Western Van Lines Company Review
- Western Van Lines misrepresents itself as a carrier but is actually a broker
- Unbeknownst to many customers, the company subcontracts moves to outside carriers
- Western claims to have a much larger fleet of trucks than it does
- The company was founded in 2o2o but claims to have 46 years of experience in the moving industry
- Customer reviews are overwhelmingly negative
- The company has an F rating with the BBB
- Verdict: We do not recommend Western Van Lines
- For better long-distance moving options, check out our list of the best interstate moving companies
How does Western Van Lines compare to other professional movers?
Jump to the Western Van Lines review section that you’re looking for:
- About Western Van Lines
- Services Offered
- Pricing
- Customer’s Moving Experience
- Reputation and Online Presence
- Licensing and Registrations
- Should You Consider Western Van Lines
About Western Van Lines
Western Van Lines (U.S. DOT#2129334) is a long-distance moving broker that claims to be headquartered in Boise, Idaho. While the company is registered as an asset-based carrier, it does business as a moving broker. The company promotes having 42 registered trucks but has only one according to the AI FMCSA database.
Some moving brokers use economies of scale to get their customers the best possible. However, Western Van Lines promotes incredibly low prices but passes moves off to 3rd-party carriers. The company takes no responsibility for delays or damage and holds on to pre-move deposits.
While Western Van Lines started its business in 2020, the company claims to have 46 years of experience in the moving industry.
This moving broker only handles long-distance moves. They offer basic packing and storage services and advertise a free month of storage on every move.
The company claims to support several philanthropic causes, including Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, and the American Cancer Society. They also promote having an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau, although they have an F rating. The BBB has also posted correspondence with Western Van Lines regarding a pattern of general consumer complaints.
Western Van Lines has close ties with another moving company, Swift Van Lines. In several cases, customers have stated that Swift Van Lines does business as Western Van Lines. One customer shared a photo on Yelp which seems to provide hard evidence that the company engages in this deceptive practice.
- Claim to have 46 years of experience in the moving industry
- May support non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society
- Free web-based quotes
- No local moves
- No moves to Alaska or Hawaii
- Outdated information on the website
- Unaccredited with the BBB and hold an F rating
Western Van Lines offers a broad range of services
On its website, Western Van Lines states that it only handles long-distance moves. Below is a breakdown of their services.
- Residential moves: The company offers household moves across the country. They even claim to handle moves to Canada
- Corporate relocation: The moving broker can provide multiple trailers for large commercial and corporate moves. Western Van Lines offers storage solutions for companies that experience delays
- Packing and unpacking: The company promotes full-service and customized packing services for customers that don’t want to pack themselves. This includes kitchen supplies, wardrobes, and unique or fragile items
- Short and long-term storage: Western Van Lines offers a variety of storage solutions for any size move. They have climate-controlled units available and offer a free month of storage for any move
How much does Western Van Lines charge?
On its website, Western Van Lines promotes long-distance moves for as low as $1,499. Still, “ballpark” pricing is often inaccurate, and moving companies should always be contacted directly to schedule virtual or in-home surveys.
The broker has a Free Estimate form on its website. However, it seems as though the form is inoperable. Those interested in receiving a free quote should call the company using the phone number listed on their Contact page.
Western Van Lines requires a 20% deposit when securing a reservation. 50% of the remaining balance must be paid before the truck is loaded, and the rest is due before belongings are unloaded. Generally speaking, large deposits like these are often signs of deceptive business practices.
To get a quote on your move and find out about the best movers in your area, check out our moving cost calculator.
How is Western Van Lines’ customer service?
According to customer reviews, Western Van Lines is responsive and cordial during the booking phase. While the company states that customers can reach them at any time, there are no office hours posted.
Customers can inquire about a free quote or schedule an appointment with a customer service representative using the phone number listed on their website. There is no email address posted, but there is a form on their Contact page.
There is no mention of a pricing or on-time delivery guarantee on the broker’s website.
Following the booking phase, customers unanimously express difficulty reaching Western Van Lines. Many people share frustrations with the company’s responsiveness and delivery delays.
