellation matters if your things are damaged or lost
If your belongings are broken or go missing, your claim is against the moving company. If the company's cargo policy has lapsed and the company can't or won't pay, there may be no insurer standing behind that claim. Even a short gap between one policy ending and another starting could fall on your move date. And the federal minimum is low compared with the value of a typical household, so a policy on file is a floor, not a guarantee of full payment.
Cargo insurance is not the same as released value or full value protection
When you sign with an interstate mover, you are choosing a valuation level. That is the limit on what the mover owes you, and it is a separate thing from the mover's insurance. FMCSA says federal law requires interstate movers to offer two options:
- Full Value Protection. This is the default unless you choose otherwise. The mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods. It may repair the item, replace it or pay you, and it costs extra.
- Released Value. There is no extra charge, but the mover is liable for no more than 60 cents per pound per article. In FMCSA's own example, a lost 10-pound stereo worth $1,000 would bring $6. You have to sign a specific statement to choose it.
In short, valuation sets what the mover owes you, and cargo insurance is one way the mover pays it. Your homeowner's or renter's policy may also apply. Ask your own insurer before the move.
Pennsylvania's own rules and enforcement
Moves that start and end inside Pennsylvania are regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), not FMCSA. The PUC says in-state movers must hold a certificate of public convenience, keep proper insurance on file, and charge the rates they have filed with the commission. Under state regulations, licensed movers must also file quarterly reports listing every move where the final charge was more than 10% above the estimate.
A 2018 state law raised penalties for unlicensed movers: $5,000 fines, a third-degree misdemeanor, and possible impoundment of the vehicle, with $10,000 fines for repeat offenses. The bill's sponsor, Sen. David Argall, said such companies "often lack the necessary insurance coverage to protect damaged goods during a move."
The PUC's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement brings these cases. In one, it filed a formal complaint against The People's Champ Moving & Delivery Service, LLC, alleging the company moved household goods within Philadelphia for pay in September 2023 without a PUC certificate. The commission document says the evidence supports a finding that the company violated Section 3310(b) of the Public Utility Code. In an earlier complaint published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the bureau alleged that D&A Movers had no PUC authority when it took on a Bethel Park-to-Canonsburg move, and cited the $5,000 first-violation penalty.
Federal prosecutors have also brought moving-fraud cases in Pennsylvania. In the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, two Florida-based moving company operators were indicted over a scheme prosecutors valued at more than $12 million. The indictment alleges they posted fake five-star reviews to win deposits. An indictment is an allegation, not a finding of guilt.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Interstate move: Get the mover's USDOT number and look it up with MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check, or on FMCSA's Protect Your Move site. Check that its authority is active and that cargo insurance is on file.
- In-state move: Search the company in the PUC's utility authority search and open the "Insurance Info" tab.
- Check again close to moving day. Policies can be cancelled after you book.
- Read the valuation section of your estimate and bill of lading before you sign.
- If something goes wrong, file complaints with FMCSA, the PUC for in-state moves, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. This article is not legal advice.