Moving Brokers or Carriers? What’s the Difference and Why it Matters

Understanding the difference between moving brokers and moving carriers can be a little confusing at first. Taking the time to do so can help you make an informed decision when planning your move so it is well worth your time.

Here’s a breakdown of what each does and how they differ and are similar to our iMoving pro bank knowledge.

Role

• Intermediaries: Moving brokers act as the middleman between you and moving companies. They don't own or operate moving trucks themselves. They handle the logistics, and the booking simplicity, they take the time to go through and vet different local vendors.
• Finding Services: Brokers help you find and hire a moving company that fits your needs. They allow you to build a customized move and only pay for the services you actually need. They work with multiple vendors and provide a range of options for you that would be hard to package on your own.

How They Work

• Quotes: Brokers will provide estimated average prices and also binding quotes based on the information you give them. They might not have direct knowledge of the specific moving companies they recommend, but they rely on their network of vendors for all services. Know that if you leave out info or forget to mention certain items to be moved, the quotes will be inaccurate. They can help you get a good idea of what you’ll end up paying.
• Contract: You sign a contract with the broker, who then coordinates with the carrier for the actual move. 

Pros

• Mix and Match: Brokers offer a range of options of moving services from different carriers. This gives you more flexibility and choice. Why pay for services you don’t actually need?
• Convenience: Brokers handle the legwork of finding a moving company, which can save you time and effort.
• Trust: Brokers take the time to vet their network of movers checking their accident records, their registration paperwork, and more.  

Cons

• Less Control: You will have less direct control over the specifics of the moving company used. You won’t be speaking directly with the company to ensure everything is as you think it is.

• Miscommunications: Since brokers don’t handle the actual move work itself, there can be a risk of miscommunication between what was promised by the broker and what is delivered. Good brokers ensure this doesn’t happen as they care about their reputation. Many use secret shopping to check in on vendor’s customer service.

Role

• Direct Moving Service Providers: Moving carriers are the direct companies that actually perform the move itself. They own the trucks and have their own moving staff who handle the packing, loading, transport, and unloading. This is simply the moving company itself. 

How They Work

• Direct Contracts: When you hire a direct vendor, you’re entering into a contract directly with them. They manage all parts of the move, including logistics customer service, and everything in between.
• Pricing: Carriers provide binding pricing based on your specific move and needs and handle all the details directly with you. Make sure you understand in full what is exactly included and what isn’t. Read between the lines to understand their insurance policies and the minimums you will be expected to contribute. When you doing the direct route, you lack the reassurance that a broker checked into all of these details.

Pros

• Direct Is Usually Great: You communicate directly with the company responsible for your move, what’s better than that? This can lead to clear expectations and fewer misunderstandings or the opposite depending on who you are. You deal with the same company from start to finish, which can provide a more consistent experience. When you are in contact directly with the movers, you can know who to yell at or praise.

Cons

• Limited Options: You will have fewer options for building a customized move if you’re dealing with a single mover. When you use a broker they can connect you with multiple moving companies that agree to work together to get the job done.

• Less Flexibility: If a carrier has limited dates they are free or doesn’t offer the specific services you need, you may have fewer alternatives and will have to choose from what they offer.

Please take the following advice and understand that every person is different and different options work better for different types of people. 

When to Use a Broker

• Mix Up: If you want to have it all and multiple options speak your language then a broker is the way to go. Find a moving carrier that offers the best value for the specific services you need. Make sure you can buy only what you need.
• Convenience: If you prefer to have someone else handle the task of finding a reputable moving company.

When to Use a Carrier

• Direct Control: Control freaks beware- this is the way to go for you. If you prefer to deal directly with the company that will handle your move and get to know the guy behind the truck, this is for you. Going direct will help for clear communication.

• Specific Needs: If you have particular needs for the move or are planning a very unique move that you think would be better managed by a single company this is probably the better way to go.

Both brokers and carriers have their advantages and potential cons, weigh out the differences and see what fits for you best. You can always use the calculators that moving brokers offer to understand what the potential costs should be for the services you need to make the choice a simple financial decision. 

The choice between them just depends on your desires so both are a great way to go. Get off and get moving! Good luck from all of us at iMoving!