Southwest Movers Association Inc

What Southwest Movers Association Inc does

Southwest Movers Association (SMA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1917 that represents household goods moving companies and industry suppliers operating in Texas. Headquartered at 1103 Sabine Street in Austin, SMA serves as the primary industry body for licensed Texas movers, administering the Tariff MAX 4 rate book filed with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the Pinnacle Mover certification program, the SMA Foundation scholarship program (which has awarded $347,000 to 141 recipients since 2000), and an annual conference. The association operates sub-brands including the Pinnacle Mover Program, TXTA University (online training), the SMA Foundation, and MovePAC (political action committee).

SMA's core technology is the MemberMax association management platform, which powers the member-only portal, event registration, and online store, supplemented by the EaseMaker Software integration for electronic tariff and form management. Products and services include Tariff MAX 4 rate books, TxDMV-approved moving forms, the bi-weekly MoverNEWS newsletter, advocacy services through the Lawsuit Reform Initiative and the Lone Star Economic Alliance (co-founded in 2024), and a network of endorsed vendor partnerships (Love's Travel Stops, Michelin, PrePass, TRUCKGroup Insurance, Drivers Legal Plan, Tivitri). The Pinnacle Mover designation requires USDOT/TxDMV registration, satisfactory safety ratings, insurance minimums, and compliance audits, differentiating certified members from non-certified operators.

SMA's business model is membership-funded through tiered annual dues (mover members $360-$540+ based on fleet size, associate members $540), branch and vehicle surcharges, Pinnacle certification fees ($150 initial plus $50 per location, $100 recertification plus $25 per location), annual conference revenue (registration tiers, sponsorship packages from $200 to $7,500, and $600-$800 tabletop exhibits), advertising in the Membership Directory and MoverNEWS (via E&M Consulting partnership), sales of compliance products, and SMA Foundation donations. Primary customers are licensed Texas moving companies; secondary segments are industry suppliers (associate members) and Texas consumers seeking vetted movers through the Pinnacle Mover directory.

Name

Southwest Movers Association Inc

Legal name

Southwest Movers Association

Website

https://mytexasmover.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southwest Movers Association (founded 1917) is a Texas non-profit trade association representing licensed household goods movers and industry suppliers, administering the Pinnacle Mover certification, Tariff MAX 4 rate book, advocacy coalitions, annual conference, and scholarship foundation funded by tiered membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from mover and associate members constitute the primary revenue stream. Mover membership is tiered by fleet size (0-3 vehicles: $360, 4-8 vehicles: $540, 9+ vehicles: $540 plus $30 per additional vehicle). Associate membership is $540 annually. Additional fees apply for branch locations.
2. Annual Conference: Annual conference generates revenue through registration fees (early bird, regular, and on-site pricing tiers), sponsorship packages (from $200 golf hole sponsorships to $7,500 title sponsor), exhibit booth rentals, and event-related merchandise.
3. Advertising and Publications: Revenue from advertising in the Membership Directory, MoverNEWS e-newsletter, and SMA Event App. Partnership with E&M Consulting, Inc. for publishing.
4. Compliance Products and Forms: Sales of Tariff MAX 4 rate books, moving forms (generic and customized), and compliance products like logbooks, inspection reports, and accident kits at discounted member pricing.
5. Pinnacle Mover Certification: Certification fees of $150 for initial application plus $50 per additional location. Recertification fees of $100 plus $25 per location. Program promotes certified members to consumers.
6. Foundation Donations: SMA Foundation accepts general contributions, memorial gifts, bequests, stock donations, and planned gifts. Raffle tickets sold for $25 each during annual conference supporting scholarship program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Southwest Movers Association Inc is a Texas-based trade association serving licensed household goods carriers and the moving industry since 1917. It delivers tiered membership, legislative and regulatory advocacy, compliance products (Tariff MAX 4 rate filings, TxDMV forms), industry education through TXTA University, the Pinnacle Mover certification program, an annual conference, an affiliated scholarship foundation, and a political action committee (MovePAC).

Product overview

Southwest Movers Association operates as a trade association providing a comprehensive suite of services for the moving and storage industry in Texas. The core offerings include Tariff MAX 4 (the official tariff filing system for member carriers) and EaseMaker Software (electronic tariff and form management). Supporting services encompass TXTA University (professional education and webinars), MoverNEWS (industry newsletter), the Pinnacle Mover certification program, annual conferences, and the SMA Foundation scholarship program. The association also provides advocacy services through MovePAC and the Lawsuit Reform Initiative, plus an online store for event registrations, donations, and member products. The association has promoted, educated and protected the moving industry since 1917.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pinnacle Mover Program: A certification program administered by SMA that promotes and recognizes professional competence and adherence to ethical standards among Texas moving companies.
• TXTA University
• SMA Foundation
• MovePAC

