Long-Distance Movers — Coast-to-Coast & Interstate Relocation

What actually determines the price of a long-distance move

Long-distance moving is priced differently from local moving, and the difference catches people out. Local moves are usually charged by the hour. Long-distance moves are priced on weight and distance, with adjustments for access and timing. Here is what moves the number.

Weight. Not volume, not room count — the actual weight of your shipment. This is why decluttering before a quote is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce cost. Everything you do not move is weight you do not pay to transport across the country.

Distance. The mileage between origin and destination, on the route the truck can legally drive. Cost per pound falls as distance rises — the fixed costs of loading and unloading are spread across more miles — which is why a 2,000-mile move does not cost twice a 1,000-mile move.

Access at both ends. A ground-floor house with a driveway the truck can back into is the cheapest scenario. Costs rise with stairs, long carries from the truck to the door, lifts, permit requirements, and streets too narrow for a full-size trailer — which means a smaller shuttle vehicle has to ferry the load. We identify all of this during the video survey, which is precisely why the estimate can be binding.

Packing and materials. Full, partial or none — see our packing services for the breakdown.

Timing. Summer is peak season and the end of the month is peak within that. Late May through early September, and the last three days of any month, are the most expensive times to move. Mid-month, mid-autumn moves are the cheapest. If your dates are flexible by even a week, say so when you get your quote — it is often worth real money.

Special items. Pianos, safes, gun cabinets, large aquariums, pool tables, oversized art and anything needing crating are priced individually because they need particular equipment and handling.

Binding versus non-binding — the distinction that matters most

This is where most moving-day disputes come from, and it is worth understanding before you accept any quote from anyone.

A non-binding estimate is a guess. The mover estimates your weight, gives you a figure, then weighs the loaded truck on a certified scale. You pay based on the actual weight. If the guess was low — and it very often is — the price goes up, and you find out on delivery day when your possessions are already on a truck.

A binding estimate is a price. It is agreed in writing before the move, and it does not change, whether the shipment weighs more than expected or less.

We quote binding estimates. The price in your written estimate is the price you pay on delivery day. That is only possible because the video survey gives us an accurate picture of what is actually being moved — which is why we do the survey properly rather than pricing off a room count over the phone.

What “carrier, not broker” means for you in practice

A broker sells your move on to whichever moving company bids for it. You research one company, and a different one arrives — with its own crews, its own equipment, its own insurance and its own standards. If something goes wrong, the broker points at the carrier and the carrier points at the broker.

A Plus is a carrier. US DOT 3006268, MC 00026730. Our trucks, our crews, our equipment, our liability. Your move is never resold. The company you researched is the company that shows up, loads your things, drives them across the country and unloads them — and the same company is accountable if anything goes wrong.

How long a long-distance move takes

Transit time depends on distance and on whether your shipment shares a truck.

Shipments travel on a delivery spread — a window of days within which delivery occurs — rather than a single guaranteed date, because trucks running long-distance routes carry more than one household and drivers are bound by federally mandated hours-of-service limits. Shorter interstate moves typically deliver within a few days; coast-to-coast moves take longer. Your written estimate states your spread, and we call you with a firm delivery date once the truck is loaded and routed.

If you need a guaranteed date, tell us at quote stage — dedicated transport is available and is priced accordingly.

More questions

Can the price change after I have booked?

No. Your estimate is binding. The figure you agree is the figure you pay on delivery day — not an estimate that gets revised once the truck is weighed.

What is the cheapest time of year to move long-distance?

Mid-autumn through early spring, avoiding the last three days of any month. Summer and month-end are peak demand for every carrier in the country. Shifting your date by a week or two can make a real difference.

Do I pay before or after delivery?

A deposit secures your date, and the balance is due on delivery before unloading. We set the exact terms out in writing with your estimate so there are no surprises at the door.

What if my new place is not ready?

We offer storage between collection and delivery. Your shipment stays in our facility and delivers when you are ready. Mention it at quote stage and we will build it into your estimate.