The Better Business Bureau has reached out to Western Van Lines regarding this pattern of consumer complaints. The company responded by claiming that customers aren’t providing proper information. The BBB is continuing to monitor the company’s actions.
Does Western Van Lines have a good online reputation?
Customer reviews for Western Van Lines are distressing across the board. The company recently publicized its Google Business, and although it only has one review, the customer was disappointed with the service provided.
The broker’s reputation is much more telling on its government databases. Western Van Lines is unaccredited by the Better Business Bureau. Although it claims an A+ rating with the BBB on its website, it maintains an F rating.
The company holds a 1.84 out of 5-star rating on the BBB with 57 customer reviews. Most customers have issues with the company’s responsiveness, final charges, and delivery delays.
Western Van Lines has accumulated 93 complaints in the last three years, 35 of which have come in the previous 12 months. Customers are overwhelmingly frustrated with the company’s service. The broker has failed to respond to 33 complaints filed against the business, and two complaints filed haven’t been resolved.
The following summarizes the categories (nature) of the complaints received.
| BBB Complaint Types | Number |
| Sales or Advertising | 5 |
| Collections or Billing | 7 |
| Deliver-Related Concerns | 4 |
| Warranty or Guarantee | 1 |
| Product or Service Problems | 76 |
The company has 124 official complaints filed against it on the National Consumer Complaint Database. According to the AI FMCSA, customers have issues with delivery delays, final charges, and deceptive business practices.
The company continues to perform poorly on public review sites. Western Van Lines holds a 1.5 out of 5-star rating on Yelp with 59 reviews. Customers unanimously have issues with final charges and responsiveness. The broker has not claimed its profile on the review site.
Is Western Van Lines licensed and insured?
The moving industry uses databases to collect information about individual companies. When assessing each particular business, we check four databases to see what information is registered and whether the company has claimed its profile.
These databases are compared alongside company websites, social media pages, and review sites (such as Yelp) to determine the moving business’s credibility and transparency.
| Database | Listed (Y/N) |
| AI FMCSA? | Yes |
| SAFER FMCSA? | Yes |
| Licensing Insurance FMCSA? | Yes |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) | Listed but not accredited |
We found that the services and information stated on Western Van Lines’ website are inconsistent with the information on these government databases. While the company is officially registered as a carrier, it generally brokers moves to other carriers. Western Van Lines claims to have 42 registered trucks, while AI and SAFER FMCSA show far fewer.
The moving broker lists its headquarters in Boise, Idaho, but this is apparently the company’s mailing address. In fact, each government database lists the company’s address in Miami, Florida. While Western Van Lines opened in 2020, they claim 46 years of experience in the moving industry.
The company claims 3 million miles traveled yearly. However, when searched on the SAFER FMCSA, they only recorded 350,000 miles in 2020. In addition, vehicle and driver inspections resulted in higher out-of-service percentages than the national average, and as a result, the company holds a conditional safety rating.
For more information on moving company regulations and why we choose to look at these databases, check out our post on how moving companies are regulated.
How are Western Van Lines’ website and social media presence?
While the company’s website is easy to navigate, it seems as though its security certificate is expired. Until Western Van Lines updates its digital security measures, please do not enter any sensitive information into its website including addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers.
The broker provides contact information on its Contact page. They list their services clearly, stating that they only handle long-distance moves. The company has a list of statistics, but they don’t match up with the information provided on government databases.
Currently, Western Van Lines does not have a social media presence.
Should you consider Western Van Lines for a move?
Western Van Lines is a moving broker registered as a carrier. The company only handles long-distance moves that are ultimately handed off to 3rd-party carriers. They have close ties with various carriers, and according to some customers may sometimes do business under the name Swift Van Lines.
The company has a history of deceptive business practices. While customers mention a pleasant experience during the booking phase, the company becomes difficult to reach during the move phase. Customers unanimously have issues with final charges and late delivery times.
Overall, we highly recommend working with a different shipping carrier. According to the Better Business Bureau, this company has amassed numerous complaints and has made no noticeable effort to alter its deceptive business practices.
For more help choosing the right moving company and getting free moving quotes, check our picks of the top-rated interstate moving companies.
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