Products and services

• Tariff MAX 4

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lone Star Economic Alliance (LSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Expanded coalition formed in 2024 by SMA, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and Texas Food and Fuel Association to advocate for all businesses operating commercial motor vehicles in Texas. SMA is a founding member. The coalition addresses lawsuit abuse, rising insurance costs, and nuclear verdicts affecting Texas businesses.
• Keep Texas Trucking Coalition (KTTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Coalition formed during the 87th Texas Legislative Session that successfully advocated for passage of HB 19 lawsuit reform legislation. SMA raised funds through the Lawsuit Reform Initiative (LRI) to support KTTC marketing and strategic communication efforts.
• American Trucking Associations (ATA) - Moving & Storage ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMA works closely with ATA's Moving & Storage Conference through membership and conference participation. ATA provides the rogue operator victim checklist and national moving industry resources. SMA members have access to ATA education and certifications.
• Texas Trucking Association (TXTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership providing SMA members access to TXTA programs including tire discounts (up to 30% off major brands), fuel discounts at Love's Travel Stops (10 cents per gallon), safety conferences, NATMI certifications, and regulatory compliance resources. TXTA and SMA share staff and leadership (John D. Esparza serves as President/CEO of TXTA and Executive Director of SMA).
• Move for HungerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational food rescue organization that SMA members partner with to help relieve hunger in Texas communities. Members collect excess food from moves and deliver to local food banks.
• Texans for Lawsuit ReformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SMA during the 87th Texas Legislative Session and continues as co-founder of the Lone Star Economic Alliance to address tort reform and lawsuit abuse affecting the moving industry.
• Love's Travel StopsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMA members receive 10 cents per gallon discount on diesel fuel at all Love's Travel Stops when using specific fuel cards (Comdata, EFS, T-CHEK, Multi Service, Fleetone, Love's, Express/Quik Qtch, and Wex).
• PrePass / PrePass PlusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWeigh station bypassing service partnership. First month's bypasses free for new SMA members enrolling through TXTA. PrePass Plus provides electronic toll payments on 40+ tolled facilities in 22 states.
• SH 130 Concession CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperator of 41-mile southern segments of State Highway 130 between San Antonio and Austin. Offers customized rebate programs for SMA members with potential toll savings, plus FLY 130 rewards program.
• TRUCKGroup Insurance (Mondics Insurance Group)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance partner offering workers' compensation, occupational accident insurance, physical damage coverage, and non-trucking liability for SMA members.
• Drivers Legal PlanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLegal services partner providing affordable legal representation for drivers facing traffic convictions, offering an alternative to commission-laden insurance referral agencies.
• U.S. Legal ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLegal benefit plan partner offering CDL Defender coverage with 100% of local attorneys' fees covered for non-criminal moving, non-moving and DOT violations. Claims 81% courtroom success rate and 85% DataQs challenge success rate.
• Michelin (via TXTA National Account Program)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMA members can purchase Michelin tires at Love's Travel Stops and receive $10 per tire rebate in addition to TXTA National Michelin Account Program discounted pricing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA): National trade association for the moving and storage industry. SMA explicitly partners with AMSA's predecessor (ATA Moving & Storage Conference), making it the closest direct peer in structure, mission, and member offerings.
• New York Movers Association: State-level moving trade association in New York offering member services, compliance resources, and advocacy for household goods carriers — analogous to SMA's regional scope.
• Florida Movers and Warehousemen's Association: Regional trade association serving the Florida moving industry with dues-based membership, advocacy, and education services — directly comparable to SMA's Texas-only model.
• Maryland Movers Conference: State moving industry trade association delivering member benefits, legislative advocacy, and education programs to household goods movers in Maryland.
• California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA): State-level trade association for movers in California, offering comparable membership tiers, advocacy, certification programs, and consumer-facing directories similar to SMA's Pinnacle Mover.
• Illinois Movers' and Warehousemen's Association: Illinois-based moving industry association paralleling SMA's statewide scope, providing regulatory compliance resources, member education, and lobby representation.
• Texas Trucking Association (TXTA): Texas-based trucking trade association that shares executive leadership and staff with SMA. Operates TXTA University and offers similar member benefits, advocacy, and compliance services to a broader trucking vertical.

Broad incumbents

• American Trucking Associations (ATA): National umbrella trucking association that hosts the Moving & Storage Conference serving SMA members. Operates as a much larger incumbent with broader trucking scope but overlapping moving-industry advocacy.

Others

• Move for Hunger: National nonprofit partner that SMA members work with to rescue food during moves. Adjacent enabling organization in the moving industry ecosystem rather than a trade association peer.

Emerging players

• Texans for Lawsuit Reform: Texas-based tort reform coalition that co-founded the Lone Star Economic Alliance with SMA. Operates in adjacent advocacy space and collaborates on legislative priorities but is not a moving-industry trade body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/My_Texas_Mover
• Facebookfacebook.com/Southwest-Movers-Association-444028518982712
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwest-movers-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southwest Movers Association Inc