You are correct. It is an unregulated oligopoly. It is based on the widely distributed nature of the business. Long distance movers usually pick up in smaller trucks, consolidate into large vans(the loads are usually far smaller than the cargo limit of ~42,000 pounds, since furniture is very low density. They wrap and label with bar coded labels and send to the closets major depot in suburbia when it goes into smaller trucks that fit cities better. A huge number of people use rented trucks/trailers. Usually corporate moves are handled by one of the big ones who have high fees because their trucks waste a lot of time unused because they can not carry those 42,000 pound loads. The best way to move is buy a number of of gaylord boxes. (the name comes from Gaylord Container Company who invented them waaaay back) https://blog.containerexchanger.com/the-gaylord-box-everythi... They are also called triwalls. Get as many as you need for the move. Make sure your stuff fits fill them all with your stuff and then skid them and strap them down. Call them plastic pellets. Pellets are low value, and can not be broken. Value them as $4 per pound. This gets you a low rate. I once shipped 2 gaylords of household goods etc from Buffalo NY to San Diego CA for $1000. Movers wanted $4000 - sure they would go door to door, and unpack, but to save $3000 - I will do that.

> Call them plastic pellets.

This seems like a bad idea. It's potentially fraud, and if your stuff gets lost, stolen, or damaged, you could be out a lot of money.

well, their costs are based on weight = declared, the insurance value is based on lost value = declared. Pellets are not a fire hazard, neither is your furniture/books. I would not send solvents or lithium batteries - just who is being defrauded, you only recover what you lost as stated in case of loss? My stuff is not high value - if I had $1 million of furniture - would I try and save $$ this way?

Doesn't happen often enough to make a bulk efficiency