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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Moving Company in Boston?

Moving companies in Boston must obtain a carrier certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) before operating. It is your responsibility as a city resident to find out whether the DPU has licensed the moving company you intend to use. You can find a licensed moving company in your locality or confirm if your preferred mover is licensed by utilizing the online search portal provided by the DPU.

Movers in the city can obtain a carrier certificate by completing a household carrier application form online or mailing the completed form to the DPU. Applicants can fill and submit completed forms online, after which they can pay the application fees using the state's ncourt portal. To submit an online application, however, applicants must fill out the household carrier application form using either Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat and submit the form using the red button at the bottom of the form.

Applicants who do not wish to complete their application online can also do so by mailing the completed form to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities at:

Along with the application, each applicant must present proof of business registration, the company's balance sheet, a certificate of insurance, and a copy of their tariff. The DPU will arrange a hearing with each applicant after receiving the application.

The date and time of the hearing will be sent to applicants through email. Note that the owner of the moving company must attend the hearing. A carrier certificate will be issued to successful applicants after the hearing. For more information concerning the process and requirements for obtaining a carrier certificate, call the state's Department of Public Utilities at (617) 305 - 3559.

While a state-issued carrier certificate is required for intrastate moves, moving companies transporting household goods outside Massachusetts must undergo additional registration with the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration. Before you initiate this type of move, you should always confirm whether your preferred moving company has been registered to provide interstate relocation services using the online search portal provided by the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration.

In addition to obtaining a state-issued carrier certificate and registering with the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration, movers in Boston will need to register their business with the city. If the moving company owner decides to use a name other than their legal name, such a person must file a "doing business as" certificate with the Office of the City Clerk. This certificate is renewable every four years.

Moving companies must also meet other business regulations, such as complying with applicable tax responsibilities and insurance requirements. For more information concerning business requirements in the city, contact the Office of the City Clerk at (617) 635-4601.

How Much Do You Charge Compared with Other Movers in Boston?

Moving companies in Massachusetts, including Boston, must file their service rates with the state's Department of Public Utilities, and they can not charge more or less than the rates on file. As a result, you should always request a copy of the mover's rates on file with the DPU before finalizing any agreement with them.

You can do this by asking the mover for a copy of their service rates or contacting the DPU at (617) 305 - 3559. Note that you can also ask your moving company how the rates will be applied to the specific circumstances of your move if there are any other charges, and how or why the final cost might differ from the estimate.

While it is important to discuss rates with your potential moving company, it is equally necessary to seek more than one opinion when it comes to moving your items. You should speak to at least three moving companies and have each send a written estimate.

To get an accurate estimate, however, you must show the estimator everything you intend to move. Note that an estimate is not a contract, and choosing the mover that submitted the lowest estimate is not always the right move. Therefore, you should always compare these estimates and determine which is more detailed and clear. This is particularly important because comparing estimates from different moving companies protects you from overcharges and other potential issues.

Regardless of any estimate provided, however, you must understand that the final amount you must pay for your move is determined by the hourly rate, the amount of packing completed, and any other services the mover performs.

Boston's transportation and material moving workers earn an average annual wage of $44,590. The list below compares the hourly average wages earned by these workers in the city against those of transportation and material moving workers in other parts of Massachusetts State as well as several other major cities in the country:

Will You Get a Moving Permit as Required by the Boston Regulations?

While a moving permit is not legally required to operate a moving company in Boston, it is in the best interest of the moving company to get a moving truck permit to secure a parking spot on the day of the move. A regular moving truck permit in Boston reserves two parking places for one day. On the day of the move, permit holders may use these parking spaces at any time between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Interested persons can obtain a moving truck permit online or in person. Please remember that online applications are only accepted for movements occurring within two to four weeks of the application date. However, if the moving day is at least three days away but no more than four weeks away, the moving company can send a representative to apply in person at the city's Office of the Parking Clerk located at:

A one-day permit for a moving truck for two non-metered spaces costs $69 and includes two signs, whereas one-day permits for two metered spaces cost an additional $40. Online applicants can pay these fees with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or a debit card, while applicants who visit the Office of the Parking Clerk can pay cash.

Before applying for a moving truck permit, applicants should check if the space they want is available by utilizing the city's database of street occupancy permits. This will enable them to look for the nearest alternative if the initial space they wanted is no longer available. Queries concerning obtaining a moving truck permit can be directed to the Office of the Parking Clerk at (617) 635-2560.

Even though obtaining a moving truck permit is not mandatory, ensuring that your mover has obtained this permit is another way to protect not only the vehicle but also the items being transported. Another way to safeguard your items and avoid potential issues is by ensuring that your moving company is familiar with the city's parking restrictions. These restrictions include, but are not limited to:

• No parking, loading, or unloading a moving truck in a "no standing zone."
• No parking or making a drop off in a "no stopping zone."
• No parking for more than three hours on streets that require a resident parking permit sticker
• No parking on sidewalks, crosswalks, or blocked intersections

Failure to adhere to these packing restrictions may lead to fines and other statutory penalties. Moving companies can view the list of penalties for each type of parking offense on the parking ticket fines page. Call the Office of the Parking Clerk at (617) 635-4410 for more information concerning parking restrictions in Boston.

