Pennsylvania moving company license, rules and marketing

Do you need a license to move households in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Household goods movers operating within Pennsylvania must hold authority from the Public Utility Commission, keep the required insurance on file and file their rates in a tariff. Every household goods applicant must show at least two years of experience with a licensed household goods carrier, or the equivalent.

Movers in Pennsylvania are regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). The permit is called the Certificate of public convenience (household goods in use).

1. Make sure you can show at least two years of experience with a licensed household goods carrier, or the equivalent. The PUC asks for this on every household goods application.
2. File an application with the PUC that includes a verified statement about your company, equipment, the service you will offer and current financial data such as a balance sheet.
3. Once you are notified of approval, have your insurer file proof of liability insurance (Form E) and cargo insurance (Form H) with the PUC within 60 days.
4. File a tariff of your rates and charges with the PUC.
5. Complete a PUC safety fitness review within 180 days of approval, unless you already hold a current satisfactory safety rating.

What insurance and paperwork does a Pennsylvania mover need?

• Liability coverage of at least $300,000 per accident for each vehicle rated 10,000 pounds or less.
• Liability coverage of at least $750,000 per accident for each vehicle rated over 10,000 pounds.
• Cargo insurance of at least $5,000, or more if the PUC requires it, in addition to liability coverage.
• Insurance must come from an insurer authorized to do business in Pennsylvania and also meet the state's Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law.

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

• Give the customer the PUC's information-for-shippers form at least 48 hours before the move, unless they agree in writing to a shorter time.
• Prepare a written Estimated Cost of Services on the required form and give it to the customer at least 48 hours before the move. Keep a copy for two years.
• If the final bill runs over the estimate, you must deliver the goods once the customer pays the estimate plus 10 percent or $25, whichever is greater. You then wait 15 days to bill the rest.
• Basic coverage pays up to 60 cents per pound per article, and customers may buy more.
• Before anyone works inside a customer's home, get and review a criminal history record for that worker, and update it every two years.

Do Pennsylvania movers need a USDOT number?

Pennsylvania 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 with PennDOT.

If you take jobs that cross the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?

• Philadelphia rowhomes have narrow stairs and tight streets, so crews often hoist or disassemble furniture and plan carefully around parking.
• Pittsburgh's hills, steep driveways and long outdoor stairways add time and labor that should show up in your estimates.
• Penn State in State College and the many colleges around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh drive student and staff moves at the start and end of terms.
• Military families move through Carlisle Barracks, Fort Indiantown Gap and the Navy installation in Mechanicsburg near Harrisburg.
• Snow and ice in the northern tier and mountains can slow winter jobs, and long rural drives make travel time a real cost.

Most moves in Pennsylvania happen around Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Erie and State College.

How do you market a moving company in Pennsylvania?

• Explain the 48-hour estimate rule and your background-checked crews on your website. Both are state rules, and both reassure customers.
• Build pages for the neighborhoods and towns you serve, like Fishtown, Mt. Lebanon or Bethlehem. Pennsylvanians search by place. See how local SEO works for movers.
• Publish clear hourly rates and what drives the price, such as stairs and hills, so people trust your quote. Our moving company pricing guide can help.
• Ask every customer for a review and reply by name. Reviews that mention a town help you rank there.