Golden North Van Lines

1. SERIOUS

   Advertises interstate moves; its website shows no USDOT or MC number on the pages we read

   None of the 6 page(s) we read (home, contact, about, pricing, faq, services) shows a USDOT or MC number in text. Interstate household-goods movers must show their USDOT number in advertising (49 CFR 375.207).

   Its own federal record shows active household-goods authority (USDOT 163057, MC-140586); the requirement is to show the USDOT number in its advertising. Confirm the carrier named on your estimate and bill of lading, and check its numbers.

   Source: company website · as of Oct 9, 2026

2. NOTE

   Two current FMCSA records show active household-goods authority MC-140586; FMCSA's Protect Your Move page still says the company is not authorized.

   FMCSA's SAFER snapshot (data as of 10/07/2026, read 2026-10-09) shows USDOT 163057 ACTIVE and AUTHORIZED FOR Motor Carrier of Household Goods and Motor Carrier of Property, MC-140586, interstate. FMCSA's MOTUS record (read 2026-10-09) shows docket MC140586 with household-goods authority Active (MOTUS dates this authority record 2026-06-09) and property authority Active (record dated 1983-07-07), and insurance filings on file. FMCSA's Protect Your Move page (registry data 9/25/2026, read 2026-10-09) says 'GOLDEN NORTH VAN LINES, INC. (U.S. DOT# 163057) is NOT authorized by FMCSA to transport or arrange the transportation of Household Goods' and lists Authority, Carrier, Broker and Freight Forwarder as No.

   The reason Protect Your Move differs is not established. FMCSA's Licensing & Insurance authority history could not be read (challenge question), so the history of this authority is not confirmed. Whether the 2026-06-09 date reflects a new household-goods grant or a record change was not established.

   The two records with the newer data both show active household-goods authority.

   Before booking, confirm that MC-140586 appears on the estimate and bill of lading; FMCSA's SAFER page for USDOT 163057 shows its current authority.

   Source: FMCSA SAFER company snapshot, USDOT 163057 · FMCSA MOTUS carrier record, USDOT 163057 · FMCSA Protect Your Move company detail, USDOT 163057 · as of Oct 9, 2026

3. NOTE

   Self-declared: “#1”

   “We are America's #1 military relocation moving company and a leading General Service Administration (GSA) approved carrier”. This is the company's own marketing statement; this wording alone does not establish an independent ranking.

   Source: company website · as of Oct 9, 2026

4. NOTE

   A federal jury found Golden North and its co-owner of record liable for defaming a business contact and awarded $775,000; the dispute did not involve a customer move.

   Watson v. Golden North Van Lines, Inc., et al., U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, No. 2:24-cv-02227, removed from Shelby County court on 2024-04-11. The court's order of 2025-08-06 (ECF 139) describes the case: the plaintiff, an officer of Relocation Management Worldwide, Inc. (RMW), a company that hired movers such as Golden North for federal-employee moves and owed Golden North over $600,000 for moving services by winter 2022, sued over text messages the individual defendant, then a Golden North employee, sent in March 2023 accusing him of stealing from RMW; claims were defamation and tortious interference against her and respondeat superior liability against Golden North. On 2025-06-13 the jury found that the defendants defamed the plaintiff, did not tortiously interfere, and acted intentionally, recklessly or with malice; it awarded $450,000 compensatory and $325,000 punitive damages, and judgment was entered that day. The court denied the defendants' renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial on 2025-08-06. The CourtListener docket lists a 'Satisfaction of Judgment' entry on 2025-08-21. FMCSA's MOTUS lists the individual defendant as co-owner of USDOT 163057.

   The CourtListener copy of the docket (last updated 2025-09-29) may be incomplete; it shows no appeal entry, and the satisfaction filing itself was not read. Alaska state courts were not searched.

   This is a court judgment about a business dispute, not a complaint about a household move.

   Before booking: No booking step follows from this case; weigh it as background about the company's management.

