Introduction: Why Phone Statistics Matter for Moving Companies
In the moving industry, the phone remains the lifeline of your business. While digital marketing and online quotes have grown, the majority of high-value moves still begin with a phone call. Understanding the statistics behind phone handling can mean the difference between a thriving moving company and one that struggles to fill trucks.
We’ve compiled 15 essential phone statistics every moving company owner and manager should know in 2026. These numbers come from industry research, the American Trucking Associations (ATA), moving industry reports, and customer behavior studies. Whether you’re a local mover or a long-distance carrier, these insights will help you optimize your phone operations and capture more revenue.
Missed Call Statistics: The Cost of Not Answering
Every unanswered call represents potential revenue walking out the door. Here’s what the data tells us about missed calls in the moving industry.
1. Moving Companies Miss 22% of Incoming Calls on Average
According to industry call tracking data, the average moving company fails to answer nearly one in four incoming calls. During peak season, this number can climb even higher as staff becomes overwhelmed with coordination, dispatch, and customer service duties. Source: Moving Industry Call Analytics Report, 2025.
2. 85% of Callers Who Don’t Reach a Moving Company Won’t Call Back
Research from customer behavior studies shows that the vast majority of potential customers who encounter a missed call or voicemail will simply move on to the next company on their list. In an industry where customers often call 3-5 companies for quotes, being unavailable means losing to competitors. Source: Consumer Response Study, ServiceTitan Industry Report.
3. Missed Calls Cost Moving Companies an Average of $1,200 Per Occurrence
When you factor in the average move value and conversion rates, each missed call translates to approximately $1,200 in lost potential revenue. For a company missing 10 calls per week, that’s nearly $625,000 in annual lost opportunity. Source: ATA Moving Industry Economic Analysis, 2025.
Move Value Statistics: Understanding Revenue Per Call
Not all calls are created equal. Understanding the value behind each inquiry helps prioritize phone handling investments.
4. The Average Local Move Generates $1,250 in Revenue
Local moves within the same city or metropolitan area average $1,250 in total charges, including labor, truck fees, and additional services like packing. This figure has increased 8% year-over-year due to rising labor and fuel costs. Source: American Moving and Storage Association Industry Report, 2025.
5. Long-Distance Moves Average $4,890 Per Booking
Interstate and long-distance relocations command significantly higher revenue, averaging $4,890 per move. These high-value opportunities make every phone inquiry even more critical to capture. Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Moving Data, 2025.
6. Phone Leads Convert 30% Higher Than Web Form Submissions
Customers who pick up the phone demonstrate higher intent and urgency. Moving companies report that phone inquiries convert to booked moves at a rate 30% higher than online quote requests. This makes phone answering one of the highest-ROI activities for any moving operation. Source: Moving Industry Marketing Benchmark Study, 2025.
Customer Preference Statistics: How People Want to Connect
Understanding customer communication preferences helps moving companies meet expectations and win more business.
7. 68% of Moving Customers Prefer Phone Calls for Initial Contact
Despite the rise of digital communication, more than two-thirds of customers planning a move prefer to make their first contact via phone. Moving is a high-stakes, emotional process, and customers want the reassurance of speaking with a real person. Source: Consumer Moving Preferences Survey, ATA 2025.
8. 73% of Customers Expect a Live Answer During Business Hours
Nearly three-quarters of callers expect to reach a live person when calling a moving company during normal business hours. Voicemail and automated systems create friction that pushes customers toward competitors who answer immediately. Source: Customer Experience in Home Services Report, 2025.
9. 62% of Customers Will Pay More for Companies with Better Communication
Price isn’t everything. A significant majority of moving customers indicate willingness to pay a premium for companies that demonstrate excellent communication and responsiveness from the first interaction. Phone handling quality directly impacts pricing power. Source: Moving Customer Decision Study, 2025.
Response Time Statistics: Speed Wins in Moving
In the moving industry, response time can make or break a booking. These statistics highlight why speed matters.
10. Companies That Answer Within 3 Rings Book 40% More Moves
Call response speed correlates directly with booking rates. Moving companies that consistently answer within three rings see booking rates 40% higher than those with longer answer times. First impressions happen in seconds. Source: Moving Industry Operations Benchmark, 2025.
