The federal record
USDOT 56181 · San Diego, CA · in the federal record since 1974. Everything below comes from FMCSA's own files — nothing is our opinion.
License check: The CMS Companies holds active interstate for-hire authority for household goods (USDOT 56181, docket MC-127405). Whether it's the right mover for your move is what the rest of this record is for.
The trade name The CMS Companies is operated by the legal entity Sullivan Moving & Storage Inc — and the legal entity is the one that holds the federal authority and is liable for your shipment. That split is normal (23.7% of licensed movers use a DBA), but your paperwork should name the entity, not just the brand.
| Field | Federal record |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Sullivan Moving & Storage Inc |
| Doing business as | The CMS Companies |
| USDOT number | 56181 |
| Authority docket | MC-127405 |
| Principal place of business | San Diego, CA |
| Power units | 17 |
| Drivers | 42 |
| In the federal record since | 1974 |
Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, downloaded 14 August 2026. Verify the live record at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov using USDOT 56181.
The CMS Companies has been through 31 roadside inspections. Across 26 vehicle inspections its out-of-service rate is 19.2% — above the national median of 18.2% among movers with inspection history.
1 reportable crashes appear in the federal file and 1 with injuries. FMCSA cautions that crash counts are not fault-assigned — a truck struck while legally parked lands in the same column as an at-fault collision — so treat them as exposure, not verdict.
The CMS Companies holds a federal safety rating of Satisfactory, issued August 2006 — 20 years ago.
Sources: FMCSA SMS carrier measures and crash files, downloaded 14 August 2026. Methodology and caveats: how we compute every number.
One carrier's record means little on its own — the point is comparison. Compare movers near San Diego, CA, every one shown with the same federal fields, or call us and tell us about your move.
Yes — as of our last federal data refresh, USDOT 56181 holds active interstate for-hire operating authority with household goods among its registered cargo classes. Its authority docket is MC-127405.
USDOT 56181. That number — printed on the truck and on your paperwork — is how you verify any mover against FMCSA's SAFER system, and how you find the legal entity behind the trade name. Here, the trade name The CMS Companies is operated by the legal entity Sullivan Moving & Storage Inc.
Yes: Satisfactory, issued August 2006. Ratings do not expire, so check the date — the median rating on file across the industry is 18 years old.