Moving Comparison

Smith Dray Line vs United 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. Smith Dray Line is described as best for upstate south carolina and western north carolina household and commercial relocations handled by a long-established atlas agent 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

CategorySmith Dray LineUnited Van Lines
USDOT122024077949
MC #677467234
Carrier or brokercarrierboth
Founded18881928
HeadquartersGreenville, SCFenton, MO
CoverageAll 50 statesAll 50 states
ServicesLong-distance, Local, Packing, Storage, CorporateLong-distance, International, Packing, Storage, Auto transport, Corporate
Legal name on the federal filingSMITH DRAY LINE & STORAGE CO INCUNITED VAN LINES LLC
Entity statusA
Operating authority heldHousehold goodsHousehold goods, Property, Carrier and broker
Power units on the census file564,731
Drivers on the census file523,424
Safety ratingSS
Federal record as of2026-08-152026-08-13
2BR interstate estimate (BestMovers.info estimate)$2,200–$6,200$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.

Smith Dray Line

Smith Dray Line & Storage Co Inc files from Park Commerce Road in Greenville, South Carolina, active on the federal census with a household goods cargo entry, fifty-six power units, fifty-two drivers, a current MCS-150 filing and docket MC-6774 on the registration. The federal contact address uses the company's own domain, so registrant and consumer-facing brand are tied inside the federal data rather than by the site's own claim. No licensing row was returned for this registration in the federal authority mirror read for this profile, so authority is described from the census entry and the docket rather than from a licensing status this project did not see. The company is an Atlas Van Lines agent; Atlas holds its own separate federal registration and no Atlas identifier is stored here or presented as Smith Dray Line's number. The federal file carries a Satisfactory safety rating dated 15 May 1987, which is reported as the dated snapshot it is and not as a current evaluation. The company states it has traded since 1888.

USDOT
122024
Pros
  • Best for upstate south carolina and western north carolina household and commercial relocations handled by a long-established atlas agent that files its own household goods registration.
  • All 50 states coverage; founded 1888.
Watch out
  • The most recent federal compliance review on file dates from 1987, so the safety rating attached to this registration says nothing about how the company operates today.
Read full Smith Dray Line review

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.

USDOT
077949
Pros
  • Best for long-distance moves with full packing.
  • All 50 states coverage; founded 1928.
Watch out
  • Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.
Read full United Van Lines review
Smith Dray Line
Best for

Upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina household and commercial relocations handled by a long-established Atlas agent that files its own household goods registration

Not ideal for

The most recent federal compliance review on file dates from 1987, so the safety rating attached to this registration says nothing about how the company operates today.

United Van Lines
Best for

Long-distance moves with full packing

Not ideal for

Quotes are non-binding by default unless you specifically request a binding estimate.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Smith Dray Line or United 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. Smith Dray Line is described as best for upstate south carolina and western north carolina household and commercial relocations handled by a long-established atlas agent that files its own household goods registration; United Van Lines is described as best for long-distance moves with full packing. 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 Smith Dray Line and United Van Lines compare on price?
For a typical 2-bedroom interstate move, Smith Dray Line estimates land around $2,200–$6,200 and United Van Lines estimates land around $3,100–$7,400. Actual quotes depend on weight, distance, service level, date, and availability.
Are Smith Dray Line and United Van Lines both FMCSA-licensed?
Smith Dray Line operates under USDOT 122024 and United Van Lines operates under USDOT 077949. Always verify the specific entity quoting your move on FMCSA SAFER before signing an estimate.
How do I check complaints against Smith Dray Line or United 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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