Contract Carrier

Contract carriers operate under negotiated rates and terms specific to each customer. The terms can include guaranteed pricing, volume commitments, dedicated equipment, exclusive use, and customized service levels. Corporate-relocation contracts often use contract-carrier arrangements: a company commits volume of moves per year in exchange for negotiated rates with one carrier. This is distinct from common-carrier service, which is open to any public customer at published rates.

Contract carriers are usually faster and cheaper per move for high-volume customers because pricing is negotiated and operations are streamlined. For low-volume residential customers, the contract-carrier rate structure typically isn't available — they pay the common-carrier published rate. Customers should ask if their corporate-relocation includes a contract-carrier rate, which RMC negotiates with the carrier on behalf of the customer's employer.

Muscleman Elite operates as a common carrier for general public moves, and as a contract carrier for corporate-relocation accounts under negotiated terms with RMCs (Cartus, Sirva, Aires, Graebel).

What's the difference between a common carrier and contract carrier?

Common carriers serve any public customer at published rates. Contract carriers operate under negotiated agreements with specific corporate customers.