E.E. Ward 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. E.E. Ward Moving & Storage is described as best for columbus-area household and office moves handled by the company's own 20-truck crew, 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 | E.E. Ward Moving & Storage | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 1222904 | 077949 |
| MC # | 612134 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1881 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Grove City, OH | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | E E WARD MOVING AND STORAGE COMPANY LLC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker |
| Power units on the census file | 20 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 20 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | S | |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-16 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,800–$5,200 | $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.
E.E. Ward Moving & Storage
E.E. Ward traces its business to 1881 and describes itself as the oldest continuously African-American owned moving company in the United States. The federal registration behind the brand is E E Ward Moving and Storage Company LLC at 2235 Southwest Blvd in Grove City, the Columbus-area address the site publishes, with 20 power units and 20 drivers on the census and a household goods cargo entry. The licensing record shows common and contract authority both active with household goods authority. Interstate work is routed through the northAmerican network, whose own registration belongs to the van line and is not stored on this record.
- Best for columbus-area household and office moves handled by the company's own 20-truck crew.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1881.
- The fleet is small for a national footprint, so the long leg of an interstate move is likely to travel on van-line equipment rather than on E.E. Ward's own trucks.
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.
Columbus-area household and office moves handled by the company's own 20-truck crew
The fleet is small for a national footprint, so the long leg of an interstate move is likely to travel on van-line equipment rather than on E.E. Ward's own trucks.
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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