We have heard horror stories from a couple of customers about hiring movers they found on uShip. And we have heard some positive experiences as well. It seems like a decent service that can save you money if you are shipping just one or a few items - most moving companies have minimum charges that even single item moves are subject to but uShip service providers may charge less. For larger shipments we have received some negative feedback, mostly due to the fact that the customer chose an unlicensed service provider and his insurance was not adequate. If the mover you choose does not have a valid license (USDOT operating authority) then the mover is likely not insured and is not following all of the safety requirements and regulations that a licensed carrier must adhere to. Without the proper insurance policies you could be out of luck in the event of a major disaster on the road or even in case of relatively minor small damages. If the vehicle being used to transport your items is not properly registered then a state trooper could stop the driver and impound the vehicle, which is certainly a headache that no customer should have to handle.

We think it is always better to go with a licensed and insured professional moving services company for an interstate move. There are so many moving companies out there that offer wonderful service while managing to follow all DOT regulations and requirements. There’s no reason to risk your wordly possessions to save a few dollars by going with an unlicensed company or some guy with a truck. There’s a reason the moving industry is heavily regulated; going outside that regulated zone is not a risk worth taking when it comes to relocating your entire life.

It is illegal for a household goods mover to operate without a license to conduct moves. You can check that your mover is licensed in Texas by checking the FMCSA Safer Database. Because all licensed movers in TX must also maintain a valid USDOT certificate be sure to note whether their operation is listed as interstate or intrasate only on the Safer website.

Prices and services offered vary from mover to mover, so you should shop around before hiring a licensed mover to find the best deal that suits your needs. Keep in mind that the lowest price may not be the best deal. Be sure to take into account what is included in the price, such as disassembly/reassembly of furniture, disconnection/reconnection of appliances, wrapping of items, packing or materials, fuel, insurance, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you get everything in writing. Licensed movers are insured and will provide you with the proper documents for your move. Read all documents before you sign your name to make sure you understand what you are getting for the price you are paying.

Even though most movers are legitimate and reputable, unwary consumers may fall prey to dishonest moving companies and could lose more than just what they paid to have their items moved. TXDMV wants you to “Move SMART by choosing a licensed mover. Move SAFE by hiring a licensed mover. Move TEXAS by only using a licensed mover.”

Elephant Moving and Storage is licensed, bonded and insured for your protection. Our TXDMV certificate number (for intrastate moves) is 000613531B and our USDOT certificate number (for interstate moves) is 1710619. We carry cargo insurance, vehicle insurance, general liability insurance, warehouse insurance and we are bonded; a copy of our certificate of insurance is available upon request. All of our employees are regular, trained employees, not subcontractors or day labor. We want to make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible and that we are providing you with the highest quality service for your move. Please always feel free to ask questions if you do not understand your paperwork or are unclear on any aspect of your move and what is included for your rate.

Get your local or cross country Austin moving quote now!

Place an order for moving boxes and packing materials now!

Place an order for earth friendly packing crate rental!

Our super durable packing crates are the easiest way to pack your home - no need to spend time building boxes and getting tangled in tape! They are waterproof, crushproof, and incredibly sturdy so no need for excessive use of packing paper and bubble wrap to ensure items are protected (and reducing the amount of padding materials needed cuts down even more on the waste produced by packing and moving). The crates are stackable and easy to move, and when you are done unpacking we pick ‘em up and get ‘em out of your way! Elephant Moving and Storage offers free crate delivery and pickup in the Austin metro area.

In order to help keep Austin free of waste and to encourage our customers to pack their homes using our green alternative to traditional boxes, Elephant Moving and Storage is offering FREE CRATE RENTAL with every move in the Austin and surrounding area until the end of February!

Click here to learn more about our plastic crate rental program!

Click here to get an estimate for your upcoming local or interstate move!

• Use up all your food, so you don’t have to move it. Plan for fridge/freezer items
• Defrost freezer/refrigerator. Place charcoal to dispel odors.
• Have appliances serviced for moving.
• Clean area rugs and have them wrapped for moving.
• Plan for the special needs of children, pets, and plants
• If using a moving company, check:
  • Insurance coverage
  • packing and unpacking labor
  • arrival day plans
  • paperwork
  • method and time of expected payment
• Ask about regulations for pets, including licenses, vaccinations, tags, leash laws, etc.

On Moving Day:

• Carry traveler’s checks for quick available funds.
• Carry currency, jewelry and important documents yourself, or use registered mail.
• Double check closets, drawers, shelves; assure they’re empty.
• Leave all keys needed by the new owner.
• Let close friends or relatives know the route and schedule you will travel including overnight stops

Get your local or cross country Austin moving quote now!

Place an order for moving boxes and packing materials now!

Place an order for earth friendly packing crate rental!

