Local Moving vs. Long Distance Moving

There is a huge mindset difference between the two types of moving companies, as well a slight difference in resources.

Local Moving focuses on quick turn around times. You utilize your resources for shorter bursts of time and more frequently. You typically will use straight box trucks for the ease of residential travel, and standard drivers with local company men to help load and unload. The goal is to do as may jobs in a day as possible and keep the days fully booked. Customers are typically paying fees mostly made up by the items and difficulty of the locations. Local movers are typically independent with their own brand and keep the money they make.

Long Distance focuses on filling up trucks with as many jobs as possible. Semi-trucks are used for the maximum space, allowing the company to put multiple people on one truck and deliver the goods to each stop along the way to the final destination. CDL drivers are used to transport the customers belongs and typically hire local helpers (lumpers) when outside of town. The biggest goal is to keep the trucks full along the way or on the way back. This means find other jobs going the same direction that can be picked up along the way, and more on the way back. Customers are typically fees made based on the distance traveled and the truck space used.

Typically a Long Distance mover is affiliated with a van line or carrier such as United, Atlas, Mayflower, Wheaton, etc. These are groups of movers who work together to cover the entire united states and file under one US DOT number to be allowed to transport cross state lines. Van lines help keep your trucks filled on the way there and back. Being part of a van lines typically means you are rolled into their brand and have to use their ways of doing things. They will take a cut of your jobs and you will also get the ability to make a percentage on jobs you book that other agents complete (booking agent commission).