1,824 moving companies are federally registered in Chicago, Illinois, including 8 brokers that resell moves to carriers you never chose. Each listing below links to a full federal report: license status, real fleet size, and four years of consumer complaints by category.
A quote from a Chicago company means little until you know who is quoting: a carrier with trucks and crews in the area, or a sales office reselling your move. That distinction is the first line of every report, and it decides how your moving day actually goes. When comparing companies here, also check the wider Illinois list: reputable carriers a town over often beat a risky mover next door.
26,246
trucks on file with FMCSA
1,201
run on 1 or 2 trucks
50
federal complaints in 4 years
Complaints against Chicago movers, year by year
Consumers filed 50 federal complaints against Chicago-based moving companies in the last four years, spread across 13 of the 1,824 registered companies. The rest have no complaint on file with FMCSA.
2023 16 complaints
2024 6 complaints
2025 14 complaints
2026 14 complaints
What people complain about most
One complaint can be filed under several categories. The most cited categories for Chicago movers:
- Estimates/Final Charges: 21 mentions
- Deceptive Business Practices: 16 mentions
- Loss and Damage: 16 mentions
- Claim Settlement: 14 mentions
- Shipment Documents: 13 mentions
Most complained-about movers in Chicago
Ranked by total federal complaints over the last four years. A high count at a large van line can simply reflect volume; open the report and read the categories before judging.
Common questions about Chicago movers
How do I check a mover in Chicago, IL?
Search its name or USDOT number on MoverAudit. The report card shows the license, carrier or broker status, fleet size and four years of federal complaint history for any of the 1,824 moving companies registered in Chicago. The search is free and needs no account.
Are there broker offices among Chicago moving companies?
8 of the 1,824 companies registered in Chicago hold broker authority only, which means they resell your move to a carrier you never chose. Each one is flagged in the first line of its report.
What should I look at before booking a Chicago mover?
Three rows on the report: carrier or broker, fleet size against what the salesperson promised, and the Hostage Goods complaint row. A company with no trucks, broker-only authority or a hostage-load complaint deserves a hard pass, whatever its star ratings say.