Every year, Mover-Help.com takes a deep dive into the moving industry to find that “diamond in the rough” moving company that is making the right moves. This year, Mastodon Moving has really caught the attention of our staff. Besides being a mover for athletes and celebrities – many high end realtors in the Boston area say this is the only mover they will recommend.
So, what is it about Mastodon Moving that really stands out from the other movers in the area which include past winners like Monster Movers and Gentle Giant.
Uniformed, Trained Professionals – Every one of Mastodon’s employees show up ready to work and in uniform. Since the pandemic, many residents have said movers are coming in ripped pants, sweatshirts and sometimes even sandals. Mastodon Moving reminds us of the old-school companies coming in simple black and white lettered trucks with lettered jackets and steel-toed boots. The movers themselves are not allowed to take personal calls, smoke or use poor language on any move and this is something the operation manager takes seriously.
Reliable – Every other moving company we looked at had at least one review where the crews did not show up on time and/or didn’t come at all. On moving day, this can create a load of un-needed stress.
Responsible – It is clear that the owner, JJ runs a tight ship. Every person on the moving team takes clear ownership of how moves are performed.
Facilities – You will be hard-pressed to find a nicer moving facility than the storage at Mastodon Moving. While the pandemic forced many moving companies into cheaper, smaller and less secure warehouses, Mastodon doubled down on safety. Their facility is so clean and managed 24/7.
It is really difficult to find a good moving company these days, but we are sure Mastodon is the best choice for 2023.
Here are our conclusive findings when researching the best moving company in America. We looked at multiple determining factors including moving company reviews, customer service, transparency of moving quotes and community presence.
Our first priority was finding a moving company that could move anywhere in the US
While many companies claim to be national, not all of them actually live up to this promise. Typically, van lines and larger private moving companies are the only companies that were up to this challenge. Some great local moving companies had one location like Meathead Movers in California who would move us from California to anywhere in the US but not from anywhere to California. That crossed Meathead and some other terrific moving companies off of our list.
FACTORS WE CONSIDERED WHEN FINDING THE BEST MOVING COMPANY IN THE USA
1. Offered several levels of liability protection.
All moving companies are required to offer the base liability level of $0.60 per pound, but this might not be enough coverage for you. If you’re using them to move your 50-pound television and it breaks, this level will reimburse you for $30.00. Monster Movers had a reputation of going above and beyond the $.60 per pound by 300%. Final Note: This moving company sticks by their promises.
2. Great Customer Reviews
All of our top moving companies excelled in inspection results and had low numbers of complaints overall. Delving into online review sites – most are owned by van lines, moving companies themselves or affiliates. Monster Movers has over 6,000 five star reviews across platforms like yelp, movincompanyreviews.com and our favorite customerlobby.com. You can read the moving company reviews here.
3. No Major Red Flags
Anyone can access the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which tracks and investigates customer complaints made against a moving company and lists the results of their truck inspections. Monster Movers had well above average ratings in all categories and only 2 customer complaints back in 2015 to date. We looked at complaints related to shipment documents, estimates/final charges, weighing, pickup and delivery, loss and damage, and claim settlement – all which Monster Movers scored in the top 5% of all moving companies.
4. Easy, Transparent Moving Estimate
One of the things we loved the most about Monster Movers was the ease and accuracy of receiving a quote. we required companies to be accessible. We looked for the ability get a quote fast in the manner that is easiest for you, whether that’s online, over the phone, or in person. Monster Movers offers all of these. Their moving quote button takes you to an online inventory – the only moving company we found that did this with complete accuracy. This generated an instant weight that consumers can see. Monster Movers also guarantees estimates based on this inventory eliminating the need to have an estimator come to your home. Although, this option is still available if needed.
5. Customer Service
We called each company’s customer service line and ranked it according to ease. Monster Movers was #1 in this category. Every office member can look up your move, notes on the move and get any question answered immediately. We wanted to discover how easy it was to reach a representative if we needed to schedule an estimate, get clarification on our bill, or check the status of a claim. We timed how long it took to get a human on the other end of the line — and how helpful that person was when they got there: Did they confidently answer our questions, or were they pushing us to schedule an estimate? Monster Movers staff outshined every other company by giving us information that others skipped over – even if it meant recommending another moving company to consider for example a containerized storage company which Monster Movers doesn’t offer.
Moving Companies have a notorious history of scamming consumers. Even movers with stellar customer reviews have been known to take advantage of customers. This handy-dandy article will guide you through 14 of the most common misconceptions about moving companies so you can protect yourself.
All movers that operate are licensed. Licensing of moving companies requires the movers to have insurance as well as a drivers license, etc. Make sure your mover is licensed and check the numbers! There are estimates of approximately 25% of movers are not licensed, which usually means the company in uninsured
All moving companies do background checks on their employees. A simple CORI check is so easy these days – find a mover who, at least, checks to make sure employees are not felons.
All long distance movers are created equal. Long distance movers need a specialized license awarded by the DOT. Find a long distance mover that gives a flat-rate price and guaranteed moving dates, trust me.
The movers are responsible for any damage. Moving companies are responsible, by law, for $.60/lb/article. Essentially if you have a table that weighs 100 lbs – you mover is responsible for $60. The best moving company offers full replacement value coverage as well – you know you are getting great movers or they would not offer this option.
All movers are shady. Some untrustworthy moving companies have really ruined this industry’s reputation. Truthfully, most moving companies are going to do a great job for you but consumers expect there to be an issue. Relax, hire Monster Movers.
Moving companies are disorganized. These days, movers have updated systems like truck tracking, moving company software and advanced logistical systems that make the industry much more smooth and organized.
Moving companies are too expensive. Whether you have a small studio moving in-state or a large home going across the nation – moving companies are always the better option.
