MiniMoves vs Atlas Van Lines
Researched and written by Daniel Novak · Reviewed by Brittany Evans · Last reviewed August 2026
We publish no numeric score for moving companies, so this page names no winner. MiniMoves is described as best for small shipments, studio and one-bedroom apartment moves and single-item long-distance jobs that are too large to ship and too small for a full van-line trailer, while Atlas Van Lines is described as best for corporate and government relocations. 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 | MiniMoves | Atlas Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 526036 | 125550 |
| MC # | 268180 | 79658 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1991 | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Hillside, IL | Evansville, IN |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | MINIMOVES INC | ATLAS VAN LINES INC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker |
| Power units on the census file | 5 | 2,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 6 | 2,351 |
| Safety rating | S | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $900–$3,400 | $3,000–$7,200 |
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.
MiniMoves
MiniMoves Inc files from Roosevelt Road in Hillside, Illinois, active on the federal census as a carrier and freight forwarder with five power units, six drivers, an MCS-150 filed 25 April 2025 and two dockets on the registration: MC-268180 and FF-1562. The licensing record shows four authority roles and they are reported separately rather than merged: motor carrier of household goods, motor carrier of property, freight forwarder of household goods and freight forwarder of property. Freight forwarder authority is a distinct federal role from carrier authority and is stated as such rather than folded into the carrier line. The company publishes the same USDOT number and both dockets on its own site. The Illinois Commerce Commission number it also publishes is a state identifier, and the FMC licence number is a Federal Maritime Commission credential rather than an FMCSA registration; neither is recorded as a federal motor carrier registration. FMCSA safety rating on file: Satisfactory, dated 31 July 2001, following a later compliance review dated 18 August 2016 that the file records as non-ratable; that is a dated federal snapshot and not a current safety score. The company states that MiniMoves was created in 1991 and has specialised in small moves since.
- Best for small shipments, studio and one-bedroom apartment moves and single-item long-distance jobs that are too large to ship and too small for a full van-line trailer.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1991.
- Five power units and six drivers is a very small fleet, so most long-distance capacity depends on consolidation scheduling rather than on a dedicated truck, and the safety rating on file dates from 2001.
Atlas Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines books interstate household goods shipments under its own federal registration and handles them locally through affiliated agents. The agent assigned to your origin is a separate business from the van line, so ask which company's crew is scheduled before you sign.
- Best for corporate and government relocations.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1948.
- The company performing your move is usually a separate agent business rather than the van line itself, so the terms, crew and equipment differ by market and are not set by Atlas.
Small shipments, studio and one-bedroom apartment moves and single-item long-distance jobs that are too large to ship and too small for a full van-line trailer
Five power units and six drivers is a very small fleet, so most long-distance capacity depends on consolidation scheduling rather than on a dedicated truck, and the safety rating on file dates from 2001.
Corporate and government relocations
The company performing your move is usually a separate agent business rather than the van line itself, so the terms, crew and equipment differ by market and are not set by Atlas.
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