American Moving Industry Report

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. America's moving and storage industry is as diverse as the country itself.  As the industry's national trade group, AMSA represents all facets of the industry: agents, forwarders, independent carriers, international movers, suppliers and van lines.

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.

AMSA members 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.

AMSA consists of more than 4.000 member companies, including:

• 150 companies in 85 countries outside the US
• 200 companies in the industry's supply chain

AMSA is affiliated with a network of 26 state moving associations.

Our Services

Include 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 (2014 AMSA):

• Household goods: 73% (including 13% military and 1% other federal government)
• Computers, copiers and other electronic office equipment: 21%
• Exhibits and trade shows: 5%
• Office and institutional: 1% (mostly local moves)

Breakdown of household goods shipments by type (2014 AMSA):

• Individuals: 44%
• Corporate: 36%
• Military: 18%
• Other federal government: 2%

Interstate household goods moves, annual number: 3 million (Census estimate for 2007)

• by professional movers: 800,000
• by consumer with rented truck: one million
• by consumer unassisted: 1.2 million

Ten most active states - inbound household goods (2014 AMSA)

1. Oregon - 63% of shipments inbound
2. Florida - 62%
3. North Carolina - 59%
4. Texas - 58%
5. Idaho - 58%
6. South Carolina - 57%
7. Colorado - 56%
8. Arizona - 56%
9. Nevada - 55%
10. Tennessee - 55%

Ten most active states - outbound household goods (2014 AMSA)

1. New Jersey - 67% of shipments outbound
2. New York - 64%
3. Illinois - 62%
4. Connecticut - 61%
5. Pennsylvania - 60%
6. West Virginia - 59%
7. Ohio - 58%
8. Minnesota - 58%
9. Michigan - 57%
10. Maine - 56%

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

Of all Americans (307,243,000):

• 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 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% 
 

Moves without claim (percentage):

More than 80% of all moves have no claim filed (consistent for more than a decade - has been as high as 82%), and almost all (99.99%) claims are resolved before arbitration. Filed claims can include customer-packed shipments which may have contributed to damages.

Source: The above research is quoted from AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association)