How to Tell if You're Working With a Moving Broker

July 10, 2026

The fastest way to tell if you are working with a moving broker is to look the company up in the free FMCSA household goods database at ai.fmcsa.dot.gov. If the record shows zero trucks, a tiny fleet paired with nationwide coverage claims, or a complaint history built around estimates and final charges, you are very likely dealing with a broker rather than an actual moving company.

The FMCSA Database: Free Public Records, Two Minute Searches, and No Place for Brokers to Hide

Every company that arranges or performs interstate household moves must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. That registration is public. The FMCSA household goods search tool lets you type in any company name and see exactly what the government has on file: whether the company is registered as a carrier or a broker, how many trucks it operates, how many drivers it employs, and how many complaints consumers have filed against it. FMCSA's own definition on the record page says it plainly: brokers do not have vehicles and do not take possession of your household goods.

Brokers can write persuasive websites and quote appealing prices, but they cannot edit a federal record. A two minute search tells you more about a moving company than an hour on its website ever will. Before you sign anything or hand over a deposit, run the search.

A Real Carrier on Record: 51 Trucks, 88 Trailers, and One Complaint in the File

Here is what a legitimate moving company looks like in the database. Pull up the FMCSA record for Joyce Van Lines under USDOT number 247771 and you will see a registered motor carrier with 51 trucks, 36 tractors, and 88 trailers, a Satisfactory federal safety rating, and a single complaint on file. That is the profile of a company that physically picks up, transports, and delivers household goods with its own equipment and crews, and has done so for more than 40 years.

A Broker on Record: Zero Trucks, Nationwide Promises, and a Complaint Log That Tells the Story

Now compare that with the record of a company registered as a broker. The example below is a real business that advertises moving services across the country. Its federal record shows no trucks of its own, yet it books moves in multiple states. Its complaint log is filled with disputes over estimates and final charges, which is exactly what happens when the company quoting your price is not the company doing your move.

Three Giveaways in the Search: Fleet Size, Coverage Claims, and Complaint Patterns

First, zero trucks is a dead giveaway. A company cannot move your household without a truck. If the record shows no vehicles, the company is selling your move to someone else.

Second, a small number of vehicles paired with the ability to handle moves in multiple states or across the country is, while not guaranteed, very likely a broker. A company with one or two trucks simply cannot cover coast to coast routes without handing work to outside operators.

Third, complaints that are specifically about estimates or final charges are a big warning sign. When the price you were quoted and the price you are billed come from two different companies, disputes follow, and they show up in the federal complaint log.

A Professional Habit Worth Copying: Search First, Sign Second, and Save the Record

Relocation professionals verify every carrier before a contract is signed, and homeowners should do the same. Run the FMCSA search, confirm the company is registered as a motor carrier, check that the fleet size matches the scope of your move, and save a copy of the record. If anything on the page contradicts what a salesperson told you on the phone, believe the record.

When to Call a Professional: Direct Answers, Direct Carriers, and a Move Without Middlemen

If a company's federal record shows real trucks, real drivers, and a clean complaint history, you are talking to an actual mover. Joyce Van Lines is a direct carrier with 51 trucks and 88 trailers of its own, more than 40 years of interstate moving experience, and an A rating from the Better Business Bureau. To learn more about working directly with a carrier, or to see how brokers and carriers differ, read our guide on the difference between a moving company and a moving broker.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I look up a moving company on the FMCSA website?

    Go to the FMCSA household goods search tool at ai.fmcsa.dot.gov and type the company name into the search box. The results show whether the business is registered as a motor carrier or a broker, how many trucks and drivers it has, and how many complaints have been filed against it. The search is free, takes about two minutes, and works for any company that handles interstate moves in the United States.

  • What does it mean if a moving company has zero trucks?

    It means the company is not actually a mover. A business with no trucks cannot transport your belongings, so it must sell your move to another operator, which is the definition of a broker. When you see zero vehicles on an FMCSA record for a company advertising moving services, treat it as a broker regardless of what its website or sales team says.

  • Can a company with only a few trucks really handle a cross country move?

    It is very unlikely without outside help. A company with one or a few trucks that claims to serve multiple states or the entire country almost certainly hands work to third parties, which is how brokers operate. Genuine long distance carriers maintain fleets large enough to cover the routes they sell, so compare the fleet size on the FMCSA record against the coverage the company advertises.

  • What kinds of complaints suggest a company is a broker?

    Complaints about estimates and final charges are the biggest giveaway. Brokers quote a price to win your business, then a separate company performs the move and bills you, and the two numbers often do not match. If a company's FMCSA complaint history is dominated by pricing disputes, deposits, and surprise charges at delivery, that pattern points strongly toward a broker.

  • How do I make sure I am booking directly with a carrier?

    Verify the company on the FMCSA database before you sign, and confirm the record lists it as a motor carrier with its own trucks and drivers. Then ask the company directly whether its own crews and equipment will handle your move from start to finish. A direct carrier like Joyce Van Lines will say yes and can back it up with a federal record showing 51 trucks under USDOT number 247771. Contact Joyce Van Lines for a quote on your upcoming move.