Alaska Terminals vs United Van Lines
Researched and written by Daniel Harper · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026
We publish no numeric score for moving companies, so this page names no winner. Alaska Terminals is described as best for anchorage households moving to or from the lower 48 who want an atlas agent handling the barge and land legs, while United Van Lines is described as best for long-distance moves with full packing. Compare the registration and authority records below, verify each USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER, and get a binding estimate from both before booking.
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Side-by-side
| Category | Alaska Terminals | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 12105 | 077949 |
| MC # | 508071 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1981 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Anchorage, AK | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Local, Long-distance, Packing, Storage, Corporate | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | ALASKA TERMINALS INC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker | |
| Power units on the census file | 19 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 16 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,800–$6,400 | $3,100–$7,400 |
Legal name, entity status, operating authority, fleet counts and safety rating come from the FMCSA motor carrier census and licensing files, and appear only where the identifier on the federal record matched the company record on this page. Where a row is absent for one company, this site holds no verified federal value for it.
Alaska Terminals
Alaska Terminals files from Anchorage as a single federal registrant with nineteen power units and sixteen drivers on the federal file. The registration carries an active docket, MC-508071, and a second docket on the same row that the file marks inactive; the inactive docket is recorded as observed on the registration and no role is asserted for it. The company is an Atlas Van Lines agent, and Atlas corporate identifiers stay van-line numbers and are never attached to this registration. The exact operating-authority classes were not readable in the sources reviewed, so none is asserted. The federal file carries a Satisfactory safety rating dated 27 January 2006; that is a dated federal snapshot from twenty years ago and is not a current safety certification or an editorial verdict. The company states first-party that it opened in 1981.
- Best for anchorage households moving to or from the lower 48 who want an atlas agent handling the barge and land legs.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1981.
- Alaska routings depend on marine and seasonal schedules that no mover controls, so transit windows are wider than in the contiguous states.
United Van Lines
United Van Lines is the largest brand under UniGroup and publishes the annual National Movers Study. It offers shipment tracking and a published claims process; we hold no dataset that compares its claims outcomes with other carriers.
- Best for long-distance moves with full packing.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1928.
- Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
Anchorage households moving to or from the Lower 48 who want an Atlas agent handling the barge and land legs
Alaska routings depend on marine and seasonal schedules that no mover controls, so transit windows are wider than in the contiguous states.
Long-distance moves with full packing
Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
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Frequently asked questions
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