Updated June 2026
Starting a moving company requires a USDOT number (free) plus Motor Carrier authority from the FMCSA if you'll cross state lines — a process that takes 20–25 days and is the step most startup guides compress into one bullet. Once you're legally authorized, your first 30 days online — Google Business Profile, a 5-page website with your DOT number displayed, and an active review strategy — determines whether your first calls come in weeks or months.
This is based on GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking local business websites and FMCSA registration data. Below: the licensing steps most guides miss, the broker-vs.-carrier trap that sinks new operators, and the first-30-days online checklist.
Do you need a DOT number and MC number to start a moving company?
Every moving company needs a USDOT number. It's free to obtain through the FMCSA's Unified Registration System and identifies your company in federal safety records. If you operate entirely within one state, the USDOT number may be all you need at the federal level — though your state likely has its own permit requirements.
Interstate moves require more. The moment you move a customer's goods across a state line, you need a Motor Carrier (MC) number in addition to your USDOT number. The MC number is your operating authority — without it, you're not legally permitted to transport household goods for hire across state lines. The application costs $300.
Vehicle markings are also required: your DOT number and company name must appear on every truck in lettering at least two inches tall.
Key takeaway: Across GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking moving company websites, the strongest operators in competitive markets display their USDOT and state carrier license numbers directly on the homepage. This single element counters the most common consumer fear — unlicensed operators and broker scams — and functions as a trust signal that no other local service category uses as effectively.
What's the difference between a moving carrier and a moving broker?
This distinction trips up more new operators than any other compliance question.
A carrier owns trucks and employs crews who physically transport your customers' belongings. Carriers register with the FMCSA under "Household Goods Motor Carrier" authority. When something goes wrong, the carrier is directly accountable.
A broker markets moving services, takes bookings, and coordinates with carriers — but never touches a single box. Brokers register under "Household Goods Broker" authority and are required by law to disclose their status to customers. They cannot physically move anything.
The trap: Some new operators accidentally file for broker authority when they mean to operate as a carrier. The result — legally — is that they're permitted to coordinate moves but not perform them. The fix requires a separate application and another 20–25 day wait.
If you plan to own trucks and move customers yourself, register as a carrier. If you plan to book jobs and hand them to subcontractors, register as a broker. Choose before you file.
| Registration type | FMCSA authority class | Can move goods? | Can book others? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Household Goods Motor Carrier | Yes | No (without broker authority) |
| Broker | Household Goods Broker | No | Yes |
| Carrier + Broker | Both | Yes | Yes |
How long does FMCSA approval take for a new moving company?
The FMCSA publishes your MC number application, then waits 10 days for protests from existing carriers before granting authority. From application to active operating authority: 20–25 business days is the standard window.
New carriers also enter the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program — an 18-month probationary compliance period. Keep your safety record clean during this window or risk losing authority.
The timeline implication: If you're targeting peak moving season (May–August), file your MC application at least 6 weeks before launch. New operators who market or book interstate jobs before authority is active are operating illegally — a detail most startup guides skip entirely.
You also need a BOC-3 filing — a process-agent designation in every state where you'll operate. Any FMCSA-registered process agent handles it for $30–75, and it's required before authority activates.
What should a new moving company's website include from day one?
Most new movers put off the website. That's a mistake: after finding you on Google Maps, the first thing a potential customer does is check your website to verify you're legitimate. A bare or missing site loses jobs before you answer the phone.
The five pages every new moving company website needs:
- Home — hero with your city name, a "Get a Free Quote" button, your phone number, and your DOT number in the footer
- Services — what you move (local residential, long-distance, packing, commercial), written for the questions customers actually type
- About — your story, years in business (even if it's one month), your W-2 crew commitment, your licensing status
- Service Areas — list every city, neighborhood, and zip code you serve; this is your local SEO foundation
- Contact / Get a Quote — a simple quote form with move date, origin zip, destination zip, and contact info
The trust signal that new movers miss: Your USDOT number should appear in your website footer and on your About page. Across our research into top-ranking moving company websites, displaying DOT and state carrier license numbers directly on the homepage is a clear differentiator — it immediately addresses the consumer fear that separates legitimate carriers from brokers and fly-by-night operators.
