For a household move from the USA to Guatemala — multiple rooms of furniture, appliances, accumulated possessions of a family — you need a container shipper, not a parcel courier. This directory covers the full-service international movers that serve the USA-Guatemala corridor in 2026, the Guatemalan diaspora couriers for box-by-box moves, and how to vet a moving company so you don’t get scammed.

Who writes this: We’re Guatemala Life, a Guatemala-based team. We watch containers arrive at Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás de Castilla, track which Guatemalan customs brokers the major US movers actually hand off to, and hear from families on the receiving end about which movers delivered cleanly and which left problems at the port. US-side mover operations and FMC licensing are verified against the Federal Maritime Commission’s live database — not self-reported license numbers.

Why we don’t publish FMC license numbers on this page: FMC registrations change, lapse, and transfer. A license number that was accurate when we published would be stale in a month. Always look up each mover directly on the FMC OTI database (linked below) before paying any deposit — that’s the only authoritative source. We’ve seen applicants trust a quoted license number from a mover’s marketing PDF only to find the license had actually been surrendered or transferred to a different entity. The live FMC lookup takes 30 seconds and is the single most valuable pre-booking check.

Quick summary: For a full house, use a full-service international mover ($5,000-$15,000 for 20-40 foot container). Schumacher, Atlas, Allied are the established players. For boxes only (under 100), use Guatemalan diaspora couriers (King Express, Guatex, Chapín Express) at $3-$4/lb. Always verify FMC licensing before paying any deposit.

Cost ranges by move type

Move type Volume Cost (USD) Best for
20-foot container, partial load 800-1,000 cu ft $4,500-$7,000 Apartment, small home
20-foot container, full load 1,000-1,200 cu ft $5,500-$9,000 1-2 bedroom home
40-foot container 2,300 cu ft $7,500-$12,000 3-4 bedroom home
40-foot HC container 2,700 cu ft $9,000-$15,000 Large household, lots of furniture
LCL (less than container load) varies $50-$200 per cubic ft Awkward sizes, partial moves
Guatemalan courier (50 boxes) 1,000 lb total $3,000-$4,000 Boxes only, no furniture

Add $500-$1,500 for a Guatemalan customs broker (separate from the mover).

Full-service international movers (USA - GT)

These companies offer end-to-end service: in-home survey, packing, loading, ocean freight, customs clearance via partner broker, delivery to your Guatemala address.

Schumacher Cargo Logistics

  • Headquarters: Long Beach, California (international auto and household specialist)
  • FMC OTI License: Verify current license number at FMC OTI Lookup before booking
  • Routes: Los Angeles to Puerto Quetzal (most common), Houston to Puerto Quetzal, Miami to Puerto Quetzal
  • Strengths: California-focused, strong on the LA route, deep experience with Guatemalan moves, transparent pricing
  • Service: Full container, LCL, vehicle shipping (RoRo), motorcycle, household goods
  • Quote process: Online form OR phone consultation; in-home survey for $5K+ moves
  • Worth getting a quote: Yes — typically competitive on West Coast moves

Atlas International / Atlas Van Lines

  • Headquarters: Evansville, Indiana
  • FMC License: Operates through licensed agents — verify the booking agent’s specific OTI license at FMC OTI Lookup before paying a deposit
  • Network: 500+ US agent locations
  • Strengths: Largest US van line network, agent in essentially every metro
  • Routes: All US ports to Guatemala (Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas)
  • Service: Full-service container, vehicle, LCL
  • Worth getting a quote: Yes — broad coverage, well-reviewed

Allied Van Lines / SIRVA

  • Headquarters: Fort Mill, South Carolina (SIRVA holding)
  • FMC License: Operates through licensed agents — verify the booking agent’s specific OTI license at FMC OTI Lookup before paying a deposit
  • Network: 500+ US agents
  • Strengths: SIRVA group includes Allied, North American, several international subsidiaries
  • Routes: All US ports to Guatemala
  • Service: Container, LCL, vehicle, corporate relocation
  • Worth getting a quote: Yes — corporate relocation specialist

North American International

  • Headquarters: Fort Mill, South Carolina (also under SIRVA)
  • Strengths: Sister to Allied, often quotes alongside
  • Worth getting a quote: Yes — get both Allied and North American quotes for comparison

International Sea & Air Shipping

  • Headquarters: Texas
  • Strengths: Specialized international focus, smaller company
  • Routes: Texas to Guatemala primary
  • Worth getting a quote: Yes — often competitive from Texas / Houston

UNIGROUP

  • Brands: United Van Lines, Mayflower
  • Strengths: Like Atlas/SIRVA, large van line network
  • Routes: All US ports to Guatemala
  • Worth getting a quote: Yes — get a quote alongside Atlas

Crown Worldwide / Sterling Lexicon

  • Strengths: Global relocation specialist, often used by corporate moves
  • Best for: Corporate-paid relocations, executive moves
  • Cost: Premium pricing

Other reputable specialists

  • Schumacher (already listed)
  • Senator International — international auto and household
  • K International — small international focus
  • A1 Auto Transport — primarily vehicles, sometimes household

Guatemalan diaspora couriers (USA - GT)

These are the box-by-box shippers who handle the majority of Guatemalan diaspora packages. NOT for full household moves but excellent for under-100-box shipments.

King Express

  • US hubs: LA, Houston, Dallas, Miami, NYC, DC, Chicago, Atlanta
  • Rate: $3.50/lb door-to-door
  • Transit: 7-12 days
  • See full review at Ship a box from USA

Guatex

  • US hubs: LA, Houston, Miami, NYC
  • Rate: ~$3.00/lb (depot drop-off)
  • Transit: 7-14 days

Chapín Express

  • US hubs: LA, Houston, Dallas, Miami, DC
  • Rate: ~$3.50-$4.00/lb
  • Transit: 7-15 days

Air Cargo Pack

  • US hubs: LA, Houston
  • Rate: ~$3.00-$3.50/lb
  • Transit: 10-15 days

Other operators

  • Transporte Zuletas, Transportes Rosales, Sol Guatemala Cargo, Paisano Express, Pronto Cargo Guatemala — verify each at time of use; market has consolidated and operators change.

