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Methodology

The CMR Score

New: Certified vs Verified →

The CMR Score is a single rating from 1 to 10 that sums up how a long-distance mover performs across the things that actually matter on a move. It's an editorial score — built from verifiable evidence and hands-on review, re-checked every 3–6 months — not a popularity contest or a paid placement.

CMR Certified Approved badge

CMR Certified Approved

Our top picks earn the CMR Certified Approved seal — reserved for movers that clear our review across all five areas below. The seal is a shortcut for "we'd be comfortable recommending this to a friend."

What goes into a CMR Score

Every mover is evaluated on the same five areas. We weigh real, checkable evidence — licensing records, service details, coverage terms, pricing practices, and verified customer feedback — over marketing claims.

1

Carrier verification

We confirm active licensing and interstate authority (USDOT and MC numbers) and whether a company owns its trucks and crews or brokers the job to someone else. Direct carriers earn more trust for the added accountability.

2

Service & breadth

We map what each mover actually does — packing, crating, storage, auto transport, specialty and fragile handling — and weigh that breadth against the kinds of moves it takes on.

3

Protection & valuation

We look at the coverage options a mover offers, from basic released-value protection to full-value protection, and how clearly it explains claims — so you know what's actually protected.

4

Pricing transparency

We favor binding and Not-To-Exceed estimates and pricing you can hold a mover to, and we flag practices like large upfront cash deposits that tend to signal trouble.

5

Customer feedback

We read verified customer experience and complaint history across reputable platforms — and weigh how recent and steady that feedback is, not just the raw total.

How the score is built

We research each area, score it on the evidence, and combine those into one overall CMR Score out of 10. Then we re-check it every 3–6 months, because a mover's licensing status, pricing, and recent customer feedback can change. The goal isn't false precision — it's a consistent, comparable read so you can line up picks side by side and see how they differ.

1Higher = stronger across all five areas10

Most movers that earn the CMR Certified Approved seal land in the upper part of the scale. We still publish the exact score so you can compare two certified movers against each other, not just against a pass/fail line.

Independence. The CMR Score is editorial. We may earn a commission when you choose a mover through some links, and some companies advertise with us — but that never changes a company's CMR Score or where it ranks. Scores move only when the underlying evidence does. See our disclosure.

Where the evidence comes from

Scores draw on public licensing and safety records (FMCSA), accreditation and complaint data (such as the BBB), and verified customer reviews across reputable platforms — combined with our own hands-on editorial research. The specific sources are listed on our data sources page.

How the CMR Score fits the bigger picture

Our rating systemThe CMR Certified Approved badge and how reviews factor in How we rank moversThe full evaluation process, step by step Editorial methodologyThe principles behind our research Company reviewsSee CMR Scores on every mover we've reviewed

See the CMR Score in action

Browse the directory to see how movers compare on the same 10-point scale, or get matched with picks that fit your move.

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