GrowLocal builds exactly this five-page structure for moving companies — with a quote form, testimonial section, service-area pages, and your DOT number wired in from the first build.
For a deeper look at what separates a converting moving company website from a generic one, see what a moving company website actually needs.
What should a new mover do in the first 30 days online?
The first 30 days determine your local search foundation. These actions take under 10 hours total and compound over the following months:
| Action | Why it matters | When |
|---|---|---|
| Claim and complete Google Business Profile | Required to appear on Google Maps and in local pack results | Day 1–2 |
| Launch 5-page website with DOT number | Verifies legitimacy; gives GBP a real destination | Days 3–7 |
| List on Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Maps | 3 citation sources that confirm your NAP (name/address/phone) consistency | Week 1 |
| Ask every completed job for a Google review | Moving is review-driven; first 5–10 reviews accelerate local pack ranking | Week 1 onward |
| Add service-area pages for each city you serve | Local SEO foundation; the most digitally mature moving companies run 47+ location pages | Month 1 |
| Post one photo per week to GBP | Crew photos, truck photos, and completed moves build visual trust | Week 1 onward |
On reviews: ask for a Google review the moment you finish every job. In our research into top-ranking local business websites, only about one in three sites displayed a specific Google review count above the fold — showing a concrete number like "4.8 / 60 Google Reviews" is an instant differentiator from day one. See our full local business website data.
Across local service businesses of all types, those that complete all six actions in week one get found fastest — not those who spread the setup across the first year.
Does hiring W-2 employees vs. 1099 contractors affect my website's trust signals?
Yes — and most startup guides frame this as a cost decision only. It's also a credibility decision.
In our proprietary research into top-ranking moving company websites, W-2 employee status is one of the primary trust differentiators — the claim "W-2 crews, not day labor" directly addresses the most common consumer fear about crew quality. That claim is only credible on your website if it's actually true.
1099 contractors cost less upfront but eliminate your ability to make the crew-quality claim that separates the best movers from the rest. They also carry misclassification risk that catches fast-growing companies off guard.
Hire W-2 from your first job if budget allows. It makes the credential real, protects you from tax exposure, and gives your website a differentiator worth displaying.
For a complete look at marketing once you're operational, see moving company marketing: how to stop buying shared leads.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Moving Company
Do I need a DOT number for local-only moves?
The USDOT number is required for any commercial motor vehicle operation — even local. If your truck exceeds 10,001 lbs GVWR (true for most moving trucks) or you transport goods for compensation, you need a USDOT number. The MC number (operating authority) is only required for interstate moves — check your state's intrastate permit requirements separately.
How much does it cost to register with the FMCSA?
Obtaining your USDOT number is free. The MC number (Motor Carrier authority) application costs $300. A BOC-3 filing runs $30–75. State-level permits vary: California's PUC license, New York's NYDOT registration, and similar state authorizations typically cost $50–500 each. Budget $500–1,000 for the full federal registration stack before state fees.
How long before I can legally start operating interstate?
From the date you file your MC number application, expect 20–25 business days before your operating authority is active. Plan your launch date accordingly — starting marketing or booking interstate jobs before your authority is active is an FMCSA violation.
Does my website need to show my DOT number?
Federal regulations require your USDOT number on all vehicles. While displaying it on your website isn't a federal mandate, across GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking moving company websites, every high-performing mover in competitive markets displays their USDOT and state license number on the homepage. It's the clearest proof of legitimacy a customer can see before calling.
Can a new moving company get customers without paid ads?
Yes. Google Business Profile, a real website with service-area pages, active review collection, and listings on Yelp and Bing Places create a local search presence with no ad spend. The movers that grow fastest from zero complete this setup in week one, not month three.
Should I build my own website or use a website builder?
A website builder like Wix or Squarespace gets you live quickly but produces a generic result that looks like every other service business. A moving company website built with service pages, a quote form, DOT number, testimonials, and fast static hosting converts at a meaningfully higher rate. Use a purpose-built solution and spend the time on your first jobs instead.