Massachusetts moving company license, rules and marketing

Do you need a license to move households in Massachusetts?

Yes. All household moving companies that move goods from one place in Massachusetts to another must be licensed by the DPU. Licensed movers must carry a minimum amount of cargo insurance and file their rates, called a tariff, with the DPU. Moves that cross state lines are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration instead.

Movers in Massachusetts are regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Transportation Oversight Division (DPU). The permit is called the DPU household goods mover operating authority (certificate).

1. Gather proof of your registered business. Corporations need certified articles from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and d/b/a names need a certified business certificate from the city or town clerk.
2. Apply online to the DPU for household goods mover authority and pay the $100 application fee.
3. Attend your public hearing. Complete applications received in a month are heard on the second Tuesday of the next month, and the principal owner must attend.
4. Within 60 days after the hearing, submit your balance sheet, certificate of insurance, tariff ($100 filing fee) and vehicle decal application ($40 per vehicle).
5. Each year after approval, send current proof of insurance and your renewal decal application.

What insurance and paperwork does a Massachusetts mover need?

• DPU-licensed movers must carry a minimum amount of cargo insurance. Check the current amount with the Transportation Oversight Division.
• A certificate of insurance is required before the DPU grants operating authority, and current proof of insurance is due every year.

When you work with customers in Massachusetts, plan for these rules:

• State law requires a bill of lading for every shipment. The driver must give the customer a copy before loading, and it should show your company name, address, phone number and DPU license number.
• Many movers offer a base declared rate on file with the DPU that limits liability to 60 cents per pound per article. Explain higher valuation options before moving day.
• Hourly moves include a travel time charge, so explain it clearly when you give an estimate.
• The DPU investigates written complaints about licensed movers. Storage disputes go to a different state office, since the DPU does not regulate storage.

Do Massachusetts movers need a USDOT number?

Massachusetts is on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's list of states that require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to get a USDOT number. Check which of your trucks it applies to before you register them.

If you take jobs that cross the Massachusetts state line, federal rules apply on top of the state rules:

• USDOT number: every mover that carries household goods across state lines needs one from the FMCSA.
• Operating authority (MC number): for-hire household goods movers need FMCSA authority before taking interstate jobs.
• Insurance on file: your insurer files proof of liability and cargo coverage with the FMCSA.
• Process agent (BOC-3): someone in each state who can accept legal papers on your behalf.
• Unified Carrier Registration: a yearly registration, priced by fleet size.
• Customer paperwork: a written estimate, a bill of lading, the FMCSA booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” and access to an arbitration program for loss and damage claims.

The licenses and insurance guide explains each one.

What is the moving market like in Massachusetts?

• Many Greater Boston leases turn over on September 1, so late August and early September bring a crush of apartment moves. Book crews and trucks early.
• Boston and Cambridge require permits to reserve street space for a moving truck, and many customers do not know that until moving day.
• Triple-deckers and older walk-ups are common in Boston, Worcester and other cities, which means tight stairs and careful time estimates.
• College towns like Amherst, Worcester and the Boston area bring student moves in late August and May.
• Cape Cod and the islands bring second-home and seasonal moves, and Hanscom Air Force Base and Joint Base Cape Cod bring military families.

Most moves in Massachusetts happen around Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Brockton, New Bedford and Fall River and Cape Cod.

How do you market a moving company in Massachusetts?

• Show your DPU certificate number on your website and estimates. Customers are told to check for it, and the state's mover list is public.
• Publish a September 1 page with booking tips and permit reminders. It answers what Boston renters search for every summer.
• Build pages for each town you serve, from Somerville to Shrewsbury, so you show up when people search by town. See how local SEO works for movers.
• Peak season calls come in faster than one office can answer. Use 24/7 answering so every lead gets a reply while your crews are on jobs.