Bell Moving & Storage 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. Bell Moving & Storage is described as best for greater cincinnati household moves handled by a small, long-established crew rather than a subcontracted network, 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 | Bell Moving & Storage | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 1246752 | 077949 |
| MC # | 137495 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1922 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Fairfield, OH | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | Interstate (48) | All 50 states |
| Services | Local, Long-distance, Packing, Storage | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | BELL MOVING AND STORAGE INC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker |
| Power units on the census file | 7 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 6 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | S | |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,100–$4,200 | $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.
Bell Moving & Storage
Bell Moving and Storage Inc files from Fairfield, Ohio, active on the federal census with seven power units and six drivers, and carries docket MC-137495 on the registration. The operating-authority presentation read for this registration shows motor carrier of household goods authority; nothing further is stated, and no property or broker authority is inferred from the household goods entry. The filed address is in Fairfield while the company publishes the Cincinnati area as the market it serves: a filed address and a published market describe different things, and neither value is treated as a correction to the other. No federal safety rating is on file, which is neither a positive nor a negative signal. The company states first-party that it holds a Wheaton certification; Wheaton is a separate registrant and any Wheaton corporate identifier is recorded as a van-line identifier rather than stored on this record. The company states first-party that it was founded in 1922.
- Best for greater cincinnati household moves handled by a small, long-established crew rather than a subcontracted network.
- Interstate (48) coverage; founded 1922.
- The registration reports seven power units and six drivers, so peak-season capacity is limited and a large or tightly scheduled move may need to be scheduled well in advance.
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.
Greater Cincinnati household moves handled by a small, long-established crew rather than a subcontracted network
The registration reports seven power units and six drivers, so peak-season capacity is limited and a large or tightly scheduled move may need to be scheduled well in advance.
Long-distance moves with full packing
Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
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