Industry Pioneers
$300 and a dream. The story of how two college friends changed the moving industry forever.
Est. October 22, 1976
$300 and a Dream
On October 22, 1976, with $300 and a lot of hope, two college friends launched Truckin' Movers. Their goals were to provide high quality moving services, lower costs to consumers, and to bring free enterprise back to the moving industry.
At that time, the moving industry was heavily regulated by both State and Federal agencies. These regulations prevented competition and kept the cost of moving artificially high. A government license was required to do long distance moving, and new licenses were not being issued.
Doug Carlton, one of Truckin' Movers' founders, worked as a mover during summers in both high school and college. He graduated from Duke University in June of 1976 with a double major in economics and political science. That summer Doug did some interstate moving for Duke faculty and graduate students. He decided to do something about the lack of free enterprise in the industry.
Shaking Up Monopolies
During a cross-country move, Doug came up with a unique concept for long distance moving that legally avoided government regulations. The approach was simple: on a long distance move, the customer rented and drove the truck, and Truckin' Movers did everything else.
Truckin' Movers brought the empty truck to the customer's home and provided every element of a full service move: packing, loading, and unloading. A crew member even rode in the cab next to the customer. But with the customer at the wheel, the move became unregulated.
In its first three years, Truckin' Movers moved approximately 500 families throughout the United States by this method. The success quickly came to the attention of the established moving industry. Conflict ensued.
The Landmark Victory
In its first year, Truckin' was investigated by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), and audited by the IRS. Trucks were often detained and inspected at weigh stations.
In 1982, after a nine-month legal battle in Washington, DC, Truckin' Movers won its case. The ICC granted the company a license to operate in all 48 contiguous states and set its own rates, part of the broader deregulation of interstate moving underway at the time. A significant victory for free enterprise.
Today, nearly five decades later, the pioneering spirit that started with $300 and a dream continues to drive everything we do.
Our Journey
1976
Founded with $300 and a revolutionary concept for unregulated moving
1982
Won ICC case for interstate authority. Licensed for all 48 contiguous states.
2000s
Expanded into international moving and storage services
Today
49+ years, 600+ reviews across platforms, 4.9 Google rating, serving NC and beyond
Our Credentials
USDOT
#0233952
US Dept. of Transportation
FMCSA
#MC159007
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
NCUC
#C-2262
NC Utilities Commission
BBB
A+ Rating
Better Business Bureau
What Our Customers Say
4.9 out of 5
Based on 292+ Google Reviews
Truckin’ Movers helped me with my interstate move recently, and they made the entire process incredibly smooth. From the start, the operations manager, Brad, was fantastic with communication and clearly explained the entire process. Johntez, Leon, and crew leader Chris were phenomenal during both pi
I'd give them about a 117 on a 0 to 100 scale. A 2,000-mile move for us. Our point person, Brad, was just great....shoulder to shoulder every step of the way. It never occurred to me to use a local mover when we were moving from Arizona to Chapel Hill....Wow! Our relator recommended Truckin' and
Since opening my window coverings business a few years ago, I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know other business owners in the NC Triangle. Between the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, Wake Up Wednesdays in Pittsboro, and my weekly Bull City Business Leaders BNI mee
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