Allied Van Lines
Legal name: Allied Van Lines, Inc.
96 consumer complaints filed with FMCSA in the last four years — 5 for holding goods hostage
What we found
Checked Sep 3, 2026 · every line links to its source- SERIOUS96 consumer complaints filed with FMCSA in the last four years — 5 for holding goods hostage
FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database (via the Protect Your Move registry) — by year: 2023: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 23 · 2026: 40 (registry data as of 07/31/2026). Categories: Loss and Damage 48, Claim Settlement 38, Shipment Documents 22, Estimates/Final Charges 21, Pickup and Delivery 18. Fleet on the registry: 1056 trucks — under 0.1 complaints per truck.
Hostage-goods complaints mean customers told FMCSA this company held their belongings until they paid more than the estimate.
Source: FMCSA Protect Your Move — complaint history · as of Sep 3, 2026
- SERIOUS2 closed FMCSA enforcement cases against this carrier in the last six years
case IN-2024-0012-US1727, closed 12/13/2023; case IN-2021-0084-US0782, closed 08/31/2021. FMCSA enforcement record, six years as of 09/02/2026. The public record publishes the case number and closing date only — not the violation or the penalty.
FMCSA brought a formal enforcement action against this carrier and closed it. Ask the company what the case was for before you book.
Source: FMCSA SMS — enforcement cases · FMCSA enforcement report · as of Sep 3, 2026
- PROBLEMWebsite address is not the federal record address
Website: 225 NorthMichigan Avenue, Suite 2527, Chicago, Illinois 60601. FMCSA record: 101 EAST WASHINGTON BLVD SUITE 1100, FORT WAYNE, IN 46802 (mailing: 101 E WASHINGTON BLVD SUITE 11, FORT WAYNE, IN 46802).
The office it advertises is not the address it gave the federal government.
Source: company website · SAFER snapshot · as of Sep 3, 2026
- PROBLEM
- NOTESelf-declared: “best movers”, “no. 1”, “best moving company”
“USA in the Last 15 Years 95 Years of Experience 96% Satisfaction Rate Best Movers Period From the beginning of the move ”. No source is given for any of these claims.
Source: company website · as of Sep 3, 2026
- ON RECORDThe five most recent FMCSA investigations on record — most recent 09/18/2025 (Non-Ratable Review)
09/18/2025 Non-Ratable Review; 10/19/2023 Non-Ratable Review; 07/27/2021 Non-Ratable Review; 07/20/2015 Non-Ratable Review; 03/01/2013 Non-Ratable Review. FMCSA publishes only the five most recent investigations, so there may be more.
Source: FMCSA SMS overview · as of Sep 3, 2026
- ON RECORDOwner of record: KATRINA LEA (ASST SECRETARY), JEFF MARGOLIS (SECRETARY)
Company official(s) on the FMCSA registration for USDOT 76235, ALLIED VAN LINES INC.
Source: MOTUS · as of Sep 3, 2026
- ON RECORDOther locations under this brand in Fort Wayne, IN and Chicago, IL: “Allied International”
BBB: “Allied Van Lines, Inc.” — BBB rating A+, started 3/12/1928. BBB: “Allied Van Lines” — BBB rating A+, started 3/12/1928. These share this company's website, so they are the same brand's other locations — a branch, agent or franchise — rather than one company trading under two names. Linked by: BBB: phone (260) 429-2511 on both records; BBB: website allied.com on both records; BBB: lists allied.com as its own page; BBB: phone (800) 689-8684 on both records; BBB: phone (630) 570-3009 on both records; BBB: Jeffrey Margolis — same surname as JEFF MARGOLIS; BBB: name “Allied Van Lines, Inc.” appears on both records.
Ask which company holds the operating authority and insurance for your move, and get it in writing.
Source: BBB profile — Allied Van Lines, Inc. · BBB profile — Allied Van Lines · as of Sep 3, 2026
- CHECKS OUTActive federal household-goods authority (FF-9490, MC-15735)
FMCSA: ACTIVE; authorized for Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Motor Carrier of Household Goods; insurance filings on file.
