Interstate moves are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The rules exist to protect you, and a reputable mover follows them to the letter.
AmeriSafe Van Lines operates under USDOT 3341650 and MC 1066696, holding FMCSA authority as both an interstate motor carrier and a household-goods broker. Here is a plain-English summary of your rights, your responsibilities, and how to get help if something goes wrong.
Your rights as a shipper
- To receive the FMCSA booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" and the "Ready to Move" brochure before your move
- To a written estimate, and to know whether it is binding or non-binding
- To be charged no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery (the 110% rule)
- To have your shipment delivered within the agreed-upon dates
- To be present when your shipment is weighed, and to request a re-weigh
- To a level of liability for loss or damage, and to choose Full Value Protection
- To file a claim and have it acknowledged and resolved within federal timeframes
- To a dispute-settlement (arbitration) program for loss-and-damage disputes
Your responsibilities
- Read all documents before you sign, never sign a blank or incomplete form
- Provide an accurate inventory and disclose specialty or high-value items
- Be available, or appoint someone, at pickup and delivery
- Disclose anything that affects access, stairs, long carries, elevators, parking
- Pay the agreed-upon charges by the accepted method at the agreed time
- Note any loss or damage on the delivery paperwork before the crew leaves
Estimates & paperwork you should receive
Always keep copies of your written estimate, the order for service, the bill of lading (your contract, do not let the truck leave without it), and the inventory list. AmeriSafe puts every quote in writing (binding on qualifying interstate moves, so your estimate and your final price are the same number), and you are entitled to all of these documents regardless of which mover you choose.
How to avoid moving fraud
The most common interstate-moving scam is a company, carrier or broker, that gives a lowball phone quote, then holds the shipment hostage for a much higher price at delivery. Protect yourself:
- Verify the mover's USDOT number at fmcsa.dot.gov
- Insist on a video or itemized-inventory survey, never just a phone guess
- Never pay a large cash deposit up front
- Get everything in writing and keep your bill of lading
- Be wary of quotes far below everyone else's
Filing a complaint
If you have a problem you cannot resolve with your mover, you can file a complaint with the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov or by calling 1-888-368-7238. For AmeriSafe customers the fastest path is always your dedicated coordinator, but you always keep your federal right to escalate.
Moving with a licensed, transparent mover is the simplest way to keep all of these rights intact. If you have a question about any document or step in your move, your AmeriSafe coordinator explains it before you sign.