Marathon Moving Company 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. Marathon Moving Company is described as best for greater boston household moves where the local crew is the carrier and long-distance capacity comes through the allied 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 | Marathon Moving Company | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 943487 | 077949 |
| MC # | 405568 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 2000 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Canton, MA | 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 | MARATHON MOVING COMPANY 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 | 11 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 14 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | S | |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,600–$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.
Marathon Moving Company
Marathon Moving Company Inc files from Will Drive in Canton, Massachusetts, active on the federal census with a household goods cargo entry, eleven power units, fourteen drivers and docket MC-405568 on the registration. The filed contact email uses the company's own domain, and the company's own licence block publishes the same registration and docket numbers, so registrant and brand agree from two directions. Several unrelated registrants share the words Marathon Moving nationally; identity here was resolved through the domain, the filed address, the federal contact evidence and the company's own site, and those other registrants are excluded rather than disclosed as connected companies. The Massachusetts MDPU number the site publishes alongside its federal numbers is a state licence identifier and is not recorded as a federal registration. The company is an Allied Van Lines agent; Allied holds its own separate registration and no Allied identifier is stored on this record. No federal safety rating was located for this registration. The company states that Paul and Gail Nelson started the business in the spring of 2000.
- Best for greater boston household moves where the local crew is the carrier and long-distance capacity comes through the allied network.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 2000.
- The fleet is small for national work, so a long-haul shipment can depend on van-line capacity the company does not own outright, and no federal safety rating was located for the registration.
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 Boston household moves where the local crew is the carrier and long-distance capacity comes through the Allied network
The fleet is small for national work, so a long-haul shipment can depend on van-line capacity the company does not own outright, and no federal safety rating was located for the registration.
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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