Maher Brothers Transfer & 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. Maher Brothers Transfer & Storage is described as best for eastern iowa households and offices wanting a century-old independent with van-line reach, 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 | Maher Brothers Transfer & Storage | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 87390 | 077949 |
| MC # | 45591 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1922 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Cedar Rapids, IA | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | Interstate (48) | All 50 states |
| Services | Local, Long-distance, Packing, Storage, Corporate | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | MAHER BROS TRANSFER AND STORAGE INC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker | |
| Power units on the census file | 32 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 26 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,400–$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.
Maher Brothers Transfer & Storage
Maher Brothers Transfer & Storage files from Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a single federal registrant with thirty-two power units and twenty-six drivers on the federal file. The company prints its own federal number on its website as 087390; that is zero-padding of the same registration this profile describes, not a competing identifier, and it is recorded as agreement rather than as a conflict. The company is an Allied Van Lines agent, and every Allied corporate identifier is held as a van-line number and is never recorded as a Maher identifier. The exact operating-authority classes on the registration were not readable in the sources reviewed, so none is asserted and none is ruled out. The federal file carries a Satisfactory safety rating dated 18 March 2009, which is a dated snapshot rather than a current certification. The company states first-party that the moving and storage business was founded in 1922.
- Best for eastern iowa households and offices wanting a century-old independent with van-line reach.
- Interstate (48) coverage; founded 1922.
- Household work shares the fleet with a substantial commercial and office-moving business, so peak-season scheduling can be tight.
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.
Eastern Iowa households and offices wanting a century-old independent with van-line reach
Household work shares the fleet with a substantial commercial and office-moving business, so peak-season scheduling can be tight.
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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