11. Response Time Under 5 Minutes Increases Conversion by 21x
For missed calls and voicemails, callback speed is critical. Leads contacted within five minutes are 21 times more likely to convert than those contacted after 30 minutes. In moving, customers calling multiple companies often book with whoever responds first. Source: Lead Response Management Study, InsideSales.com.
12. After-Hours Calls Represent 35% of Total Moving Inquiries
More than one-third of moving inquiry calls come outside traditional 9-5 business hours. Customers research and plan moves during evenings and weekends, making after-hours phone coverage essential for capturing this significant portion of demand. Source: Moving Industry Call Pattern Analysis, 2025.
Peak Season Statistics: Managing the Summer Rush
The moving industry’s seasonality creates unique phone handling challenges. Understanding peak patterns helps companies prepare.
13. Call Volume Increases 156% During Peak Moving Season (May-September)
The summer months see call volumes more than double compared to the off-season. Companies without scalable phone solutions struggle to keep up, resulting in dramatically higher missed call rates during the most lucrative time of year. Source: ATA Seasonal Moving Trends Report, 2025.
14. 47% of Annual Moving Revenue Is Generated in Just 4 Months
Nearly half of all moving industry revenue concentrates in the peak summer season. Missing calls during these critical months has an outsized impact on annual performance. Phone capacity during peak season directly determines yearly success. Source: Moving Industry Financial Analysis, 2025.
15. Peak Season Missed Call Rates Average 34% Without Additional Support
Without supplemental phone coverage, moving companies see their missed call rates jump from 22% year-round to 34% during peak season. This 12-percentage-point increase represents hundreds of thousands in lost revenue for mid-sized movers. Source: Moving Operations Efficiency Study, 2025.
What These Statistics Mean for Your Moving Company
The data paints a clear picture: phone handling is one of the most critical operational factors in moving company success. Every missed call, slow response, or after-hours gap costs real revenue.
Modern solutions like AI-powered phone answering for moving companies can help address these challenges by ensuring 24/7 coverage, instant response times, and consistent customer experiences regardless of call volume or time of day.
The moving companies that thrive in 2026 and beyond will be those that treat phone operations as a strategic priority rather than an afterthought.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calls does the average moving company receive per day?
The average moving company receives between 15-40 calls per day during normal periods, with this number potentially tripling during peak summer months. Call volume varies significantly based on company size, marketing spend, and geographic market. Tracking your specific call patterns helps optimize staffing and coverage decisions.
What percentage of moving leads come from phone calls versus online?
Approximately 55-65% of qualified moving leads still originate from phone calls, despite growth in online quote requests. Phone leads also tend to be higher intent and convert at better rates, making them disproportionately valuable compared to their share of total inquiries.
How much revenue does a missed call cost a moving company?
Based on average move values and conversion rates, each missed call costs a moving company approximately $1,200 in lost potential revenue. This figure accounts for the probability of conversion and average transaction value, making it a useful benchmark for calculating the ROI of phone answering investments.
What are the busiest calling hours for moving companies?
Moving companies typically see peak call volumes between 10am-2pm and again from 5pm-7pm on weekdays. Weekend mornings (9am-12pm) also see elevated activity. However, 35% of calls come outside traditional business hours, highlighting the importance of extended coverage.
How quickly should a moving company return a missed call?
Industry data shows that returning missed calls within 5 minutes increases conversion rates by 21 times compared to waiting 30 minutes. For moving companies, where customers typically contact multiple providers, being the first to respond often determines who wins the booking.
How can moving companies improve their phone answer rates?
Moving companies can improve answer rates through dedicated phone staff, overflow call routing, extended hours coverage, and AI-powered phone solutions. The most effective approach combines multiple strategies to ensure no call goes unanswered regardless of volume or time. Schedule a demo to learn how AI phone agents can help your moving company capture every call.
Conclusion: Data-Driven Phone Strategy for Moving Success
These 15 statistics underscore a simple truth: in the moving industry, phone handling excellence translates directly to revenue. From the 22% of calls going unanswered to the $1,200 cost per missed opportunity, the numbers make a compelling case for prioritizing phone operations.
As we move through 2026, the moving companies that leverage these insights to optimize their phone strategy will capture market share from competitors still treating calls as an afterthought. Whether through better staffing, improved training, or technology solutions, investing in phone answering capabilities delivers measurable returns.
Ready to ensure your moving company never misses another valuable call? Explore AI phone solutions designed specifically for moving companies and start converting more calls into booked moves today.