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New Data! 3 Trends Movers Can’t Ignore in 2026

Written by Briana Harper | Jan 6, 2026 2:08:53 PM

✨Insights from the upcoming 2026 State of Moving Report.

If you’re still chasing growth by adding trucks or working weekends, it’s time to rewrite your playbook.

More than 450 moving companies weighed in for this year’s State of Moving Survey. What we found? The movers who are winning in 2026 aren’t bigger. They’re smarter. They’re trading chaos for control, and control for profit.

Here’s what stood out—and what the data means for you.

🎬 Watch the 5-min breakdown: NEW Moving Industry Data Revealed

 

1. Profit beats expansion

For the first time, “increase margins” outranked “add trucks” and “expand locations" as a top business goal. Movers are done chasing volume that doesn’t pay.

What’s driving the shift?

  • 66% hit or exceeded revenue goals last year, up from 56% in 2024.
  • Margins are climbing, with 34% of companies making 15% net profit or more.

The takeaway? You don’t need more jobs—you need better ones, and a system that shows which are worth doing before the truck rolls out.

2. Clean house, then scale

“Improve sales and follow-up” cracked the top tactics list for the first time. Smart movers aren’t just raising prices or  buying more leads. They’re focused inward: tightening process and building discipline.

And the numbers back it up:

  • 40% average close rate, up from 35% in 2024
  • 52% respond to leads in under 10 minutes
  • 2.5% average claims rate, down from 3% last year

Getting your house in order means keeping more of your revenue—not leaking profit through dropped leads, missed conversions, and preventable claims.

3. Gut feel is out, metrics are in

The biggest change in 2026? Actually measuring what matters. Top owners have been saying it for years, and the industry's finally caught on.

  • 64% of movers now track KPIs, up from 41% in 2024
  • 60% track profit per job, not just revenue
  • Profit margin is the #1 KPI movers want to improve 

Why it matters:

“You can’t scale what you don’t measure. Movers are realizing this is how you break out of the 7% margin trap.”

Bill Bowles, SmartMoving CEO on Smart Talk.

Smart growth is the only growth

Want to compete in 2026? Here’s your five-word plan:

Sell smarter. Run tighter. Profit more.

This year’s trends show clear patterns:


Whether you’re running 3 trucks or 30, this year’s top performers are defined by systems, not headcount.

Get the full report first

The 2026 State of Moving Report drops later this month—with deeper breakdowns by company size, job type, and revenue band.

👉Want first access? Sign up here. and see how top movers are winning in 2026.