Source: SAFER snapshot · MOTUS · as of Sep 3, 2026
- CHECKS OUT
- CHECKS OUT
Other identities of this operator
Listings under another name, city or website that share this business's phone, address, website, people or an explicit cross-reference. A shared brand name alone is never enough to appear here.
- Allied Van Lines, Inc. / Allied Van Lines / Allied InternationalFort Wayne, IN · Chicago, ILON RECORDlink strength: strong
- BBB — Allied Van Lines, Inc.: BBB rating A+ · started 3/12/1928
- BBB — Allied Van Lines: BBB rating A+ · started 3/12/1928
How we linked them: BBB: phone (260) 429-2511 on both records · BBB: website allied.com on both records · BBB: lists allied.com as its own page · BBB: phone (800) 689-8684 on both records · BBB: phone (630) 570-3009 on both records · BBB: Jeffrey Margolis — same surname as JEFF MARGOLIS · BBB: name “Allied Van Lines, Inc.” appears on both records
Changes on the public record
We re-read this company's FMCSA record — and its state licence where the state publishes one — every day. These are the changes we observed in the last 90 days.
- Sep 2, 2026MEDIUM2 new consumer complaints filed with FMCSA (94 → 96 in the last four years).
- Aug 28, 2026MEDIUM1 new consumer complaint filed with FMCSA (93 → 94 in the last four years).
- Aug 28, 2026MEDIUMOperating authority changed: AUTHORIZED FOR: (Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Motor Carrier of Household Goods). (AUTHORIZED FOR: Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods) → AUTHORIZED FOR: Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Motor Carrier of Household Goods)
- Aug 27, 2026MEDIUMOperating authority changed: AUTHORIZED FOR: (Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods)). (AUTHORIZED FOR: Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Motor Carrier of Household Goods → AUTHORIZED FOR: Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods))
What kind of company is this?
Registered as both. Even with its own trucks, it can legally hand your move to a different company. Confirm in writing who actually performs your move.
Federally authorized to move household goods across state lines.
How long this company’s website has existed, from Internet Archive records. Very new websites are a common scam signal.
Fleet size reported in federal filings.
What we checked
- Federally licensed (FMCSA)Active federal authority on file with FMCSA (USDOT 76235).
- Authorized to move household goodsFMCSA confirms household goods (HHG) carrier authority. This mover is allowed to move home contents.
- State household-goods licenceNot checked for this profile.
- Insurance currently on fileOn-file coverage ($750,000) meets or exceeds federal requirement ($750,000).
- No history of cancelled insuranceNo cancelled or revoked insurance filings on record.
- Reviews are consistent across sourcesStar ratings are within 1.3 stars of each other across 3 review sources.
- Listed city matches federal recordsThis business advertises as based in Oakbrook Terrace, but federal and state regulatory records list its physical address in Fort Wayne.
- Operates under a single brand nameNo alternate marketing brand names found on the company website.
- Claimed years in business matches verified recordsover 95 years of experience on website matches 98 years (since 3/12/1928) from BBB business profile.
- Claimed fleet size matches verified recordsWebsite says 15 trucks but FMCSA SAFER (power units) shows 1056 power units (FMCSA). The claim is materially lower than verified.
- Claimed employee count matches verified recordsWebsite says 50+ employees but FMCSA SAFER (drivers) shows 1944 drivers (FMCSA). The claim is materially lower than verified.
Other concerns we want to surface
- •50 medium-confidence identity matches awaiting review (advisory; does not block publishing)
- •State licensing still unverified
- •Address legitimacy check: serious concern
- •Related-entity links check: serious concern. Shared DOT/MC/FMCSA-address/phone with other moving companies
FMCSA regulatory snapshot
- Authority status
What does this mean?
"Authority" is the FMCSA permission to operate as a federal interstate carrier. NOT AUTHORIZED / INACTIVE means the carrier cannot legally accept interstate moves under federal rules. ACTIVE means they have permission to operate. - AUTHORIZED FOR: Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods), Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods); Broker of Household Goods; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods); Motor Carrier of Household Goods
- Carrier operation
- Interstate
- Authorized for HHG
What does this mean?
