Mother Lode 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. Mother Lode Moving & Storage is described as best for sacramento-area households wanting a long-established independent with its own warehouse and 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 | Mother Lode Moving & Storage | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 1885461 | 077949 |
| MC # | 679515 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1965 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Rancho Cordova, CA | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | Interstate (48) | All 50 states |
| Services | Local, Long-distance, Packing, Storage, Specialty/Piano | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | MOTHER LODE VAN & STORAGE INC | UNITED VAN LINES LLC |
| Entity status | A | |
| Operating authority held | Household goods, Property, Carrier and broker | |
| Power units on the census file | 19 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 8 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | S | |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,300–$5,000 | $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.
Mother Lode Moving & Storage
Mother Lode files from Rancho Cordova, California as a single federal registrant with nineteen power units and eight drivers on the federal file. The federal legal name records the company as a van and storage corporation while the consumer brand reads Moving & Storage; that is an ordinary brand and legal-name distinction and is not treated as a discrepancy. The company operates one live site reached through a redirect from an older domain it also owns, and both addresses resolve to the same business, so no duplicate identity is recorded. The exact operating-authority classes on the registration were not readable in the sources reviewed and none is inferred. No federal safety rating is on file. The company states first-party that it has served the Sacramento region since 1965.
- Best for sacramento-area households wanting a long-established independent with its own warehouse and crews.
- Interstate (48) coverage; founded 1965.
- Coverage is centred on the Sacramento region, so availability elsewhere depends on scheduling.
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.
Sacramento-area households wanting a long-established independent with its own warehouse and crews
Coverage is centred on the Sacramento region, so availability elsewhere depends on scheduling.
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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