COVID Safety Protocols for Moving Companies: State-by-State Guide

Moving companies are essential businesses in all 50 states, but "essential" doesn't come with a uniform rulebook. Safety requirements vary by state, county, and sometimes city. As of July 2020, here's what you need to know to stay compliant — and keep your crews and customers safe.

What Are the CDC Baseline Recommendations?

Regardless of your state, the CDC guidelines for service workers in close-contact settings form the floor. These aren't suggestions for movers — they're the minimum standard customers expect and regulators reference:

• Daily health screening for all employees before work (temperature check, symptom questionnaire)
• Face coverings worn at all times when inside a customer's home or in shared vehicle cabs
• Hand hygiene — wash or sanitize before entering a home, after the job, and periodically during the move
• Social distancing of 6 feet maintained when possible (acknowledge it's not always possible while carrying a couch)
• Cleaning and disinfection of shared equipment, truck cabs, and high-touch surfaces between jobs
• Isolation protocols — employees with symptoms or confirmed exposure stay home for 14 days (or per current CDC quarantine guidance, which has been evolving)

Keep printed copies of your protocol on every truck. If a building manager or customer asks to see your COVID plan, your crew lead should be able to produce it on the spot.

State-Level Requirements: Key Variations

States fall into roughly three categories as of July 2020. Note: these rules are changing frequently, so verify current requirements with your state's health department or governor's office.

Strict Enforcement States

California: Face coverings mandatory for all workers in any setting where 6-foot distancing isn't maintained. Cal/OSHA has issued industry-specific guidance and is conducting inspections. Written COVID prevention plan required. Employers must provide and pay for all PPE.

New York: NY Forward safety plan template must be completed and posted at your place of business. Face coverings mandatory. Daily health screening with temperature checks documented. State can shut down non-compliant businesses.

New Jersey: Written safety protocol required. Face coverings mandatory indoors and outdoors when distancing isn't possible. Capacity limits on enclosed spaces apply to your warehouse.

Massachusetts: COVID-19 workplace safety standards are mandatory, not advisory. Cleaning and disinfecting protocols must be documented. Employers must provide hygiene supplies at no cost.

Moderate Enforcement States

Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia: Face coverings required in indoor settings. General workplace safety guidance issued but enforcement is complaint-driven rather than proactive inspection. Written plans recommended but not always legally mandated.

Washington, Oregon, Colorado: Strong guidance with some enforcement. Washington's L&I department has been particularly active in investigating workplace safety complaints.

Advisory/Minimal Enforcement States

Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona: As of July 2020, statewide mask mandates vary and change frequently. Some cities within these states have their own requirements (Houston, Miami, Atlanta). Moving companies operating across county lines may face different rules within the same workday.

Key risk in these states: Lower regulatory requirements don't equal lower customer expectations. A one-star review mentioning "crew didn't wear masks" will hurt you regardless of what the governor has mandated.

Interstate Movers: Which Rules Apply?

If you're operating across state lines under FMCSA authority, the compliance picture gets layered:

• Origin state rules apply while loading at the shipper's residence
• Destination state rules apply while delivering
• FMCSA regulations govern your operations overall, and FMCSA has not issued COVID-specific rules for household goods carriers as of this writing — they've deferred to CDC and state guidance
• DOT physical requirements continue unchanged; medical examiners may have additional screening questions

The practical approach: comply with the strictest standard you'll encounter on any given job. If you're loading in Georgia and delivering in New York, follow New York's rules for the entire move. It's simpler, it protects you legally, and it reassures the customer.

PPE Procurement and Cost Reality

Let's talk numbers. Per-job PPE costs as of July 2020:

| Item | Cost per Unit | Usage per Job | Daily Cost (3 crews) | |------|--------------|---------------|---------------------| | Disposable masks | $0.50-1.00 | 3-4 per crew | $4.50-12.00 | | Nitrile gloves (pair) | $0.15-0.30 | 6-9 pairs per crew | $2.70-8.10 | | Hand sanitizer (8oz) | $3.00-5.00 | 1 per truck/week | ~$2.00/day | | Disinfectant spray | $4.00-8.00 | 1 can per truck/week | ~$3.00/day | | Touchless thermometer | $30-60 (one-time) | Daily use | Negligible |

Total incremental cost: roughly $15-30 per day per crew, or $5-10 per job. This is a rounding error on your job costs. There's no financial excuse for skipping PPE.

Documentation You Should Maintain

Protect yourself legally by maintaining these records:

1. Written COVID safety plan — Dated, version-controlled, and signed by management. Update when guidelines change.
2. Daily health screening logs — Date, employee name, temperature, symptom responses, signature. Keep for at least 3 years.
3. PPE distribution records — When supplies were purchased, what was distributed to which crews. Not every state requires this, but it's easy to do and proves you provided equipment.
4. Customer communications — Save copies of pre-move COVID information sent to customers. If a claim arises alleging your crew exposed someone, your communication trail matters.
5. Incident log — If an employee tests positive, document timeline, who they worked with, which customers' homes they entered, and what notification steps you took.

What Happens If a Crew Member Tests Positive?

This has already happened to many companies. Your response protocol should include:

1. The employee stays home immediately and follows CDC isolation guidance.
2. Identify close contacts — anyone within 6 feet for 15+ cumulative minutes in the prior 48 hours. This includes other crew members and potentially customers.
3. Notify close contacts. You're not required to identify the positive individual by name, but you must inform people of potential exposure.
4. Deep clean any shared spaces (trucks, warehouse areas).
5. Close contacts quarantine per CDC guidance (currently 14 days or until a negative test, depending on your state).
6. Document everything.

The biggest operational hit: losing an entire crew for two weeks. This is why some companies have shifted to fixed crew pods — the same people work together every day so that one positive case takes out one crew, not three.

COVID compliance is a moving target. Rules change monthly, sometimes weekly. Bookmark your state health department's business guidance page and check it every Monday morning.

Elromco supports moving companies in maintaining professional, compliant operations. Our software helps you document, communicate, and stay organized during the most operationally complex period the industry has faced.