The Canadian Association of Movers is Canada’s trade association representing moving and storage companies. It was established to help protect and grow its member businesses and also to offer consumers a way to find reputable, professional and reliable moving services.
Key facts about CAM:
- Membership includes movers both in Canada and overseas.
- Membership covers movers and relocation companies, van lines, suppliers to the industry, businesses that provide moving-related services such as packing services.
- The code of ethics requires members to adhere to terms such as fairness and honesty to customers and a safety conscious approach at all times.
- Canadian Association of Movers provides a complaints resolution process for consumers.
- CAM offers the Certified Canadian Mover Program that gives consumers the reassurance of receiving services that are based on ethical conduct, professional competency and effective complaint handling.
- CAM is the only movers association in Canada that regulates and keeps records of reputable and disreputable movers.
Canadian Association of Movers profile:
The Canadian Association of Movers is the Canadian trade association for movers. It is made up of Canadian businesses, as well as overseas organisations.
CAM has a number of goals that include enhancing professional expertise and operational competency and building links between movers and van lines to share information and boost the household goods moving industry as a whole.
CAM’s members are regarded as the country’s top moving companies. There are two certifications available for CAM members – the Certified Overseas Mover and the Certified Canadian Mover.
Both of these are designed to offer consumers a choice of reputable movers who have up to date documentation, adhere to a code of ethics, know how to deal with customer complaints and subscribe to good practice guidelines.
Criteria for membership:
Applicants may be required to submit various documents to complete the membership-approval process. All membership applications are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
Movers
CAM requires applicants to have been in business as movers for at least two years.
Applicants for a mover membership must complete an application form and provide CAM with the following documentation (photocopies only):
- Business licence
- Photos of premises and vehicles
- GST/HST registration and number
- Workers’ compensation certificate
- Insurance certificate showing a minimum of $1 million liability and a cargo limit minimum of $250,000
- Incorporation certificate
- Two trade references with length of relationship (e.g., bank, moving equipment supplier, etc.)
- Yellow Pages ad or promotional items (optional)
- Signed Code of Ethics form
Affiliates
A company that does not move household goods by truck but that provides moving industry related services, such as packing services, downsizing services, junk removal, etc., may qualify to be an Affiliate member.
Applicants for an affiliate membership must complete an application form and may be asked to provide CAM with the following documentation as is relevant to their business, such as (photocopies only):
- Business licence
- Photos of premises and vehicles
- GST/HST registration and number
- Workers’ compensation certificate
- Insurance certificate showing a minimum of $1 million liability
- Incorporation certificate
- Two trade references with length of relationship (e.g., bank, moving company, etc.)
- Yellow Pages ad or promotional items (optional)
- Signed Code of Ethics form
International Movers
- Letters of recommendation from two international movers who are CAM, FIDI or IAM members
- Signed Canadian Code of Ethics for International Movers form
Top 10 member moving companies (by size)
Movers opinions about CAM:
CAM is regarded as a useful resource for helping consumers to avoid scams and operators offering unrealistic cut prices, which are then inflated on moving day.
Those who are members of CAM are regarded as being able to offer a certain level of service that doesn’t other movers – without the certification – don’t have.
Online opinion views CAM as a way of verifying the trustworthiness of a moving company, particularly because CAM separates “the good, from the bad, from the ugly.” The organisation is highly regarded for its desire to foster high standards of ethical conduct and the fact that it has a rigorous application process.
Those who mention the organisation online point out that it is a way of being reassured that the mover has adequate insurance and service standards. It’s often highlighted how CAM not only keeps a record of its own members but also those moving businesses that are not so reputable.
This is seen as an indicator that the organisation has a good perspective on the moving industry and its members are on the right side of the line.
Among moving and storage companies, CAM differentiates the Good, from the Bad, from the Ugly. Its goals are to foster high standards of ethical conduct within the moving industry, promote quality initiatives, train and educate personnel, and monitor performance of its members.
It assists consumers to access credible and professional moving services. Through its rigorous application process CAM requires its members to sign a strict code of ethics, have adequate insurance and maintain standards for their facilities.
The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) is the only movers association in Canada that regulates and keeps records of reputable and disreputable movers.
A wrong choice in the selection of a moving company to move a lifetime’s worth of household possessions can be disastrous. Scam operators will take advantage of consumers by offering cut-rate prices, making unrealistic promises, inflating the price on moving day and holding household possessions for ransom.
These companies take no responsibility for the level of service delivered. If a mover’s offer looks and sounds too good to be true, it is.
Why take the chance? Move with a mover who is a member of CAM. CAM is Canada’s trade association representing moving and storage companies.
Website: http://www.mover.net/
NOTE! On the form below, some moving companies that contact you after submitting the form may not be CAM associates.