I Hired a Moving Broker for My Illinois to Texas Move — Here’s What Happened
Fact Checked by: As told to moveBuddha
- Kylie moved from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas, in May 2022 due to her partner’s new job, a 950-mile move.
- After comparing multiple quotes, she hired moving broker Trinity Relocation Group, and her Illinois to Texas move was quoted at $2,500 but ended up costing $3,800.
- This is Kylie’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on our conversation with Kylie, who moved from Illinois to Texas in May 2022 using Trinity Relocation Group. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My partner got a new job in Dallas, which meant I had a move to plan. I’d be leaving Chicago for a city I’d never lived in, 950 miles away, and I knew right away I wanted to hire a full-service company to handle it.
I started requesting quotes and was quickly flooded with calls and emails from companies competing for my business. I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare the companies I was most seriously considering before making my decision.
My Trinity Relocation Group experience at a glance
Here’s a summary of what stood out from my move with Trinity:
- Communication: Trinity was responsive early on, but communication broke down significantly after my items were loaded, and I had real trouble getting answers while I was waiting for delivery.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: Trinity’s original estimate held up, but I was charged an additional long-carry fee at my new Dallas apartment that wasn’t factored into the initial quote.
- Timeliness: My items weren’t loaded or delivered on the agreed dates, which forced me to rearrange my schedule on both ends of the move.
- Overall value: The move had its problems, but when I weighed what I paid against what I got, I felt like I got my money’s worth.
- Would I use Trinity again? Probably not. The communication issues and unreliable scheduling made the whole process more stressful than it needed to be.
My move at a glance
| Moving from | Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Moving to | Dallas, Texas |
| Distance | 950 miles |
| Moving company (broker) | Trinity Relocation Group |
| Moving quote | $2,500 |
| Actual cost | $3,800 |
Why I chose Trinity Relocation Group
Before my move, I weighed the pros and cons of renting a U-Haul versus hiring a full-service moving company. Hiring movers made the most sense, but once the quotes started coming in, so did the phone calls and emails from companies eager to earn my business. I used moveBuddha to narrow down my options, and Trinity came out ahead.
A Trinity representative did a virtual walkthrough of my apartment to put together an estimate. The quote came in higher than I’d hoped, but lower than what other companies had offered.
After some back-and-forth, Trinity knocked a little more off the price. The quote covered packing a few fragile items, loading labor, transportation from Chicago to Dallas, and unloading and setup at my new place.
The process was straightforward, but Trinity couldn’t answer my questions about moving insurance and wasn’t able to give me firm loading or delivery dates. One thing I didn’t find out until after I’d already signed: Trinity is a broker, not a traditional moving company. It may not have changed my decision, but I wish I’d known before I booked.
Pickup day
Communication with Trinity became more sporadic in the days leading up to my move. The truck and crew were scheduled to arrive on May 29, but that afternoon Trinity called to tell me loading was being pushed back a full day. I found it frustrating since I’d already arranged my schedule around that date, but I rearranged things and made it work.
The movers arrived the next day as promised, and the loading process was fast and efficient. I paid half of my estimated cost via Zelle on moving day.
Delivery day
Shortly after my items were loaded, a Trinity representative called and asked whether my stuff could be delivered earlier than planned. I agreed and rearranged my schedule accordingly, but the truck never showed up. Trinity never acknowledged the missed delivery, and I had a hard time reaching anyone who could tell me when to expect my things in Texas.
I eventually got a delivery confirmation, but by that point another moving company had already reserved the elevator at my new building, so I had to push my move-in time to 5:00 PM. The truck arrived at 6:30 in the evening, and the crew got to work. I unpacked boxes and directed the crew on where to put everything while they were working.
Trinity charged me an additional long-carry fee because my unit was at the end of a long hallway. The extra distance added meaningful time to the job, so I thought the charge was fair.
My main complaint about the crew is that they checked items off the inventory themselves rather than walking through it with me. Fortunately, everything was accounted for when I did my own check. A few boxes were damaged in transit, but nothing inside was broken. Trinity never followed up after delivery to see how everything went.
Final thoughts
Looking back, the move was more stressful than it needed to be. Communication fell apart after my items were loaded, Trinity couldn’t answer basic questions about moving insurance, and neither the pickup nor the delivery happened on the dates we’d agreed to. Finding out Trinity was a broker only after I’d already booked was an unwelcome surprise.
That said, the crew was efficient and careful. Nothing was lost or damaged, and when I weigh the total cost against what was delivered, I felt like I got my money’s worth. For context, moveBuddha data shows that 71% of long-distance moves report some kind of delay, and nearly 45% of annual U.S. moves take place between May and August, so the timing of my move likely played a role in some of those scheduling problems.
All things considered, my move was a success. But Trinity’s performance didn’t meet my expectations, and I’d think carefully before using a broker again.
Planning a long-distance move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from vetted companies before you commit.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Kylie’s experience:
- Know whether you’re booking a broker or a carrier before you sign: Brokers coordinate your move through third-party carriers, which means less direct accountability and fewer guarantees on scheduling. If you want more control over who handles your belongings, consider a full-service interstate mover rather than a moving broker.
- Get your insurance questions answered before you book: If a company can’t or won’t answer basic questions about moving insurance, take that as a warning sign. Know exactly what’s covered and what isn’t before you commit.
- Consider letting the crew handle packing: Packing takes far more time and energy than most people expect. If the option is available and the budget allows, having movers handle packing can make the whole process significantly less exhausting.
- Walk through the inventory yourself at delivery: Don’t let the crew check items off the inventory on your behalf. Do it yourself so you know exactly what arrived and in what condition before signing anything.
Check out these helpful moving resources before you go:
- Moving Cost Calculator
- Best Interstate Movers
- Best Moving Container Companies
- The Problem with Moving Brokers
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