How to choose a mover — vetting checklist

1. FMC OTI License

The Federal Maritime Commission licenses ocean transportation intermediaries. Required by law for ocean container shipping. Look up the company directly on the FMC website before paying any deposit — do not rely on license numbers quoted in blog posts, marketing materials, or directories (including this one). FMC registrations change, lapse, and transfer; only the live FMC database is authoritative.

Verify at: FMC Licensed Filer Lookup

If a company doesn’t have an active FMC OTI license OR refuses to share their license number, walk away.

2. Three written quotes

Get binding or “not-to-exceed” quotes from at least 3 movers. Compare line by line:

  • Container size
  • Origin packing labor
  • Destination delivery labor
  • Fuel surcharges
  • Document preparation fees
  • Customs clearance (or notation that it’s separate)
  • Insurance options

3. In-home (or video) survey

Reputable movers do a survey before quoting. Avoid phone-only quotes — they balloon at delivery time.

4. Deposit policy

Standard: 25% deposit at booking, 50% at loading, 25% at delivery. Anyone asking for 50%+ upfront is a red flag.

5. Insurance

Marine insurance is separate from the mover’s general liability. Buy “all-risk” coverage at 1-2% of declared value.

6. References and reviews

  • BBB rating + complaint history
  • Trustpilot / Google Reviews
  • Specifically: search “[mover name] Guatemala review” for direct experience

7. Bill of Lading

Read it. Sign only when packed and inventoried. Never sign a blank Bill of Lading.

8. Guatemalan partner broker

Confirm which Guatemalan customs broker the mover uses. You may want to interview that broker too — they handle your container at the port. See vehicle-import customs brokers for criteria.

Why the Guatemala-side broker matters more than most movers advertise: the US mover gets your container to the port. The Guatemalan agente aduanero gets it out of the port, through SAT, with the menaje exemption actually applied. We see containers sit 3-5 extra days at port when the partner broker is junior, under-staffed, or unfamiliar with menaje filings — and storage fees during that wait can run Q500-Q2,500 depending on port and duration. A senior Guatemalan broker who has filed menaje 50+ times is worth more than a slightly cheaper US mover quote.

Red flags

  • Phone-only quotes
  • “Today only” pricing
  • Demand for cash or wire transfer (vs check or credit card)
  • No FMC license or refuses to share
  • No physical US address
  • Reviews show pickup but no delivery
  • Pressure to sign immediately
  • Bill of Lading shown only at loading time
  • Delivery deposit demanded above the quoted amount

Timeline

A typical container move:

Week Activity
-12 to -10 Get 3+ quotes, choose mover
-10 to -8 Book container space, sign contract
-8 to -6 Pack (or schedule packers), prepare inventory
-6 to -4 Load container at home or depot
-4 to 0 Container ships (10-25 day transit)
0 to +1 Container arrives port, broker clears
+1 to +2 Inland delivery, unpack

Hybrid approach — courier + container

Many moves split:

  • Container for furniture, appliances, books (low priority on time, high volume)
  • Couriers for boxes you need fast (kids’ school supplies, important documents, change of clothes for the first month)

This bridges the 4-8 week container transit with 7-15 day courier delivery.

Insurance — what it covers

Coverage What it pays for Typical cost
Mover’s basic liability $0.60/lb (very limited) Free
Released value Slightly more than $0.60/lb Free
All-risk marine insurance Full declared value 1-2% of declared
Custom-policy marine Specific items, jewelry, art Variable

For $30,000 of household goods, all-risk marine insurance costs $300-$600. Worth it.

What movers DON’T pack

Most movers refuse to pack:

  • Liquor / alcohol
  • Plants
  • Perishable food
  • Aerosols
  • Firearms / ammunition
  • Pets (separate process — see Pet relocation)
  • Medications (carry these)
  • Important documents (carry these)

Plan to pack and carry all of the above yourself.

How we verified this

Last verified: April 2026. FMC licensing requirements confirmed against current Federal Maritime Commission regulations; we deliberately do not cite specific license numbers because the FMC database is the only authoritative live source. Mover capabilities and route coverage cross-referenced against each company’s current published operations. Guatemalan customs broker handoff practice and port-storage behavior reflect what we observe at Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomás. Insurance and deposit norms pulled from American Moving & Storage Association (ProMover) industry standards. Processes change — if you hit a discrepancy, email us and we’ll correct within 48 hours.

Corrections & updates

If a mover you worked with changed policies, surrendered its FMC license, merged with another entity, or mishandled a Guatemala-side clearance, email us and we’ll update within 48 hours. The mover landscape consolidates regularly.

Common mistakes

  • Skipping the FMC license check. Major scam vector.
  • Phone-only quote. Final bill is 30-50% higher.
  • Single quote. No comparison = pay too much or get scammed.
  • Cash deposits. Never. Use credit cards (chargeback protection).
  • Loading the truck without a Bill of Lading. No paper trail = no recourse.
  • Choosing on price alone. Cheapest is sometimes the worst — read reviews.
  • Forgetting the 6-month menaje window. Container arrives outside the menaje window = full duties.
  • Not interviewing the Guatemalan broker. Your stuff sits at port if the broker is bad.

Official sources

Information verified April 2026. Mover offerings, FMC licenses, and Guatemalan customs procedures change — verify each company before paying.