Mover Vs. Broker

What you need to know…

What is a Mover?

A mover invests in their business in the following ways:

1. They own/lease a truck or trucks.
2. Most have a warehouse building that they can use to store household goods or commercial goods securely.
3. They have employees who drive the trucks and employees that move furniture.
4. They have insurance to cover any truck or injury mishaps that might occur.
5. They have a moving license.
6. They have computers and a marketing plan to solicit your business.
7. They have a boring company name ( Bob’s Moving or Smith Bros Moving.)

What is a Mover Broker?

1.  They have computers and, many times, a sophisticated marketing plan.
2. They have a fancy/clever company name (Guess Who’s Moving or It’s a Breeze Moving.)

Why is this important to know?

A real mover has invested in their business substantially in the office staff, outside workers, trucks, moving equipment, warehouse, insurance, and marketing effort to secure your business.  The majority of Moving Company owners started by doing moves themselves.  Most are not only knowledgeable but can still do the work themselves.

Mover brokers are salespeople with clever marketing plans that make them appear to be real movers.  They book your move and then place it with carriers who may or may not have been vetted and hope for the best.  When there’s a problem, there is very little they can do since they typically don’t have a direct relationship with them.

A simple way to determine which is which is to look for an address on a website.  Brokers will hide theirs.  Does their website have identifiable trucks or buildings?  The easy way is for a broker to want a very large deposit (often by EFT transfers from a bank or cash apps).

Beware! The brokers are smooth and, many times, appear to be less expensive.  Your deposit is their pay.  They then place you on an internet “load board” and hope someone with a truck takes the load.

 The old saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is!”

If you're considering a move, contact the New Jersey Warehouse and Movers Association at njmovers.com for expert advice and support. With the proper preparation and perspective, your move can be the best move you’ve ever made.

Blog Submission: Dick Scaffa, National Van Lines and NJWMA Board of Director.