Records, COIs, and the Claims Policy
Insurance & Credentials.
Every credential a building manager, HOA, or commercial property manager might ask for — plus how we handle Certificate of Insurance requests, valuation coverage, and the rare claim.
The full record
Federal, state, insured.
Federal & State Authority
Muscleman Elite operates under federal motor-carrier authority through the FMCSA (USDOT 2105156) and Texas intrastate authority through the TxDMV (006568203C). Both numbers are public and verifiable at the links above — building managers and insurance carriers often check them before signing off on a move-in.
For interstate moves originating in or terminating in Texas, the USDOT is the relevant credential. For in-Texas moves (Austin to Houston, Dallas to Austin, etc.), the TxDMV is the credential the state regulates against. We hold both because we run both types of work.
Why this matters even if you’re not a building manager: in Texas, an unlicensed mover caught by the TxDMV can have your goods impounded into storage as part of the enforcement action. The customer then has to pay a licensed mover to retrieve their belongings. Verifying a mover’s TxDMV registration before you book — anyone’s, not just ours — is a 30-second protection step we recommend on every move.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
High-rises, HOAs, master-planned communities, office buildings, and most commercial properties require a Certificate of Insurance naming the property as additional insured before the truck enters the loading dock or vendor gate.
Standard turnaround is 24 to 48 hours from booking. Send us the property name, the management company, the COI contact, and the address — we file directly with our carrier and email the COI to both you and the building manager. No back-and-forth.
Common COI requirements we handle weekly: GrandManors-managed properties (Headwaters at Barton Creek), FirstService Residential (Highpointe, Lake Travis communities), and Austin / Round Rock commercial portfolios.
Valuation Coverage
Every move includes the federal default valuation — Released Value Protection at $0.60 per pound per article. That's the baseline; most customers upgrade to Full Value Protection or a third-party policy for high-value shipments.
Full Value Protection means the mover repairs the item, replaces it with one of like kind and quality, or pays a cash settlement at current replacement value. We quote both options at the time of the written estimate.
For items that the federal valuation system excludes — PBO (packed-by-owner) cartons, items of extraordinary value not declared, mechanical-condition items — a third-party policy is the right tool. Read the valuation glossary entry →
Claims Policy
Claims are filed in writing within 9 months of delivery (federal default). We respond within 30 days of receiving a complete claim, with a final disposition within 120 days of the original notice.
Our standard claims process: photograph the damage next to the inventory tag, email the photos and the Bill of Lading number to our claims address, and we respond with the disposition (repair, replace, or cash settlement). Most resolve in under three weeks.
Items the claim process applies to depend on the valuation selected at booking — see the Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection glossary entries for the differences.
TxDMV Mediation (Texas Moves)
If we cannot reach a resolution on a Texas in-state claim, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles offers mediation at no cost to the customer. You may request mediation in writing within 35 days of the mover’s denial or unsatisfactory offer — or within 90 days of the original claim if the mover has not responded.
Mediation is coordinated by TxDMV by phone, written submission, or in person at the TxDMV facility in Austin. If mediation does not resolve the dispute, the customer retains the right to pursue the claim in court at their own expense.
File a complaint or request mediation: TxDMV.gov · Enforcement Division 1-888-368-4689 · TruckStop@TxDMV.gov
FMCSA Complaints (Interstate Moves)
For moves that cross state lines, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the regulator and the consumer complaint authority — not TxDMV. We hold an active federal USDOT registration (2105156).
File an interstate complaint: protectyourmove.gov · FMCSA 1-800-832-5660
Unlicensed-Mover Penalties (Texas)
Texas state law (Texas Transportation Code §643.253) treats operating an unlicensed household-goods moving service as a criminal offense. Under HB 1505 (effective 9/1/2019), the penalties escalate with each conviction:
- First offense: Class C misdemeanor
- Second offense: Class B misdemeanor
- Third+ offense: Class A misdemeanor
Convictions are recorded on the operator’s driving record. A peace officer may issue citations for unlicensed-mover operations. This is the legal teeth behind the recommendation to verify a mover’s TxDMV registration before booking — and the reason the impound risk is real, not theoretical.
Building managers
Looking for your building’s requirements?
We’re building a dedicated page for every Austin high-rise, condo tower, HOA, senior community, and commercial property where we hold a Certificate of Insurance on file — with the specific COI specs, move-in rules, and our protocol for that property.
Need a COI for your building?
Send the property. We file the rest.
Property name, management company, and move date — that's all we need. COI is in your inbox in 24 to 48 hours.