Moving Comparison

Pickens Kane Moving & Storage vs Atlas Van Lines

Researched and written by Daniel Harper · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026

At-a-glance

We publish no numeric score for moving companies, so this page names no winner. Pickens Kane Moving & Storage is described as best for chicago household, office and fine-art relocations handled by an independent carrier that files its own household goods registration, 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

CategoryPickens Kane Moving & StorageAtlas Van Lines
USDOT237969125550
MC #16206079658
Carrier or brokercarrierboth
Founded19141948
HeadquartersChicago, ILEvansville, IN
CoverageAll 50 statesAll 50 states
ServicesLong-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate, Specialty/PianoLong-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Corporate
Legal name on the federal filingPICKENS-KANE MOVING & STORAGE CO INCATLAS VAN LINES INC
Entity statusA
Operating authority heldHousehold goods, PropertyHousehold goods, Property, Carrier and broker
Power units on the census file102,731
Drivers on the census file182,351
Safety ratingSS
Federal record as of2026-08-152026-08-13
2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate)$2,000–$5,600$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.

Pickens Kane Moving & Storage

Pickens-Kane Moving & Storage Co Inc files from North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, active on the federal census with household goods and general freight cargo entries, ten power units and a current MCS-150 filing. One docket sits on the registration, and the company's own website publishes the same registration number the census carries, so registrant and consumer-facing brand agree. No licensing row was returned for this registration in the federal authority mirror read for this profile, so authority is described from the census and the docket rather than from a licensing status this project did not see. No van-line agency was established in research and none is asserted here. The business describes itself as serving Chicago since 1914.

USDOT
237969
Pros
  • Best for chicago household, office and fine-art relocations handled by an independent carrier that files its own household goods registration.
  • All 50 states coverage; founded 1914.
Watch out
  • The fleet is small for national work, so a long-distance shipment leaving Chicago can depend on capacity the company does not own outright.
Read full Pickens Kane Moving & Storage review

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.

USDOT
125550
Pros
  • Best for corporate and government relocations.
  • All 50 states coverage; founded 1948.
Watch out
  • 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.
Read full Atlas Van Lines review
Pickens Kane Moving & Storage
Best for

Chicago household, office and fine-art relocations handled by an independent carrier that files its own household goods registration

Not ideal for

The fleet is small for national work, so a long-distance shipment leaving Chicago can depend on capacity the company does not own outright.

Atlas Van Lines
Best for

Corporate and government relocations

Not ideal for

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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Frequently asked questions

Is Pickens Kane Moving & Storage or Atlas Van Lines better in 2026?
We hold no basis to prefer one over the other. We publish no numeric score for moving companies, and the records we hold for both are the same fields: registration, operating authority, founding year, coverage, and an estimated price range. Pickens Kane Moving & Storage is described as best for chicago household, office and fine-art relocations handled by an independent carrier that files its own household goods registration; Atlas Van Lines is described as best for corporate and government relocations. Check each company's USDOT record on FMCSA SAFER for authority status and complaint history, then compare binding-not-to-exceed estimates for your own move.
How do Pickens Kane Moving & Storage and Atlas Van Lines compare on price?
For a typical 2-bedroom interstate move, Pickens Kane Moving & Storage estimates land around $2,000–$5,600 and Atlas Van Lines estimates land around $3,000–$7,200. Actual quotes depend on weight, distance, service level, date, and availability.
Are Pickens Kane Moving & Storage and Atlas Van Lines both FMCSA-licensed?
Pickens Kane Moving & Storage operates under USDOT 237969 and Atlas Van Lines operates under USDOT 125550. Always verify the specific entity quoting your move on FMCSA SAFER before signing an estimate.
How do I check complaints against Pickens Kane Moving & Storage or Atlas Van Lines?
Look up each company by its USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER, which publishes complaint and crash history for the registered entity, and check the state regulator where the move starts. Ratings published by third parties are not shown here unless the specific profile they came from has been recorded.
What estimate type should I ask for?
For interstate moves, ask for a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey. Sight-unseen non-binding interstate quotes are not reliable and tend to grow on delivery day.
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