What is a Certified Mover?

I understand moving is a stressful time in Atlanta, and the way moving companies price their moves may be confusing. Furthermore, deciding who will be the mover of your family's personal possessions and whom you invite into your home isn't a simple task either.
Thanks to the American Moving & Storage Association of America they have come up with a program to help you decide who is best for you. This program is called the AMSA Certified Mover and Van Line Program. Here is how it works:
The AMSA Certified Mover and Van Line Program is a voluntary program for movers who elect to participate by committing to provide a professional level of service, together with efficient complaint handling and dispute resolution services for their customers. It is ope to all AMSA members. AMSA Certified Movers and Van Lines are held to a high standard of performance as agreed to in the AMSA Code of Conduct.
Program Benefits
The AMSA certification program protects the public by providing an identifiable measure of competency, while aiding the moving industry by encouraging and recognizing high professional achievement. It also puts a strong emphasis on the value of a professional move and sends a positive message to potential customers, Federal and State political leaders and consumer groups.
Through self-regulation, the AMSA Certified Mover and Van Line Program serves to:• Improve the professionalism of industry employees.• Furnish a means of distinguishing consumer-oriented companies.• Assist companies in enforcing get-tough quality control policies.• Be an impetus to improve internal industry training programs.• Aid in recruiting better employees and contractors.• Ensure just and reasonable practices and rates.• Reduce claims and legal expenses.• Help to avoid unnecessary government regulatory burdens.• Provide a valuable marketing tool for participants.• Encourage growth in AMSA membership.
The Certified Mover and Van Line Program helps to protect the public by providing an identifiable measure of quality while, at the same time, enhancing the moving industry by encouraging and recognizing high professional achievement. Under the voluntary program, movers are required to observe a professional code of conduct and to provide service to their private transferee (C.O.D.) and, as an option, their corporate customers, in a manner that promotes confidence in the interstate household goods moving and storage industry. A certificate and a special seal that may be used in their advertisements identifies certified movers and certified van lines.
Listed below are several questions you should answer prior to committing to a moving company. If you answer "NO" to any of these questions, your mover is not in compliance with Federal Regulations.
1) Are they licensed and insured?2) Do they have their tariff filed and available to be viewed in their main office upon your request?3) Do they have an Arbitration Program available?4) Did they provide you with a copy of OCE-100 Your Rights and Responsibilities booklet?5) Did they provide you with a copy of their household goods dispute settlement program?6) Did they provide you with a copy of their complaint and inquiry handling procedure?7) Did they provide you with a high value and valuation information sheet?8) Did they provide you with a Ready to Move brochure?By choosing an AMSA Certified mover you are guaranteeing yourself a successful move and should something go wrong the mover is most likely going to take extra care of you so that they can keep their certification..