Moving companies take legal possession of customers' most valuable personal property and transport it across town or across the country in large trucks driven by hourly workers. Every part of that operation creates insurance exposure. Cargo liability covers the goods. Commercial auto covers the trucks. WC covers the movers. GL covers the damage to the building. And warehouse legal liability covers the goods in storage. A moving company program that only includes auto and WC is missing the exposure that matters most to the customer — what happens to their stuff.
Cargo Liability (Moving Company Liability)The defining specialty coverage for movers. Covers loss or damage to customers' household goods or commercial freight in the mover's possession during loading, transit, and unloading. The federal Released Rate (60 cents per pound) is the default carrier liability — but it produces almost nothing for damaged electronics, antiques, or artwork. Full value protection coverage is what customers actually need and what creates claims. Cargo liability limits must be adequate for the highest-value single shipment the company handles.
Commercial AutoCovers the company's moving trucks, box trucks, flatbeds, and vans. Moving companies operate some of the largest commercial vehicles on the road — 26-foot box trucks, tractor-trailers, and specialized moving vans require commercial auto with appropriate limits. Federal DOT requirements mandate minimum liability limits for interstate carriers. Comprehensive and collision on the fleet is also essential given the cost of replacing large moving trucks.
Workers' CompensationMoving workers have one of the highest WC injury rates of any physical labor occupation — back injuries from lifting, falls from trucks and ramps, crush injuries from furniture and appliances, and repetitive motion injuries from constant loading. WC classification for movers (8380 — furniture movers) carries high rates. Accurate payroll reporting and aggressive return-to-work programs are the primary tools for managing WC cost for moving companies.
Commercial General LiabilityCovers bodily injury and property damage at customer locations beyond the cargo liability coverage — a mover who damages a door frame, a hardwood floor, or a staircase during a move creates property damage claims that the cargo policy may not address if the damage is to the building rather than the items being moved. GL also covers premises liability at the company's warehouse and office.
Warehouse Legal LiabilityCovers customer goods stored in the company's warehouse pending delivery or during storage-in-transit. If a customer's furniture is stored in the mover's facility and damaged by a fire, water leak, or theft, the mover is legally liable for those goods. Standard property policies cover the mover's own property — not customer goods in storage. Warehouse legal liability fills this gap.
Commercial PropertyCovers the company's warehouse facility, office contents, packing supplies, equipment (dollies, furniture pads, straps, ramps), and company-owned vehicles not covered under commercial auto. Many moving companies have significant inventory of moving equipment and packing materials that must be properly valued.
ACORD 125 — Commercial Insurance ApplicationPrimary submission document for moving company accounts. Capture whether the company does interstate or intrastate moves only, DOT number and authority type (household goods carrier, general freight), annual gross revenue, fleet size and vehicle types, and whether the company offers storage-in-transit or long-term storage.
ACORD 126 — Commercial General Liability SectionRequired for GL. Moving company GL must describe all operations — residential moves, commercial/office moves, specialty item moving (pianos, safes, art), and any warehouse or storage operations. Each adds distinct liability.
ACORD 130 — Workers Compensation ApplicationRequired for WC. Moving workers are classified under 8380 (furniture movers) or 7380 (trucking) depending on the primary operation. Accurate payroll by classification and prior WC loss experience for 5 years is essential for moving company submissions.
ACORD 163 — Motor Carrier SectionRequired for commercial auto submissions involving trucking or motor carrier operations. Captures DOT number, authority type, commodity hauled, radius of operations, and fleet details. Moving companies operating under FMCSA authority require this form in addition to ACORD 125.
→Does the company perform interstate moves (crossing state lines) or intrastate moves only?
→What is the FMCSA DOT number and MC number for interstate operations?
→How many trucks does the company operate? What are the types and sizes?
→What is the average value of a single household goods shipment?
→What is the highest-value single shipment the company has handled in the past year?
→Does the company move specialty items — pianos, safes, antiques, fine art, wine collections?
→Does the company offer storage-in-transit or long-term storage services?
→What is the total storage capacity in square feet and maximum stored goods value?
→Does the company do commercial/office moves in addition to residential?
→What is the annual gross revenue from moving vs storage operations?
→How many employees — drivers vs labor crew?
→Does the company use day labor or subcontract labor for any moves?
→What is the company's claims history for cargo damage in the last 5 years?
→What cargo liability limits does the company offer customers — released rate only or full value protection?
→Are drivers CDL-licensed for all vehicles over 26,000 GVW?
→What is the company's process for valuing and documenting high-value items before a move?
Complete moving company submissions in one workflow
AgencyAssist captures DOT authority, fleet details, cargo limits, storage operations, and payroll by classification through one intake link. ACORD forms generated automatically.