Moving is a big life event, regardless of who you are or why you’ve decided to make the transition. With all of the added stress that comes with relocation, it’s an excellent idea to hire qualified moving professionals who can handle the challenges of transporting and shipping your possessions.
Whether you’re moving across the city, the state or the country, you must work with a moving company that can be trusted to provide quality service. Although most movers are reliable people who will do a fine job, some companies may give you more trouble than their low prices are worth.
Avoid the immediate temptation of working with the movers who give you the lowest quote. If you end up falling victim to a moving scam, know that it’ll cost you far more than you were hoping to save by going with the cheapest option. To minimize the risk of things going wrong, you should only work with companies who are properly licensed to safely move your items long distance.
ELDs: What You Should Know
In order to improve safety and compliance with industry regulations, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration now mandates that moving companies use electronic logging devices (ELDs) in their vehicles. These machines sync with a vehicle’s engine, recording driving time automatically.
ELDs provide a number of benefits: less paperwork, more productivity and higher safety standards. For these reasons, almost all motor carriers and drivers were required to begin using ELDs in their vehicles by December 18, 2017. Now that it is 2018, vehicles that aren’t properly using ELDs can get shut down, and your shipment will be quarantined in the meantime.
In the end, the details of ELDs don’t really matter for your bottom line. What you do care about, however, is having access to your possessions as soon as possible and paying a fair price for their relocation. Using ELDs is a good sign that a moving company is on the up and up; on the other hand, you should view the act of not using ELDs as a warning sign. It might mean you’re working with a company that wants to cut corners, or even an outfit of scam artists.
How Can You Spot Rogue Movers?
The FMCSA provides a list of other red flags that may indicate you’re working with a “rogue” mover. These companies may reel you in with a low estimate, and then hit you with a giant bill once they’re in possession of your items, demanding that you pay up before you can get them back.
Some of the signs to look out for include:
- The company refuses to inspect your possessions before giving an estimate.
- The company asks you to pay a large cash deposit before you move.
- The company’s website provides little information, and the address may be missing.
- The company answers phone calls with a generic opening such as “Moving company,” rather than the company name.
- The movers use a rented truck, rather than a vehicle with the company’s name or logo.
- The company does not give you a written estimate as well as the associated charges for additional services (whether they are requested or necessary).
Final Thoughts
The takeaway here is simple: trust, but verify. Moving companies found online may offer you a great deal that looks good on paper, but they may turn around and spring hidden fees on you down the line. The use of ELDs is an important qualification to look for, making it more likely that your movers are serious, professional, and dependable. When you are ready to start planning your move, contact Carmack Moving & Storage for all your packing, moving, and storage needs.
