Recent years have seen Baby Boomers and Gen Xers moving at an accelerated rate for meeting lifestyle preferences. And moving companies play a vital role in handling the challenges related to moves.
United Van Lines is one of the top nationwide moving companies with decades of experience and a solid market reputation. The company offers almost every moving-related service for householders and corporate clients as well.
So, do you choose United Van Lines for helping you to move?
In this United Van Lines review we take an in-depth look at the services offered by the company to find out the answer.
What is United Van Lines?
United Van Lines started its journey as Return Loads Service, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio in 1928. Later, the name was changed to United Van Service and finally, in 1933, it was changed to United Van Lines.
In 1995, the company generated its first billion-dollar revenue. Since then it has maintained its status as one of the market leaders in the moving business. In the past decade, the company has helped over 1.2 million customers with their services.
A big plus of United Van Lines is it can manage all kinds of moves for both homeowners and corporate clients, no matter whether they are local or long-distance. Thanks to the combination of the latest moving technology with personalized customer service, the United Van Lines moving solutions are one of the best in the market.
United Van Lines Moving Services
A quick look at the online reviews will tell you that most customers have rated the company positively. The reasons for that is the brand’s dependability and the fact that its services can be customized to fit every type of moving needs. You can pick and choose from the services and also use add-on services for any special requirement.
The primary moving services provided by United Van Lines moving are listed below.
Local Moving Services
United Van Lines offer full-service local moves through their agents. This means it can operate as a broker through reliable local carriers. With more than 300 agents under its umbrella, United Van Lines ensures smooth and secure moves within a local area.
The services include packing, debris removal, unpacking, and storage facilities. The company can also help in the transfer of fragile or antique items by using custom packing solutions. In case the move involves seniors needing extra assistance, the agents can provide the same.
If you choose a full-service move, the entire process is managed by a move coordinator. You will also get full value protection for the items being moved.
Long Distance Moving Services
United Van Lines offer comprehensive solutions for cross-country or interstate moves and provides moving, packing, and storage services. The company also provides adequate insurance, including full-value protection, to safeguard your items.
United is fully licensed to deliver interstate moving services and can conform to the federal laws and regulations involved. It is approved by the United States Department of Transportation and follows the latest FMCSA regulations.
International Moving Services
For an international move, United arranges a pre-move consultation with a moving consultant to understand the nature of the move and determine the moving quote. The plans can be customized to fit your personal requirements.
Once the move is finalized, a moving manager acts as a single point of contact for the entire process. Besides handling the logistics and the paperwork, the manager will also help you to identify any restricted items under customs regulations.
In the next stage, the packing and transportation are done in line with the move dates. United Van Lines also offers Global Move protection for securing your belongings.
Corporate Relocations
United Van Lines offers full support to corporations during employee relocation processes. The company can help businesses to frame a corporate relocation plan based on the business requirements.
United aims to ensure that the employees arrive at the new location on time and can settle into their roles without delay. United Van Lines also offer storage-in-transit services to help employees gain some extra time if needed.
Beyond that, United also functions as a small load-moving company and offers its Snapmoves service to handle an employee’s small move. Such a move can include just a few items or a one-bedroom condo. United can also offer tech assistance in terms of electronics installation in the new location.
Additional Services
United Van Lines offers a range of other moving services to help out customers. Here are the main ones.
Military Moving Services
Specialized service is offered to military families to ensure a smooth move during a permanent change of station or temporary duty. The move plan is devised to meet the needs of the particular family. The company is a GSA-approved carrier and is authorized to work with the Government of the United States.
Car Shipping
United has a large fleet of auto transporters and its auto transport services are one of the best in the country. The company offers door-to-door car shipping across the country in accordance with local rules. For long-distance moves, terminal-to-terminal car shipping is also done. A moving specialist manages the entire process to make it a hassle-free experience.
Logistics Management Services
United operates with UniGroup Logistics to offer end-to-end supply chain management solutions for various industries. The range of services provided includes transportation, warehousing, relocating heavy equipment, medical equipment transfer, and managing trade show exhibits.
The company can also prepare a cost-effective logistics plan through data-driven analysis for a brand.
Average Cost of a Move with United Van Lines
Like most other movers, United Van Lines estimates its costs based on multiple factors. The primary factors affecting the moving costs are listed below.
- The distance of the move and whether it is interstate or international
- The date and the season of the move
- The weight of the shipment
- Fragile or antique items if any
- Extra services required
- The freight choice for international moves
While their website does not share details about the pricing, you can request an online quote by providing a few details about your move.
In the next stage, the company will arrange for a virtual survey of your belongings through a customer service representative. Depending on your specific needs, a moving package will be created and you will receive a quote. There are no charges for this process.
The quote includes the details of all the services that will be provided and a breakdown to indicate how the cost was arrived at. Since the quotes are transparent, there are no chances of being taken aback by any hidden fees.
Admittedly, each move is unique and there are clear advantages to getting a quote based on a survey. However, the inability to generate a quick quote does not help customers looking for a fast ballpark estimate.
Considering that the average cost of a long-distance move in the US can range between $600 to $10,000 or more, we would not mark United as a cheap moving company. Still, when compared to the other top moving companies, the quotes provided by United are competitive.
Note, there is no need for any advance deposits to book the move with United Van Lines. Payments are processed only after the move starts.
There are multiple packing options that you can pick based on the budget. For example, you can choose the full-service plan and allow United to pack everything. Or else, you can pick a partial packing option and opt for a DIY packing plan to save money while moving.
United Van Lines Availability
If you are moving within the United States, you will find the services of United Van Lines almost in every state. But, the company does not operate in Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Coming to international moves, the services are available in more than 150 countries. However, United does not list the names of these countries. The company has regional headquarters in North America, Asia, and Europe to manage international moves more efficiently.
United Van Lines Pros
- 95 years of reliable track record in the moving business
- A wide range of services to support moves of every size
- Online estimates are easy to get
- Full valuation coverage for lost or damaged items.
- Smooth service through a move coordinator
United Van Lines Cons
- Offers services through third-party companies
- It takes time to get a quote
- Lacks nationwide coverage
FAQs
When was United Van Lines established?
United Van Lines was established in 1928. It was under the name of Return Loads Service, Inc.
How much money do I need to move?
The cost of a move depends on multiple factors. The main ones are the volume of your move and the distance of the move.
Who owns United Van Lines?
United Van Lines is a part of the UniGroup family of companies that offer various forms of transportation and mobility solutions.
Final Thoughts
Hope this United Van Lines review helped you to get an idea about the services offered by the company.
When it comes to long-distance and international moves, United Van Lines’s moving service is one of the best you can pick. No matter the type of moving needs you may have, the customized moving plans by the company will help you find the best solution.
However, some of the services of the company are offered through local agents. This can have a negative impact on customer service, especially during local moves.
If you are not looking for an upfront quote, United Van Lines can be a great option with their comprehensive moving services. And even if you do not choose their services, you can always take a look at the wealth of information related to moving on their website.
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