What is the difference between a moving broker and a carrier?

A carrier owns the trucks and employs the crews that perform your move. A broker is a middleman that takes your deposit and sells your move to a carrier you have never vetted. Always ask which one you are talking to and verify their DOT registration on the FMCSA website.

How do I check if a moving company is legitimate?

Verify their US DOT number on the FMCSA website, confirm they are registered as a carrier, get the flat rate in writing before loading, and be wary of large deposits. Discount Movers is a licensed carrier, US DOT #4372335, CA PUC #657376.

How to Avoid Moving Broker Scams

Quick answer: the biggest long-distance moving scams start with brokers — middlemen who quote low online, take your deposit, then sell your move to an unknown carrier. Protect yourself by verifying the DOT number of the actual company, getting the flat rate in writing before loading, and never paying a large deposit to someone who does not own trucks.

How the Broker Trap Works

You fill out a form on a slick website, get a surprisingly low quote by phone, and pay a deposit. What you may not realize: that company owns no trucks. They auction your move to whichever carrier accepts it cheapest. On moving day a truck you have never heard of arrives, reweighs or remeasures your belongings, and the price jumps — sometimes double. Refuse, and your belongings may sit in a warehouse until you pay. Federal regulators receive thousands of these hostage-load complaints every year.

Broker vs. Carrier: The One Question That Matters

Ask any long-distance mover: "Are you the carrier, or a broker?" A carrier owns the trucks and employs the crew that shows up. A broker sells your job. Discount Movers is a carrier — family owned in San Diego since 1997, US DOT #4372335, CA PUC #657376 — and the company that quotes your move is the company that loads, drives, and delivers it.

Five Checks Before You Book Any Long-Distance Move

Verify the DOT number on the FMCSA website — it shows whether they are registered as a carrier or broker, their fleet size, and complaint history. Our legal resources page has the direct lookup links.
Get the flat rate in writing before loading. A binding quote should not change unless you add items.
Beware deposits over a few hundred dollars — large upfront deposits are the classic broker pattern. We require no deposit to book.
Check the physical address. A real carrier has a yard full of trucks; brokers have a call center.
Read reviews for the delivery experience, not just pickup day — that is where broker moves fall apart.

What Booking a Carrier Looks Like Instead

One company accountable door to door. Our own 26-foot trucks and background-checked crews, a flat rate locked before we load, and delivery windows we control because we do the driving. See our long distance moving page or any of our state-by-state route pages for transit times and details.

Questions about a quote you got somewhere else? Call us at (858) 490-0155 — we will tell you honestly what to watch for, whether you book with us or not.