The USMPO is an organization here to protect long distance moving customers from making the wrong decisions. In efforts to protect and optimize the shipper experience, the USMPO now provides complimentary relocation assistance to qualified residential households and commercial office spaces.
Using a USMPO relocation assistant would delegate the logistics of your move into the hands of an expert. Protecting your assets and finances from the most common, misleading sales tactics that take advantage of shippers. Work with certified carriers, compare multiple options, and feel confident enough to pay them after they complete their service. You can learn more about the mission and strategy of the USMPO here.
WHO IS IT FOR:
Relocation assistants are for residential households, commercial office spaces, and large corporations who need assistance relocating long distance. Shippers who are already in the move process, or with an existing reservation can also have their carrier audited.
WHAT DO THEY DO:
A relocation assistant is a moving expert trained and certified by the USMPO to organize and coordinate trucks and crews. The individuals are licensed and in charge of setting things up. Managing the entire relocation process as the shipper’s designated point of contact.
Most notably, relocation assistants work with shippers to protect their payment and distribute it to the movers based on milestones of completion throughout the move.
When you pay a moving company before they deliver your goods, you have all risk and no leverage. It’s silly to risk putting all your household belongings on a truck and paying them upfront. However, most companies will not hold a reservation on their calendar unless there is a financial commitment from the shipper. That’s exactly where the USMPO, and their carrier certification comes into play.
Carriers operating with integrity are certified by the USMPO. They are confident enough to get paid after completing their service. When a carrier is certified by the USMPO, they agree to accept payment distribution through a third party escrow service. This allows the USMPO to distribute funds only after the customer has received satisfactory.
WHY DO THEY DO IT:
The FMCSA estimates that their database has over 5000 licensed moving companies and brokers registered. Which is way too many for just one small organization to regulate and enforce standards of quality control. The FMCSA created the USMPO to assist in identifying fraudulent moving companies. Improving its record keeping. Its purpose is to serve, and protect. Educate consumers in the moving industry in order to optimize logistical efficiency and improve industrywide customer service.
HOW IT’S DONE:
Have you ever wondered why companies like Amazon, Walmart, or the UPS are so efficient logistically? It’s because they use commercial freight trucks. The USMPO also utilizes commercial freight trucks and combines them with local crews at pickup and drop-off.
The USMPO assistants are in charge of coordinating the logistics and being your dedicated point of contact throughout the process. Trucks that transport freight usually can’t move household items. The USMPO certifies carriers who can carry both. These carriers are the most experienced in combining the parallel technologies within both industries that complement each other.
HOW TRADITIONAL MOVING COMPANIES WORK VS THE USMPO:
Traditional long distance moving companies typically pickup your stuff and load it into a warehouse. Since its not profitable for them to drive the distance with less than full truck. They either wait weeks to fill up the truck or sell the delivery portion of your job to the lowest bidder. Lots of loading and unloading, and this is how things get lost or damaged.
The USMPO offers multiple options depending on your budget and timeline. By utilizing commercial freight trucks and combining them with local crews at pickup and drop-off. Your items are delivered in the most efficient and cost effective method. The USMPO has also centralized a gps database of their certified trucks. Allowing relocation assistants to dispatch loads to carriers with available space, headed to your destination.
A beta version of this dispatch tool has recently been unveiled at usmpo.org/find-a-carrier. Allowing customers to post their moves and match with certified carriers on route. The USMPO assistants are in charge of coordinating the complete logistical process, and being your dedicated point of contact throughout.
PAYMENT PROTECTION:
The USMPO makes sure that you are safe from scams and fraud during your move. It is reliable and protects you from unethical sales tactics.
You should never pay payment directly to the company that will also have the possession of your belongings and valuables. That leaves you without leverage. However, majority of service providers will not reserve space without a financial commitment.
The USMPO utilizes an intermediary escrow service that holds your payment. And distributes it based on completion milestones throughout the move. Certified carriers approved by the USMPO guarantee secure payments and quality services for the entire move. They receive their payment only after completing their work.
An escrow is holding the money, so you can move it to another provider or back to your account. But you can get a refund for reservations before you receive services.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, Sometimes doing your own research doesn’t cut it. Delegate your tasks to a USMPO certified relocation assistant who can help you save time and money. So you can focus on the laundry list of other tasks associated with relocating to another state. The benefits of using a USMPO certified relocation assistant include, working with one designated assistant. Comparing multiple options, and protecting your payment from changing on the day of the move.