Most moves go fine. The ones that don’t usually go wrong before moving day, at the moment someone picks a mover off a cheap quote without checking who they are. The good news is that checking is free and takes about as long as a cup of coffee. Here’s how to choose a moving company in Omaha, step by step, and the red flags that should send you to the next name on your list.
Step 1: Know Who Regulates Your Move
Who checks up on your mover depends on where you’re going.
| Your move | Who regulates it | What the mover needs |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Nebraska (Omaha to Elkhorn, Bellevue to Lincoln) | Nebraska Public Service Commission | A Nebraska household goods mover license |
| Out of state (Omaha to Denver, Kansas City, anywhere across a state line) | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) | Federal registration and a USDOT number |
In-state moves. Since July 1, 2021, any mover hauling household goods for hire within Nebraska has to be licensed by the Public Service Commission, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 75-304.03. The PSC’s motor carrier rules require licensed movers to carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance and $5,000 in cargo insurance. One thing the PSC doesn’t do anymore is set prices. Licensed movers set their own rates.
Out-of-state moves. FMCSA says interstate movers must be registered with the federal government and have a USDOT number.
Step 2: Look Up the Mover
This quick check catches a lot of problems before they start.
- Nebraska license. The PSC keeps a list of licensed household goods movers. You can also call the PSC at (402) 471-3101. (You’ll find Easy As Pie on that list.)
- Federal registration. FMCSA’s mover search shows a company’s headquarters location, registration status, complaint information and safety information. Our USDOT number is 4345362 if you want to try it on us.
- Reviews. Read a mover’s Google reviews, especially the bad ones, and how the company responded. FMCSA also suggests checking with the Better Business Bureau and local consumer protection agencies.
- A real address. Make sure the company has a physical location, and that the name on the website matches the name on the paperwork.
Step 3: Find Out If You’re Talking to a Mover or a Broker
A moving company has its own trucks and crews. A broker doesn’t. It books your move and hands it to another company. According to FMCSA, brokers have to:
- Show their physical business location, MC number and the fact that they’re a broker
- Use only movers registered with FMCSA
- Give you a list of the moving companies they use
- Base estimates on the tariff of the mover that will actually haul your things
Brokers aren’t automatically bad. But you deserve to know who’s showing up. Ask straight out: “Will your own trucks and your own employees do my move?”
Step 4: Get Written Estimates the Right Way
FMCSA’s five steps to select a mover start with getting a written estimate based on an actual inspection of your things, from more than one mover. Nebraska’s rules for in-state moves also call for a written estimate of the total cost before the move.
Give every mover the same information so the quotes are comparable: rooms, big furniture, stairs and elevators at both ends, and specialty items. Our guide on getting an accurate moving quote has the full list of questions to ask, and our hidden moving fees guide covers the charges to look for in the fine print.
Step 5: Read the Paperwork Before Moving Day
For in-state moves, Nebraska’s rules say a licensed mover has to give you, before the move: a written estimate, a signed order for service, an inventory, a bill of lading (your contract and receipt), a description of its rates and charges, its liability limits and valuation options, and a summary of how it handles complaints.
For out-of-state moves, your mover has to give you FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and its “Ready to Move” brochure. Pay attention to valuation. FMCSA explains that the free option, Released Value, covers no more than 60 cents per pound per article. Full Value Protection covers replacement value but costs more.
Either way, don’t sign blank documents, and don’t let anyone hand you the contract for the first time while your couch is already on the truck. At Easy As Pie, your full moving agreement, including your valuation coverage options, arrives when you book.
Red Flags of a Moving Scam
FMCSA’s Protect Your Move red flags are worth reading in full. The big ones, plus a few we’d add:
- A quote far lower than everyone else’s. Lowball quotes are how a lot of bad moves start.
- A demand for cash or a large deposit before the move.
- A long distance price with no look at your things. For interstate moves, FMCSA lists a phone-only or online-only estimate, with no on-site or video survey, as a red flag. (For a local hourly move, a detailed quote by phone or text is normal.)
- No written estimate, or “we’ll figure out the cost after loading.”
- Blank documents to sign.
- No local address and no registration or insurance information on the website.
- A phone answered with “Movers” instead of the company’s name.
- “Our insurance covers everything.” FMCSA flags this one specifically.
- A rental truck shows up instead of a company-owned or marked truck.
- “You have more stuff than we estimated,” followed by a much bigger price once your things are loaded.
What a “Hostage Load” Is
The worst-case scam is a mover who loads your things, then refuses to deliver unless you pay far more than you agreed to. On interstate moves, FMCSA’s booklet says the mover must hand over your shipment if you pay 100% of a binding estimate or 110% of a non-binding estimate, and a mover that won’t is “holding your shipment hostage in violation of Federal law.” Nebraska’s rules say a licensed mover hands over your goods once the charges are paid or other satisfactory arrangements have been made.
If Something Goes Wrong
- In-state moves: File a complaint with the Nebraska PSC using its transportation complaint form. For damage claims, Nebraska’s rules say the mover must acknowledge your written claim within 30 days and pay, deny or make a firm offer within 120 days.
- Out-of-state moves: File a complaint through FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database or call 1-888-368-7238. FMCSA says to file a written damage claim with your mover within 9 months of delivery.
Where Easy As Pie Fits
We’d love to be on your shortlist, but check us the same way you’d check anyone. Here’s what you’ll find:
- Licensed and insured, USDOT 4345362, with liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage
- Background-checked crews in matching Easy As Pie gear
- Your moving agreement and valuation coverage options when you book
- Damage claims handled through the process Nebraska requires of licensed movers
- 5.0 stars across more than 600 Google reviews (as of October 2026)
- We don’t drop moves to fit in a bigger job
Want to know who you’d be hiring? Read more about our team.
Choosing a Moving Company FAQs
How do I check if a moving company is licensed in Nebraska?
Look for the company on the Nebraska Public Service Commission’s list of licensed household goods movers, or call the PSC at (402) 471-3101. For out-of-state moves, search the mover’s USDOT number on FMCSA’s website.
What’s the difference between a moving company and a moving broker?
A moving company has its own trucks and crews and does the move. A broker books your move and hands it to a moving company. Brokers have to say they’re brokers and list their MC number and physical address.
How many movers should I get quotes from?
FMCSA recommends written estimates from more than one mover. Two or three detailed, written quotes is usually enough to spot an outlier.
Is it a red flag if a mover asks for a deposit?
Not by itself. A demand for cash or a large deposit before the move is the red flag. Ask what the deposit is, when it’s refundable and get it in writing.
Ready to Check Us Out?
Look up our USDOT number, read our reviews, then request your free estimate. Your moving agreement arrives when you book, with every rate spelled out.
Prefer to ask us anything first? Call (402) 200-4661.
