Methodology & Data Sources

Data Sources

  • BLS OES 2023 (SOC 53-7062): U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for "Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand." National median hourly wage of $17.88, with regional adjustments: Northeast +15%, West +20%, South -10%, Midwest -5%. Full national wage tables: BLS OES program.
  • FMCSA Carrier Registry: U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records covering operating authority, safety ratings, complaint history, and insurance data for registered interstate household goods carriers. Bulk safety data endpoint: FMCSA SMS.
  • Haversine Formula: Great-circle distance calculations between city coordinate pairs across the 50-city route matrix, using a 50 mph average travel speed for drive time estimation. City coordinates sourced from the U.S. Census cartographic boundary files.

Cost Model

Each route estimate uses the formula: (hourly_rate × crew_size × total_hours) + (distance_miles × $0.50/mile) + materials_cost

Home size parameters:

  • Studio: 2 loading hours, 2-person crew, $50 materials
  • 1 Bedroom: 3 loading hours, 2-person crew, $75 materials
  • 2 Bedroom: 5 loading hours, 3-person crew, $125 materials
  • 3 Bedroom: 7 loading hours, 3-person crew, $175 materials
  • 4 Bedroom: 9 loading hours, 4-person crew, $250 materials

Total hours = loading hours + drive time (distance ÷ 50 mph) + unloading hours (= loading hours). Regional hourly rates apply the BLS regional adjustments to the national median.

Route Coverage

PlainMove covers 2,450 routes across 50 major US metropolitan areas, every origin-destination combination of the 50 cities. Each route is computed for all 5 home sizes, yielding 12,250 individual estimate records.

Processing Pipeline

  1. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) data for SOC code 53-7062 (Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand) is extracted from the most recent annual BLS publication, providing the national median hourly wage and regional wage distributions.
  2. Regional wage adjustments are computed based on the BLS regional wage differential data: Northeast (+15%), West (+20%), South (-10%), and Midwest (-5%) relative to the national median.
  3. The 50-city route matrix is constructed using geographic coordinates for each metropolitan area. Haversine great-circle distances are calculated for all 2,450 origin-destination pairs (50 x 49 unique combinations).
  4. Drive times are estimated using the calculated distance divided by a 50 mph average highway travel speed, a conservative estimate that accounts for urban driving segments and rest stops.
  5. The cost formula is applied to each route for all five home sizes, producing 12,250 individual estimate records with itemized breakdowns of labor cost, mileage cost, and materials cost.
  6. FMCSA carrier data is extracted from the FMCSA Carrier Registry, including carrier name, DOT number, operating authority status, safety rating, fleet size, and insurance coverage information for registered interstate household goods movers.
  7. All data is loaded into a structured SQLite database serving route pages, city profiles, carrier lookup, and cost comparison tools.

Data Vintage and Update Frequency

BLS OES wage data is published annually, typically in the spring for the prior year's survey period. FMCSA carrier records are updated as carriers apply for, modify, or lose operating authority. PlainMove refreshes its cost estimates when new BLS wage data is released and updates carrier records periodically from FMCSA public data.

Accuracy Commitment

PlainMove's cost estimates are derived transparently from published federal labor data using the documented formula above. The BLS wage baseline, regional adjustments, distance calculations, and per-mile rates are all reproducible from the stated inputs. No proprietary black-box pricing model is used.

Carrier complaint rate and risk level (correction, 2026-07-19): an earlier version of this page stated that FMCSA carrier data is "presented exactly as published... without editorial modification or subjective ranking." That was inaccurate. The per-carrier "complaint rate" and "risk level" shown on mover pages are PlainMove-computed figures, not values FMCSA itself publishes, and we are currently reviewing the sourcing and estimation method behind them for accuracy before we can describe it here in the detail our own standards require. Until that review is complete, treat any specific complaint-rate number or risk-level label on a mover page as illustrative, not verified, and confirm a carrier's actual safety and complaint record directly at FMCSA SAFER before making a decision based on it.

Limitations

  • Estimates reflect mid-market pricing based on federal labor data averages. Premium full-service movers and budget options will be priced differently based on their service level, insurance coverage, and business model.
  • Seasonal demand (summer months typically cost 20–30% more), elevator or stair access, specialty items (pianos, antiques, artwork), and long-carry situations all add cost not captured in the base model.
  • BLS regional wage data is based on annual survey averages and may not reflect the most current local labor rates in specific metropolitan areas.
  • The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance. Actual driving distances are typically 15–30% longer than great-circle distance, though our mileage rate accounts for this differential.
  • Always obtain at least 3 binding written quotes from FMCSA-registered carriers before booking a move. PlainMove estimates are a planning and budgeting tool, not a substitute for actual carrier quotes.
  • PlainMove is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, FMCSA, or any moving company. We do not earn referral fees and do not sell leads.