Meathead Movers 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. Meathead Movers is described as best for central coast and california moves handled by a carrier with a large in-house fleet and student athlete crews, 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 | Meathead Movers | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 921143 | 077949 |
| MC # | 398077 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1997 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | San Luis Obispo, CA | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | Regional | All 50 states |
| Services | Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | MEATHEAD MOVERS INC | 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 | 53 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 3,424 | |
| Safety rating | S | |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 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.
Meathead Movers
Meathead Movers Inc files from San Luis Obispo, California with 53 power units and a household goods cargo entry, and the licensing record carries common authority active under MC-398077 with household goods authority alongside a separate freight forwarder docket. Freight forwarder authority is not broker authority, and no broker authority was located, so the company is reported here as a carrier that additionally holds a freight forwarder docket. The pair the company publishes on its own site matches the federal record exactly, which is the cleaner practice among California carriers. The business dates itself to 1997 and staffs its crews from local college athletic programmes.
- Best for central coast and california moves handled by a carrier with a large in-house fleet and student athlete crews.
- Regional coverage; founded 1997.
- Interstate work is limited compared with van-line agents of similar size, and a second registration carrying a near-identical name sits inactive on the census with no stated relationship to the active one.
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.
Central Coast and California moves handled by a carrier with a large in-house fleet and student athlete crews
Interstate work is limited compared with van-line agents of similar size, and a second registration carrying a near-identical name sits inactive on the census with no stated relationship to the active one.
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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