America’s moving and storage industry is one of the most complex and diverse collections of businesses in the country. It consists of multi-million dollar companies and multi-thousand dollar ones; of large corporate organizations and “mom-and-pop” operations; of chief executive officers working in corporate suites and independent business people working in their trucks; and of van lines, their agency systems and independent movers.
Our Industry
Consists of 7,000 companies operating at 13,900 locations primarily providing moving and storage services for household and office goods Includes van lines, van line agents, independent full-service movers, international movers, forwarders, and auto transporters
Employs 122,600 people with an annual payroll of $3.6 billion
Is composed of mostly small businesses:
- 47.8% of industry companies employ fewer than 5 people.
- Only 8.5% of industry companies employ 100 or more people. American Movers Association report operating a fleet of 50,000 trucks 32,000 tractor units for pulling semi-trailers and 18,000 straight trucks) regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and state motor vehicle agencies.
Our Services
Cord Moving and Storage‘s suite of services includes local and long-distance transportation of household and office goods; warehousing and storage services; packing and packaging services; process, distribution, and logistics consulting; merchandise sales and other services. Industry revenue from these services totals more than $12.6 billion annually. The following three areas combined account for 97.3% of revenue:
- 69.6% from local or long-distance transportation service
- 20.2% from warehousing and storage services
- 7.5% from packing and packaging services
- Interstate shipments by type:
- Household goods: 73% (including 12 military and 1% other federal government)
- Computers, copiers and other electronic office equipment: 20%
- Exhibits and trade shows: 6%
- Office and institutional: 1% (mostly local moves)
- Breakdown of household goods shipments by type:
- Individuals: 44%
- Corporate: 37%
- Military: 17%
- Other federal government: 2%
- by professional movers: 800,000
- Americans who move (annual percentage): 11.7% Americans who move (annual number): 35.9 million, or 15.3 million households @ 2.34 persons per household
- Ten most active states – outbound household goods
- Ten most active states – inbound household goods
- 9.8% moved within the same state
- 1.55% moved to a different state
- 0.337 moved from the US to another country
- Of Americans who moved (35,918,000):
- 83.8% moved within the same state
- 13.2% moved to a different state
- 0.33% moved from the US to another country
- Reason for moving (US Census questionnaire for 2012-13):
• Wanted new or better home/apartment – 14.8% • Other family reason – 14.8% • Other housing reason — 14.0% • To establish own household – 10.4% • New job or transfer – 9.0% • Wanted cheaper housing – 8.3% • Wanted to own home, not rent – 5.8% • To be closer to work/easier commute – 5.4% • Change in marital status — 5.0% • Wanted better neighborhood/less crime – 3.2% • Other job-related reason – 2.3% • To look for work or lost job – 2.1% • Foreclosure/eviction – 1.8% • Other reasons – 1.3% • Retired – 0.7% • To attend or leave college – 0.6% • Health reasons – 0.4% • Natural disaster – 0.05% • Change of climate – 0.03%