May is National Moving Month. Is Your Team Ready?
National Moving Month marks the start of peak moving season, with May kicking off a surge in relocations across the country. For household goods carriers, this is a critical time to fine-tune operations, ensure compliance with applicable laws for mover businesses, and prepare staff for increased demand. From vehicle readiness to customer communication, small adjustments can help your business stand out during the busiest time of year.
Need a refresher on UTC requirements before the season ramps up? Visit our Household Goods Carriers page.
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Non-Permitted Carriers Are Competing for Your Jobs
Unpermitted household goods movers are operating outside the law and taking business from compliant companies like yours.
Unpermitted movers:
- Do not follow the same laws, rules, or tariff requirements you do
- May undercharge or overcharge customers
- Might not carry the required insurance
- May not meet UTC fitness standards, including criminal background checks
- Often rely on a business license alone, which does not authorize HHG moving services
Report a Suspected Illegal Moving Company
Can’t find a moving company’s permit? Suspect they're operating illegally? Let us know.
Are Your Drivers Still Qualified?
Moving companies must regularly review each driver's motor vehicle record, at least once every 12 months, to ensure the driver meets the safety requirements or is not disqualified from operating a motor vehicle. These records can be obtained from the state driver licensing agency where the driver is licensed.
Have a safety question? Reach out to askmotorcarriersafety@utc.wa.gov.
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New Household Goods Carrier Permits
The commission has issued new Household Goods Permits to the following companies in Washington:
Online Self-Paced Trainings
The commission offers self-paced online training for passenger transportation companies and household goods moving companies. These courses allow you to start and stop at your convenience but must be completed within 30 days, including a final knowledge test.
Passenger transportation training covers topics like insurance requirements, driver qualifications, hours of service, and safety compliance. Household goods training includes consumer protection, annual reports, and transportation safety.
Access training modules from your dashboard and complete them on your schedule.
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Live Virtual Trainings
The commission offers free training for household goods moving companies. Each training is held virtually on Microsoft Teams, and begins at 8:15 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.
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Upcoming Trainings
- Wednesday, June 18, 2025
- Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025
- Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Looking for Forms or Information?
The commission’s website is your go-to source for essential documents, including laws, tariffs, rules, and commission-approved forms like the bill of lading and estimate and cube sheet inventory. Using incorrect forms can lead to penalties or violations. You can also access the Motor Carrier Safety Guide for helpful compliance resources.
Find these resources and more at www.utc.wa.gov/MovingCompanies.
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