When it comes to moving services in Houston, knowing if you need a local mover or a long distance service can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Different movers in the city will specialize in either local or long distance moves and some may even be able to provide both options.
In general, local movers are those that move within a geographic distance from a specific point. So, for example, you may find a local moving company that only moves within the city of Houston. Other companies that are considered local may move within 50 miles of the city while some may offer services that go well beyond that mileage. In this case, they may be called intrastate moves.
Long distance moves are generally considered anything over the company’s determination of a local move. These can be intrastate (from Houston to Dallas for example), or they can be interstate. Interstate moves would mean moving out of Texas to any other state.
The final option is an international move which means moving outside of the United States. Large companies may offer all three types of moves while most small companies are only local movers.
Differences
Besides just terminology, there are differences between local and long distance moves. These differences will include:
Billing by hour for local moves while long distance moves include services, mileage and other fees.
Local movers typically have the same crew complete the loading and unloading of the truck, although there can be exceptions, while long distance movers will have different teams at each location.
There are more charges for long distance moving services because of the distance and the additional cost to the moving company.
Long distance and local movers have to follow different regulations for interstate and intrastate hauling.
If you are not sure if your move out of Houston will need a local mover or a long distance company, contact a reputable moving service and ask. Remember, some of the larger companies offer both options, which can help you to book your move quickly with a mover with experience.
