Interstate Move
What makes a move interstate and why federal household-goods rules may apply.
Published 4 Sep 2026 · Updated 4 Sep 2026. Sources, scope and corrections
TRE Dictionary
Interstate Move
An interstate move involves transportation of household goods in interstate commerce. This commonly means a move between states, but interstate status can also depend on the transportation path and the intended movement of the shipment.
In plain English
A move does not have to be understood only by where the truck happens to stop. Federal guidance looks at whether the household-goods transportation is interstate in character.
Why it matters
Interstate household-goods moves are subject to federal consumer-protection requirements administered by FMCSA, including Part 375 requirements for covered household-goods motor carriers.
TRE common-language definition
Interstate Move: A household-goods relocation transported in interstate commerce and subject to applicable federal household-goods transportation requirements.
Related terms
Intrastate Move · Carrier · Broker · Bill of Lading · FMCSA
Sources & Evidence
- FMCSA — Regulations and Enforcement of Interstate Moves
- FMCSA — Protect Your Move FAQ
- FMCSA — General Requirements (Subpart A)
The Relocation Ecosystem provides educational information and does not provide legal advice. Interstate status can be fact-specific.
Who this affects and where it sits
Customer · Carrier · Broker · Coordinator · Origin and destination crews. Establish the shipment’s jurisdiction before quoting and preserve the classification across storage, transfers and delivery.
Responsibility and handoff
Record the whole shipment’s intended route and the company responsible for each leg. The coordinator should pass the applicable documents and customer contact details to each receiving provider.
Common misunderstanding
A nearby delivery does not establish that the whole move is intrastate. “Long-distance” is a service description, not a substitute for determining jurisdiction.
Compare local, intrastate and interstate moving → · Intrastate state requirements →
Reviewed September 4, 2026: connected the jurisdiction guide and state pilot and added handoff context.
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