Original research

Licensed Household-Goods Movers by State (FMCSA)

This dataset ranks U.S. states by the number of FMCSA-authorized household-goods (HHG) moving carriers based there. The federal census load is still populating for this environment; figures will appear here once ingestion has run.

Methodology

Counts are derived from the FMCSA Company Census, filtered to carriers whose authority includes household goods (HHG) and grouped by the carrier’s physical (headquarters) state. A carrier authorized to haul household goods can operate across state lines, so a state’s count reflects where movers are based, not the only places they serve. Figures update monthly as we refresh the census and per-carrier authority from the QCMobile API.

How to use this

A higher count generally means more local competition and capacity, which can help availability and pricing — but licensing is a floor, not a quality ranking. Always verify a specific carrier’s current authority, insurance, and safety record on SAFER before booking, regardless of how many movers a state has.

Frequently asked questions

What does "HHG-authorized" mean?
It means the carrier holds FMCSA operating authority that covers household goods — the regulated category for moving people’s home belongings across state lines.
Does a higher state count mean better movers?
No. The count measures how many licensed HHG carriers are based in a state, not their quality. Verify any individual mover’s authority, insurance, and safety record on SAFER.

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Sources