How Do Movers Perform Intrastate, Interstate, and International Moves?

We recently published a blog explaining local moves, but if you need to travel a little farther, we can break those down too. These are the other categories of moving (sometimes referred to as long-distance):

• ‍Intrastate: Moving more than 50 miles within the same state. ‍
• Interstate: Moving across state lines from one state to another. ‍
• International: Moving from the United States to another country.

Comparing Local Moves to Intrastate, Interstate, and International Moves

In the world of moving, pricing and timeline are two of the biggest differences when comparing local moves to intrastate, interstate, and international moves. Why? For most moving companies, it’s easier to calculate local travel (moves under 50 miles) with an hourly rate. In opposition, most long-distance moves can take weeks or even months to accomplish. So, in most circumstances, the rates are normally calculated based on weight or cubic feet.

For example, a local 10-mile move from Englewood, CO to Littleton CO is going to require less time, so the cost would be charged by the hour. In comparison, an interstate move from Englewood, CO to Fort Lauderdale, FL would be charged by either weight or cubic feet. Similar to interstate moves, an international move would also be charged by weight or cubic feet.

However, when it comes to intrastate moves, many reputable companies will often use an hourly rate or weight/mileage to determine the cost of travel. Some states have different geographic features than others, making intrastate moves subjective to their surroundings. Often times, a trained in-person estimator will use their best judgment to crunch the numbers and create a written quote.

Van Lines vs. Franchises: How They Move You From Point A to Point B

Before moving a long distance, it's important to choose the right company for the job. With so many to pick from, there are two categories of long-distance movers that are popular among customers: Van lines and moving franchises.

Van Lines

These are large-scale moving companies that relocate customers globally through a network of affiliated agents. For example, Bailey’s Moving & Storage is an Agent of Allied Van Lines, so other agents of Allied Van Lines may help Bailey’s perform moving services (and vice versa). This gives the moving experience local, national, and global coverage so agents everywhere can work together. Van lines are simply made of independently-owned businesses (agents) that have their own brand name.  

Franchises

Like McDonald’s, a moving franchisor is a company that requires smaller businesses to buy into their model. This allows companies to run their own business under the umbrella of a designated brand name. Franchise moving companies transport clientele from their nearest location, whereas van lines constantly have agent-provided trucks and drivers in motion to assist other agents.

“Should I Choose a Van Line or a Franchise?”

It depends on where you live. Just because McDonald’s has a structured recipe for making hamburgers doesn’t mean every franchise is going to have access to each other’s resources. Similarly, a moving franchisor in Phoenix, AZ is not going to have easy access to a moving franchisor in Philadelphia, PA. That doesn’t mean a franchisor is incapable of intrastate, interstate, and international moves, but the resources will be less convenient.  

Companies like Bailey’s Moving & Storage are deeply intertwined in a global network of movers that are connected by Allied Van Lines. This allows them to easily communicate with anyone in the world through a trusted network that has been doing business for 85 years.  

However, franchises may offer cheaper moving rates for local moves since they tend to have a stronger focus on one designated area. There are plenty of reputable franchises and van lines, so be sure to check out all your options.

Using a Van Line to Perform Full-Service for Interstate and Intrastate Moves: How Bailey’s Moving Compares to the Competition

It shouldn’t matter where you move. If a company advertises its business as “full-service,” then all your moving needs should be taken care of from start to finish without outsourcing the work. This is ideal for customers who simply don’t have time to do everything themselves. Keep in mind that not every moving company offers full services, but when they do, this is what you get:

• Packing  
• Driving
• Loading & Unloading
• Basic Disassembly/Reassembly  
• Long-and Short-Term Storage  

For example, if someone wanted Bailey’s to perform a full-service interstate move from Denver, CO to Portland, ME, Bailey’s and Allied Van Lines would work together. Bailey’s would estimate, plan, and schedule the move based on Allied’s transit schedule and capacity-based pricing. Bailey’s would also provide the local packing services at the beginning of the trip.

From there, the shipment may be assigned to one of Bailey’s interstate long-haul drivers, or to another Allied Agent in Colorado. An Allied Agent would also be assigned in the Portland area to assist with service like unloading or unpacking services. So, from just about anywhere to anywhere, full moving services would be executed by the Allied network of agents. Bailey’s has over 40 licensed interstate long-haul drivers as part of Allied Van Lines’ 600-plus interstate fleet.

Many customers only consider their move from point A to point B, but moving companies must consider every angle of a trip to assist everyone in the Allied network. For example, Bailey’s has to schedule drivers and shipments from point A to point B, and then from point C and point D for other shipments headed in the same direction. Additionally, Bailey’s would have to coordinate their crews back to home base so the drivers could come home at a reasonable time.  

Think of van lines as a cognitive beehive. Within the hive, the worker bees are Allied Agents that help produce the same goal of moving everyone from one place to another. Therefore, if an Allied Agent needs help from Bailey’s, it can be executed with ease, and vice versa across the country.  

In contrast, Allied Van Lines would not assist Bailey’s with an intrastate move. That’s because Bailey’s has all the resources necessary to perform independently in its home states of Utah and Colorado.

How Bailey’s Moving Performs a Full-Service International Move with a Van Line

Full-service international moves are like interstate moves, but they require coordination with agents from overseas. For example, if someone needs to move from Salt Lake City, UT to Munich, Germany, an Allied International Agent will provide packing and loading services onto a cargo ship. From there, a boat sails to Europe, and the container is received by an Allied International Agent. That agent’s trained and qualified crews then provide all destination services including unwrapping, residence delivery, and placement of the household goods.

How Bailey’s Moving & Storage Compares to Other Allied Agents

There are 450 Allied Agents across the country, and Bailey’s Moving & Storage operates four agent locations in Utah and Colorado. These strongholds are nestled in Denver, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and Salt Lake City. If you are interested in doing a full-service move with an Allied Agent, feel free to check out Bailey’s quoting tool for an estimate today!