In the 12 months before November 1, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ordered 75 Texas household-goods movers out of service. That equals 12.7% of the 592 Texas-based movers with active federal interstate operating authority. It is the highest rate of the 48 states MovePricer ranked, and nearly double the national rate of 6.6% (558 orders against 8,473 licensed movers).
Most of these orders had the same cause. Of the 75 Texas orders, 71 involved new companies that refused or ignored their mandatory federal safety audit, and 3 involved companies that failed it. Across the country, 479 of the 558 orders were for refused audits and 55 for failed ones. The figures come from MovePricer's compilation of FMCSA licensing, revocation and out-of-service data published on data.transportation.gov.
What the new-entrant safety audit is
Every new interstate carrier with a USDOT number is placed in FMCSA's New Entrant Safety Assurance Program, which is set out in 49 CFR Part 385, Subpart D. During its first 18 months, FMCSA or a state partner audits the company's basic safety controls, such as its drug and alcohol testing, driver qualifications and vehicle maintenance records. A company only gets permanent registration if the audit happens within that window and the company is not under an out-of-service order or a corrective-action notice.
The rules are strict. If a new carrier refuses the audit, FMCSA sends written notice. If the company does not agree in writing within 10 days, its registration is revoked and its interstate operations are placed out of service on the 11th day. Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety, which runs these audits in partnership with FMCSA, says the out-of-service process also starts when an investigator cannot reach a carrier after three tries. A carrier that fails the audit must send FMCSA an acceptable corrective-action plan within 45 or 60 days, depending on the type of carrier, or lose its registration.
Why skipping the audit is a red flag
An out-of-service order for a missed audit is not a finding that a company cheated anyone. But it has real consequences for a customer. A carrier under this kind of order is barred from all interstate motor carrier operations. If a mover cannot or will not respond to a federal safety regulator, that is worth knowing before you hand it your belongings.
A mover's status can also change. A revoked carrier can reapply no sooner than 30 days after revocation, and an order for no contact or refusal can be lifted once FMCSA processes the required paperwork. A record that looked clean when you got a quote may not be clean on moving day, and the reverse is also possible. Check close to the move date.
Texas rules and recent cases
The federal data covers interstate authority. Moves that stay inside Texas fall under the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). A company that moves household goods for pay within Texas needs a TxDMV number no matter how much its truck weighs. A USDOT number shows federal registration only. It is not a Texas license, and a Texas certificate does not allow interstate moves.
TxDMV's consumer guidance says licensed movers must show their name and TxDMV number on both sides of their trucks. It also says a licensed mover must give you a proposal and a contract before anything is loaded. The agency warns that unlicensed movers often:
- quote an unrealistically low price, load your belongings, then demand more money before delivering
- use rental trucks or trucks with no markings
- answer the phone with something vague like "Movers" instead of a company name
These problems have reached Texas homes. In 2023, FOX 4 reported that a Denton woman who moved from California filed reports with police in three states. She said the company that took her furniture in mid-June was holding it and asking for more money, even though she had paid the contract price of nearly $4,000. The case became a theft investigation.
For moves inside Texas, TxDMV takes complaints about illegal movers, loss or damage and overcharges, and offers mediation. A mediation request is due within 35 days of an unsatisfactory offer or denial from the mover, or if the mover has not responded within 90 days of your claim. These are general consumer resources, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact FMCSA, TxDMV or the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
How to check a mover before you sign
- Get the USDOT number in writing and look it up with MovePricer's free lookup at movepricer.com/check or FMCSA's Protect Your Move search. Make sure the authority is active and there is no out-of-service order.
- For a move inside Texas, ask for the TxDMV number and confirm it is active in TxDMV's Truck Stop database, or call 1-888-368-4689.
- Check again a few days before the move. A company's status can change.
- Watch for red flags, such as a quote given over the phone without anyone seeing your belongings, or a demand for a large deposit or cash.
- Report problems with interstate moves to FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238 (1-888-DOT-SAFT), and with in-state moves to TxDMV.