Furthermore, if the moving company will be moving your items out of Boston and if they will be driving on state highways, then you should ensure that the driver is familiarized with the state's regulations of specific roadways and bridges. Movers can learn more about the state's specific roadways and bridges' regulations by downloading and reading the States Traffic Rules and Parking Ordinances.

What Kind of Moving Services Do You Offer?

Moving companies in Boston offer various services, including local, long-distance, and interstate moves. Local moving generally involves moves that take place within Boston, as well as those that are less than 100 miles away. On the other hand, long-distance moves usually exceed 100 miles and include moves to locations outside the city.

Interstate moves are usually to locations outside Massachusetts and occasionally outside the United States. Regardless of where you are moving, it is crucial to confirm that your preferred mover specializes in providing the specific types of service you need.

In addition to these basic services, some moving companies in Boston offer specialized moving services tailored to meet their clients' specific needs. Moving precious objects such as antiques, packaging your belongings, and storing them are examples of additional services. Before hiring a moving company in the city, you should always ask if they provide these services and how they are billed.

To understand how these services are billed, you should get a written estimate detailing all the services offered and the cost of each. Listed below are cost estimates for some common moving services offered by professional moving companies in Boston:

Do You Provide Packing and Storage Services?

Hiring a moving company in Boston that provides packing and unpacking services and storage space saves you time and hassle. These movers typically employ people trained and experienced to handle your items carefully while getting the job done quickly.

Packing options typically offered by movers in Boston include:

• Partial packing and unpacking services
• Full packing and unpacking services
• Professional box handling and organization services
• Furniture assembly and disassembly services
• Used box pick-up and disposal services

While most household possessions require packing services before being moved, the circumstances surrounding a client's move may need them to request additional storage. Situations where clients in the city may require storage services include:

• They must relocate soon, and their belongings will not be safe at your previous address
• They need time to settle into their new home before moving their belongings in
• They know that the new apartment may not contain the items being moved

However, before agreeing to pay for packing or storage services, you should always confirm whether the moving company has the resources and equipment needed to perform the job properly. To be sure, you can visit the moving company's storage facilities beforehand. More so, you can ask how the packing materials will be sourced and how the materials and storage facilities will affect the cost of the move. Some moving companies allow customers to save money by providing their own packing materials, and it is wise to ask if your intended movers do this.

What is an Appropriate Tip for Your Movers in Boston?

It is common in the United States to tip a mover after they have completed their work, especially when they do so efficiently. Although tipping movers is not mandatory in Boston, many homeowners choose to do so to show appreciation for the services they have received. Nonetheless, even though tipping is an act of goodwill, city residents have a tough time determining the appropriate amount to give as a tip to their movers.

Many residents in the city offer their movers 5% to 10% of their total bill, or $3.50 to $15 per hour of work completed, as tips. However, depending on the nature and difficulty of the service rendered by the movers, a homeowner may choose to tip them more. Factors that may compel a homeowner to adjust the amount to offer as a tip include:

• The mover's punctuality
• The number of items to be moved
• The weather conditions on the day of the move
• How fast the job is done
• How many flights of stairs movers are required to travel to get your items

While it is customary to tip movers after they have done a good job, it is equally normal to notify your movers when you are not satisfied with their services.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Movers in Boston?

With transportation and material moving workers accounting for 20% of all on-the-job accidents that necessitated time off in the United States in 2018, it is always in your best interest to ensure that your preferred mover carries the right insurance policies. This will cover you not only against on-the-job injuries but also from property damage.

Every moving company registered with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), including movers in Boston, must purchase cargo insurance. Nonetheless, movers in the state offer a base rate called a declared rate, which is usually filled with the DPU. The base rate restricts your mover's ability to compensate you for damaged items to 60 cents times the item's actual weight.

Some movers, however, offer to increase the declared value above 60 cents. As such, you should always verify if this option is available from your preferred mover. If you will be moving items of special value, such as antiques, you must also inquire about additional coverage for these items. This is especially crucial because mover's cargo insurance does not cover items of extraordinary value. As a result, it is always good to request proof of insurance coverage from the company, and a list of articles not covered by the insurance. You should also check with the insurance provider responsible for these policies to see if they are still active. It is important to remember that hiring an uninsured mover exposes you to the risk of sharing the cost of on-the-job accidents and loss of your belongings.

Can You Provide References or Recommendations in Boston?

Before hiring a moving company in Boston, you should request references or letters of recommendation from satisfied past clients. References and letters of recommendation prove the company is a good fit for you. As such, you should avoid hiring a moving company that fails to provide references or letters of recommendation from previous clients. However, some unscrupulous people may produce bogus references or letters of recommendation. As a result, you should always double-check any reference you are given by contacting these previous clients and asking for a first-hand review.