FMCSA Filing Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions
General guidance for filing a consumer complaint about an interstate move. This page is educational and is not legal advice. A complaint states the complainant's allegations; filing one does not by itself prove the allegations or establish wrongdoing.
Before You File
Before You Sign
Before signing a settlement offer, release, NDA, or non-disparagement clause, consider consulting a qualified attorney. Don't assume such a clause is enforceable — or unenforceable — without advice.
Visual Evidence
Document damage or issues promptly with high-resolution photos and video. Preserve the original files and their metadata where possible.
Paper Trail
Gather every piece of documentation: inventory lists, bills of lading, estimates, and all email correspondence with the moving company or broker.
Prerequisites & Information Checklist
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Mover Details Company name, USDOT number, and MC number.
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Location Data Exact origin and destination addresses used for the move.
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Timeline Booking, pickup, and actual delivery dates.
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Financial Records Original estimates, revised estimates, and final bills.
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Digital Evidence Copies Scans of contracts, photos of damage, and emails ready for upload.
Actionable Filing Steps
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Initiate the Complaint
Use the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) online, or call the hotline at 1-888-DOT-SAFT.
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Identify the Company
Search for the moving company or broker using the USDOT or MC number from your checklist so the complaint is filed against the correct entity.
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Select an Issue Category
Choose the category that most accurately describes your issue in the agency's complaint system — billing, delivery, loss or damage, or another available category.
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Provide Timeline Details
Describe the sequence of events chronologically. If a release, NDA, or non-disparagement provision was proposed, describe it accurately and attach it if relevant.
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Upload Documentation
Attach the evidence you gathered: bills, photos, and correspondence. Keep your own copies of everything you submit.
Independence, Corrections & Right of Reply
MoverWatch is independently operated and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any moving company or broker, including Safe Ship Moving Services and Vellar Holdings LLC. This guide is general information, not legal advice. If you believe something here is inaccurate, email admin@moverwatchreports.com and we'll review it. Companies and individuals named on this site may submit corrections, responsive documentation, or a response for our review. MoverWatch may publish or link to an appropriate response, with reasonable redactions or formatting where needed.