Brokers must include their USDOT number in their advertisements and on their websites; they must provide the same consumer information brochures as required of interstate household goods carriers; they must make clear their policies on deposits, cancellations, and refunds; and by January 1, 2012, must provide an increased $25,000 surety bond (currently it stands at $10,000). Brokers can now only provide estimates performed by authorized carriers with whom the broker has a current agreement, and then only based on the carrier’s tariff. Physical surveys are required for shipments located with 50 miles of the authorized carrier’s place of business. An electronic waiver of the physical survey is permitted only if agreed to by both the carrier and the shipper. Broker advertisements and internet sites may now only include names and logos of FMCSA authorized carriers with whom the broker has a current agreement. The American Moving and Storage Assoc (AMSA) also recommend that broker fees or charges should be separately identified on estimates, and clearly distinguishable from transportation charges. These changes mean that consumers should have a much easier time figuring out if the company they are dealing with is a broker or an actual moving company.

Your Austin moving company is aware of the increase in move requests at this time of year, so scheduling is highly supervised in order to ensure that we are able to maintain our high quality services on every move that schedules. Elephant Movers makes careful efforts not to overbook our calendar in order to make sure we can provide every customer with an accurate time for his move and the high quality services we are known for.

Elephant Moving maintains crews of professional movers all year round (we don’t use day labor or sub contactors); our field crews are trained in how to maneuver and transport house hold goods in the most careful and efficient manner using techniques that have been developed by us over 12 years in the moving industry. Every crew member goes through a background check and doesn’t hit the field before he is a aware of all the aspects of household moving during the summer. As we all know, the temperature in Austin routinely climbs past 100 degrees Fahrenheit – Elephant Moving makes sure that the crew is capable of working in extreme weather conditions and that they have enough water with them for their day of work.

Your local Austin and San Antonio movers are affiliated with all the major truck rental companies in town in order to supplement our fleet of trucks whenever necessary. Elephant Moving can provide the trucks needed for any size move on short notice.

Summer is hectic, but with the right preparation your Austin movers make sure that every customer gets his money’s worth on each and every move!

As a local Austin moving company that works often in this growing area we have gathered some feedback from the field to help you pass moving day downtown faster, smoother and more efficiently.

Parking: make sure to reserve parking for the moving truck if necessary. Not all buildings downtown have a loading zone inside the parking structure, so if the moving truck needs to park outside on the street you want it to be able to park as close as possible to the entrance in a legal spot where the movers can load or unload without wasting time walking down the block and most importantly, without getting a ticket!

Elevators: reserve the freight elevator for the full amount of time that your Austin mover is expecting to load or unload. Ask the building maintenance to lock the elevator for your mover’s use during the entire estimated time of your move to avoid costly delays caused by waiting for the elevator or having to share with another building contractor.

Insurance: Some of the newer buildings require an insurance certificate from your mover – be sure to request this in advance and provide all of the building’s requirements to your Austin movers to avoid any delays or problems on move day.

Plastic Crate Rental: Did you know that Elephant Moving & Storage offers crate rental for commercial and residential moves in the Austin area? These earth friendly stackable crates cut down on waste, cut down on packing time, and best of all cut down on cost. Not only do they cost less than traditional cardboard packing materials, but they make your move a snap! The crates stack easily on one another and have special dollies to move them, which means your Austin mover will spend less time lugging boxes by hand, thus saving you even more.

Get your local or cross country Austin moving quote now!

Place an order for moving boxes and packing materials now!

Place an order for earth friendly packing crate rental!

Get your local or cross country residential or commercial moving estimate now!

Place an order for moving boxes and packing materials now!

Flat items such as pictures, mirrors, glass or stone tops and flat tvs are placed in the long narrow picture bin after being wrapped in heavy duty quilted blankets. The bin is then padded with more blankets to ensure the items do not shift while in transit. All of the items in this bin ride on their side or edge, so nothing is stacked on them and they are well protected.

Bulkier items such as small electronics, computer components and lamps are placed in a commercial bin, which is similar to the picture bin but wider. All items are individually wrapped in quilted blankets prior to being placed in the bin, and then the bin is padded with more pads to ensure the items are secure and can not move around.

For larger flat panel TVs we can provide a custom made wood and foam crate that is similar to our picture bins but sturdier. All of these bins and crates are provided free of charge for use on local moves. This saves quite a lot of money for our customers because these types of items usually require a lot of packing material. Simply inform our office that you have items of these types so that they can note it on the order for service. All trucks are equipped with a picture bin that can hold up to 7 pictures/mirrors and one to two commercial bins. If you have a lot of these items or have a large flat panel TV then the office will need to make sure the movers know to bring additional bins/crates.

For cross country moves these items will need to be packed, but ask your salesperson about the option to purchase cardboard bins – this may end up costing less than individual boxes.

Get your local or cross country residential or commercial moving estimate now!

Place an order for moving boxes and packing materials now!