Guides
How FMCSA rules shape interstate mover household estimates
Interstate mover household estimates follow FMCSA authority, insurance minimums, and binding or non-binding rules, with the 110 percent cap at delivery.
What to take away
- An interstate household goods estimate is lawful only from a carrier with active FMCSA operating authority and a USDOT number.
- The FMCSA sets the estimate format and caps collection at delivery on a non-binding estimate at 110 percent of the estimated charges.
- Household goods carriers must carry public liability, property damage and cargo insurance above the federal floors.
- A compliant estimate names the carrier, the estimate type, the valuation option, payment terms and the terms for added services.
Why authority comes before the price
Moving household goods across state lines for hire is regulated carriage. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration decides who may perform it. Without authority and a USDOT number there is no lawful interstate quote.
The authority block is therefore the first thing an estimate must carry. The MC number and USDOT number must match the entity that signs the bill of lading.
Registration also decides which moves a carrier may quote. Moves inside one state fall to that state's public utility commission, so a carrier registered only for intrastate work cannot take a California to Texas booking. For the full sequence of filings, see what a moving company needs to operate legally.
Authority status is public, so an estimate that misstates the MC number is easy to disprove.
Insurance minimums behind every interstate quote
Interstate household goods carriers must hold public liability and property damage coverage plus cargo insurance above federal floors. Confirm current figures against 49 CFR Part 387, not an old template.
Insurance minimums
| Coverage | Figure commonly cited | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability and property damage | $300,000 minimum for household goods; $750,000 for general property freight | Injury or damage the truck causes to others |
| Cargo insurance | $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence | Household goods damaged or lost in the carrier's care |
Coverage sits inside the price whether or not the customer sees a line for it. Premiums move with fleet size, claims history and the lanes the carrier runs.
Cargo coverage matters at the moment of a claim. The settlement comes out of cargo liability and the valuation option chosen on the order for service. Full value protection and released value are different products at different price points, and the estimate must state which one the customer is buying.
For how those premiums land in a business plan, read covering a moving company: insurance types and typical premiums.
Brokered moves are no different. Name the authorized carrier performing the work and its authority on the estimate.
Binding and non-binding estimates under federal rules
A binding estimate fixes the price for the services listed. Perform exactly those services and the customer pays that amount even if actual weight runs higher. A non-binding estimate is an approximation, settled from actual weight and actual services.
The estimate must state which type it is in wording a customer can act on, and explain what happens when items are added or the delivery date changes. The FMCSA guidance on binding and non-binding estimates sets out that distinction.
The estimate, the order for service and the bill of lading are separate documents. Confusing them creates arguments about what was agreed.
The 110 percent rule at delivery
On a non-binding estimate the carrier may collect no more than 110 percent of the estimated charges at delivery. That capped payment releases the goods, and the balance is billed later under the carrier's credit terms.
The cap covers the services listed on the estimate. Added services, storage or a changed destination sit outside it. Customers often assume the cap covers everything, so say otherwise at the quote stage.
Example. A non-binding household move from Illinois to Georgia is estimated at 8,000 dollars. The load weighs heavier than the survey suggested and calculated charges reach 9,600 dollars. At delivery the carrier may collect no more than 8,800 dollars. The remaining 800 dollars is billed after delivery.
110 percent cap example
- 8,000Non-binding estimate
- 9,600Actual charges
- 8,800Max due at delivery
- 800Billed after delivery
A badly underestimated quote does not protect cash flow, because the cap limits what can be collected at the door. Good pricing and profit discipline starts with survey quality, not with the rate per pound.
What a compliant interstate estimate must show
A compliant estimate is not one number on a page. An estimator should be able to point to each element before the quote leaves the office.
- Carrier legal name, MC number and USDOT number, matching the entity that signs
- The type of estimate, stated as binding or non-binding
- The valuation option chosen, itemized, with the deadline for changing it
- Payment terms, deposit amount and the payment methods accepted at delivery
- Terms for added services, storage and changes to the delivery date
- The name of any carrier performing the move if it differs from the quoting entity
Compliant estimate elements
- Carrier legal name, address, phone
- USDOT and MC numbers
- Binding or non-binding statement
- Estimated weight, volume, or hours
- Itemized included and excluded services
- Valuation option and its charge
- Signature line and date
The rule text behind these items sits in 49 CFR Part 375, which also governs the order for service and the bill of lading.
Verifying a mover's filings before you sign
Four checks take minutes and answer most of the risk.
Verifying a mover's filings
- Look up the MC or USDOT number in the FMCSA public licensing and insurance database. Confirm the authority is active and the legal name matches the quote.
- Read the insurance filing on the same record. Without public liability and cargo policies on file, the carrier is not cleared to haul household goods.
- Check complaint history under the carrier's legal name, not only its trading name.
- Ask for the estimate, the order for service and the bill of lading together, and keep copies.
The FMCSA list of mover and consumer rights and responsibilities covers what the carrier must provide before the move.
Review your template when the regulations change. Teams that quote often should keep a sample quote and the template behind it beside the rule text.
