Nebraska moving company license, rules and marketing

Do you need a license to move households in Nebraska?

Yes. To move household goods for hire inside Nebraska you must apply for and be granted a Household Goods Mover License by the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Licenses last one year, cost a nonrefundable $250 and must be renewed before they expire. Filing an application does not give you authority to operate, so wait for the license before you book jobs.

Movers in Nebraska are regulated by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, Transportation Department (Nebraska PSC). The permit is called the Household Goods Mover License.

1. Register your business with the Nebraska Secretary of State and get a USDOT number.
2. Have your insurance company file liability proof (Form E, or Form G bond) and cargo proof (Form H, or Form J bond) with the PSC.
3. Fill out the PSC application packet with your principal Nebraska place of business, a customer service phone number, your vehicle list and your current rates and charges.
4. Add your articles or certificate from the Secretary of State and, if you are based outside Nebraska, a statewide background check report.
5. Send the packet and the $250 fee to the PSC by email, mail or in person, and wait for approval before you start.
6. Renew every year with the renewal form and fee before your license expires.

What insurance and paperwork does a Nebraska mover need?

• The PSC application packet requires liability insurance of at least $750,000 and cargo insurance of at least $5,000.
• Your insurance company files the liability and cargo certificates with the PSC and must send written notice if the policy is canceled or not renewed.
• The PSC can suspend or revoke a license after notice and hearing for failing to comply with the insurance law, Neb. Rev. Stat. 75-307.

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

• The PSC investigates complaints about service quality, rates and charges and safety, and it also goes after people moving household goods for hire without a license or insurance.
• Customers can call the PSC to check whether a mover is licensed, properly insured and charging the correct rate, so keep your filed rates current.
• Licenses cover the whole state unless the PSC limits your territory, so stay inside the area your license allows.

Do Nebraska movers need a USDOT number?

Yes. Nebraska is on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for intrastate carriers, and the PSC application asks for your number.

If you take jobs that cross the Nebraska 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 Nebraska?

• Omaha and Council Bluffs face each other across the Missouri River. A move between them crosses into Iowa, so it is interstate and needs federal authority.
• Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue brings military families to the Omaha metro, and some of them need help with a move they manage themselves.
• The University of Nebraska campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney, plus Creighton in Omaha, bring student moves around the start and end of each semester.
• Towns along I-80 like Grand Island, Kearney and North Platte are far apart, and the Panhandle around Scottsbluff is a long haul from Omaha, so drive time is a big part of pricing.
• Winters bring snow, ice and wind across open country. Most families prefer to move from late spring through summer, and winter jobs need a weather backup plan.

Most moves in Nebraska happen around Omaha metro (Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista), Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff.

How do you market a moving company in Nebraska?

• Make pages for each Omaha-area suburb you serve, like Papillion, La Vista, Bellevue, Elkhorn and Gretna, and for Lincoln neighborhoods. Learn how local SEO gets those pages found.
• Since the PSC no longer sets rates, prices vary from mover to mover. Explain how you price on your website and point people to a moving price calculator for a rough idea.
• Show your PSC license number on your website and quotes. The PSC tells customers to check whether a mover is licensed and insured.
• Keep your Google Business Profile service area accurate for I-80 towns like Grand Island and Kearney, and only list addresses where you really have an office.
• Ask Offutt families and college customers for reviews right after the job, since both groups lean on reviews when picking a mover.