Pickens Kane 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. 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 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 | Pickens Kane Moving & Storage | United Van Lines |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT | 237969 | 077949 |
| MC # | 162060 | 67234 |
| Carrier or broker | carrier | both |
| Founded | 1914 | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, IL | Fenton, MO |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Services | Long-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, Corporate, Specialty/Piano | Long-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate |
| Legal name on the federal filing | PICKENS-KANE MOVING & STORAGE CO 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 | 10 | 4,731 |
| Drivers on the census file | 18 | 3,424 |
| Safety rating | S | S |
| Federal record as of | 2026-08-15 | 2026-08-13 |
| 2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate) | $2,000–$5,600 | $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.
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.
- 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.
- The fleet is small for national work, so a long-distance shipment leaving Chicago can depend on capacity the company does not own outright.
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.
Chicago household, office and fine-art relocations handled by an independent carrier that files its own household goods registration
The fleet is small for national work, so a long-distance shipment leaving Chicago can depend on capacity the company does not own outright.
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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