Nilson Van & Storage vs Atlas 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. Nilson Van & Storage is described as best for carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers, 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 | Nilson Van & Storage | Atlas Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 122025 | 125550 |
| MC # | 109331 | 79658 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1938 | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Columbia, SC | Evansville, IN |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | NILSON VAN & STORAGE | 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 | 43 | 2,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 36 | 2,351 |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-16 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $1,900–$5,400 | $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.
Nilson Van & Storage
Nilson Van & Storage has filed under that exact legal name since the census began and operates from 6821 N Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina, the address published on its own site, with 43 power units and 36 drivers and both general freight and household goods cargo entries. The licensing record carries common and contract authority active with household goods authority. The company states it was founded in 1938 on a small personal stake and remains single-family owned. Interstate shipments move through the Mayflower Transit network, whose registration is Mayflower's own. An unrelated Utah company sharing part of the Nilson name is recorded as a rejected match so it cannot be attached to this profile later.
- Best for carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers.
- All 50 states coverage; founded 1938.
- The recorded safety rating dates from a compliance review in 1992, so the rating on file is old rather than a recent assessment.
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.
Carolina household and government moves handled by a long-established regional carrier with its own drivers
The recorded safety rating dates from a compliance review in 1992, so the rating on file is old rather than a recent assessment.
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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