The CMR Certified Approved standard
Companies that earn the CMR Certified Approved seal pass CMR's full certification review. Those movers are scored through that review instead of the six-factor rubric below.
The six factors behind every score
Every mover is scored on the same six factors, worth 100 points in total. The CMR Score shows that total on a 1 to 10 scale, so 87 points reads as 8.7. Complaint and federal records carry the most weight because they are checked against public records and measured against company size; online reviews carry less because they are easy to inflate on either side.
Complaint record · 35 points
FMCSA and BBB complaints measured against company size, how they were resolved, and whether the pattern is improving or getting worse.
Federal record · 20 points
Active USDOT authority, carrier or broker status, insurance on file and safety history, verified in FMCSA records rather than self-reported.
Price transparency · 15 points
Binding or not-to-exceed estimates, clear pricing breakdowns, stated deposit and cancellation terms, and no hidden fees.
Customer reviews · 10 points
Verified feedback blended across up to 6 platforms so no single site can swing the score.
Service range · 10 points
The moves a company actually handles: long-distance, specialty and fragile items, crating, auto transport and storage, with route-grounded evidence preferred over broad claims.
CMR review · 10 points
Our team's check of the estimate, contract and customer process.
Our evaluation process
Data collection & vetting
We verify each company's credentials and operational history: confirming active USDOT/FMCSA licensing, checking BBB ratings and complaint history, and reviewing years in business and insurance, and prioritize data we collect ourselves over self-reported claims.
Service & capability scoring
We assess the full range of services offered, from long-distance and specialty relocations to crating and storage. Companies earn higher scores when they show proven expertise across multiple move types.
Pricing & logistics transparency
We examine how movers handle estimates and communication: availability of binding/Not-To-Exceed quotes, clarity of breakdowns, and the fairness of claims and insurance processes.
Sentiment & reputation analysis
We review verified customer feedback from major platforms and look beyond the average: how companies resolve complaints, patterns in praise vs. problems, and satisfaction trends over time.
Disclosure and updates
No mover pays for its ranking or score, and we disclose how CMR makes money. Lists are re-evaluated every 3 to 6 months to reflect current performance and new customer data.
How we build the rankings
Every mover starts from the same six-factor score, built from firsthand research, verified public records and aggregated customer experiences. Each "best of" list (best long-distance, best for storage, and so on) then applies the fit criteria for that category, which we state on the list itself, so the mover at the top of a category page is the highest-scoring mover that actually fits the move. The full breakdown, with the points for each factor, is on our How we rank movers page.