"HHG" stands for Household Goods, the federal category covering home moves. A carrier without HHG authority is not allowed to move home contents across state lines under federal law. - Yes
- Operating status
- ACTIVE
- Trucks
What does this mean?
FMCSA calls these "power units", meaning trucks, tractors, and other registered moving vehicles the carrier owns or leases. - 1056
- Drivers
What does this mean?
Drivers the carrier has registered with FMCSA. This is the official number; some carriers operate with more drivers than registered. - 1944
- Insurance status
What does this mean?
FMCSA flagged the insurance status as "Pending", meaning a coverage or cancellation event is in process at the agency. Check the Insurance & authority history card for the specific filings. - Pending
- Safety rating
- Satisfactory
- DOT complaints (FMCSA)
- 96 consumer complaints on fileBy year: 2023: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 23 · 2026: 40 · registry data as of Jul 31, 2026 · FMCSA complaint historyLoss and Damage (48)Claim Settlement (38)Shipment Documents (22)Estimates/Final Charges (21)Pickup and Delivery (18)Deceptive Business Practices (18)Weighing (8)Hostage Goods (5)Other Commercial Complaints (1)
- FMCSA enforcement & investigations
- 2 closed enforcement case(s) (six years): IN-2024-0012-US1727 2023-12-13; IN-2021-0084-US0782 2021-08-31 · SMS recordInvestigations: 2025-09-18 Non-Ratable Review; 2023-10-19 Non-Ratable Review; 2021-07-27 Non-Ratable Review; 2015-07-20 Non-Ratable Review; 2013-03-01 Non-Ratable Review
- Physical address
- 101 EAST WASHINGTON BLVD SUITE 1100, FORT WAYNE, IN 46802
- Operating authority dockets
- ActiveMC15735Broker of Household GoodsActiveMC15735Broker of Property (Except Household Goods)ActiveFF9490Freight Forwarder of Property (Except Household Goods)ActiveMC15735Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods)ActiveMC15735Motor Carrier of Household Goods
A company can hold several federal dockets over its lifetime. Only an Active docket grants operating authority. An inactive one is history, not a violation.
Reviews and complaints — every platform we check
Each platform is shown whether or not this company has a listing. “No listing found” means we searched by name and city and nothing matched — it is a fact, not a rating.
What the reviews show
10 reviews read across TrustpilotThe website says 4.6★. We could read 10 (Trustpilot 10); Google, Yelp, BBB could not be counted, so this is not the company’s total.
- INFOThe 10 dated Trustpilot reviews we read span 1557 days (2022-05-29 to 2026-09-01); the 5 closest together fall within 167 days (Trustpilot, n=10)
- INFO100% of the reviews we read are 1★ or 5★ (n=10; 0 five-star, 10 one-star) — the usual shape of review distributions, noted for context (all platforms, n=10)
- INFOTrustpilot rating 2.0★ from 10 reviews (Trustpilot, n=10)
Verified customer experience reports
Structured accounts from customers who proved their move with a bill of lading or final invoice, a verified email, and a verified phone. No star ratings, no anonymous reviews, and nothing a company can pay to change — how this works.
No verified customer reports yet. Only customers who can document their move may submit one — that keeps the count honest, and it means it grows slowly.
Moved with Allied Van Lines? — you will need your bill of lading or final invoice, and a phone that can receive a code.
Work at Allied Van Lines? Claim this profile to respond publicly to reports. Claiming is free and never changes the records on this page.
The full verification report
The complete record below is compiled from official sources. Access requires a one-time fee, shown at checkout.
Last refreshed Sep 3, 2026. First published Sep 3, 2026. This report pulls from 1264 pieces of information across federal, state, review, and identity sources, and is re-checked on a regular cadence. Every claim above links back to its original source.
NMB does not invent facts. When a section reads "—" or "this check has not run yet," that means we have not been able to verify the information from a primary source. It does not mean the answer is good or bad.
Spotted something off?