   Source: CourtListener docket, Watson v. Golden North Van Lines, Inc., 2:24-cv-02227 (W.D. Tenn.) · Order denying defendants' renewed motion for JMOL or new trial (ECF 139, 2025-08-06) · as of Oct 9, 2026

5. ON RECORD

   No consumer complaints filed with FMCSA in the last four years

   FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database shows no complaints against USDOT 163057 in the last four years (registry data as of 09/25/2026).

   Source: FMCSA Protect Your Move — complaint history · as of Oct 11, 2026

6. ON RECORD

   The five most recent FMCSA investigations on record — most recent 02/08/2021 (Non-Ratable Review)

   02/08/2021 Non-Ratable Review; 11/04/2019 Non-Ratable Review; 10/22/2007 CR And Security Contact Review; 06/03/2005 Compliance Review; 04/22/2002 Compliance Review. FMCSA publishes only the five most recent investigations, so there may be more. No FMCSA enforcement cases in the last six years.

   Source: FMCSA SMS overview · as of Oct 11, 2026

7. ON RECORD

   Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing could not be checked in this report

   The register could not be read. Business registration is not a mover licence. Neither 'GOLDEN NORTH VAN LINES INC' nor 'Golden North Van Lines' could be submitted to the official register because the CAPTCHA blocked access. The entity record, entity number, type, status, formation date, registered agent, officers, address, source URL, and source date could not be confirmed from the register. No conclusion about whether matching entities exist or their status is made. The official page itself identifies the service as 'Search Corporations Database'; only the search form page was readable, not search results. The register search was blocked: The official Alaska entity-search page was blocked by a DataDome verification CAPTCHA ('Verification Required' / 'Slide right to secure your access') before the search form could be submitted or results read.

8. ON RECORD

   Every exposed BBB review and complaint record was read: 0 reviews, 0 public complaints

   BBB exposes no reviews. BBB reports 0 complaints; no public complaint narratives were available to read. Complete retrieval of the exposed record is not proof the reviews are authentic or that nothing was removed.

   Source: BBB profile · BBB complaints · as of Oct 9, 2026

9. ON RECORD

   A second, newer federal registration, USDOT 5575604, uses the same company name, address, phone and officers; it has no active operating authority.

   FMCSA's SAFER snapshot for USDOT 5575604 (data as of 10/07/2026, read 2026-10-09) lists GOLDEN NORTH VAN LINES, INC., 940 RASPBERRY RD, ANCHORAGE, AK 99518-1572, phone (907) 349-3511, entity type CARRIER/FREIGHT FORWARDER, USDOT status ACTIVE, Intrastate Only (Non-HM), operating authority NOT AUTHORIZED, docket numbers FF-66075532, MC-66423068 and FF-75461712, no MCS-150 date and 0 inspections. FMCSA's MOTUS record (read 2026-10-09) shows it was created in June 2026 (DOT number assigned 2026-06-06) under application 226350c8, state of incorporation AK, the same two officers FMCSA lists for USDOT 163057 (titled here President and Secretary, with goldennorth.com email addresses), and all three authority applications (household-goods motor carrier MC66423068, household-goods freight forwarder FF66075532, property freight forwarder FF75461712) in Pending status with no insurance filings. The established registration is USDOT 163057 / MC-140586, which SAFER and MOTUS show as active household-goods authority.

   The officers and @goldennorth.com emails tie this registration to Golden North's management, but why a second registration was filed is not established. It is not evidence of wrongdoing.

   USDOT 5575604 has no active federal operating authority, so it cannot be used for an interstate (out-of-state) household-goods move.

   Before booking: Make sure the paperwork for your move shows USDOT 163057 and MC-140586 (or the van line actually carrying the shipment), not USDOT 5575604.

   Source: FMCSA SAFER company snapshot, USDOT 5575604 · FMCSA MOTUS carrier record, USDOT 5575604 · FMCSA SAFER name search 'GOLDEN NORTH' · as of Oct 9, 2026

10. ON RECORD

    The Fairbanks location shown on the website is registered to a separate carrier, Golden North Fairbanks Moving Inc (USDOT 2381620), which uses the same Anchorage phone number.

    The website lists a Fairbanks office at 620 Old Richardson Hwy., Fairbanks, AK 99701, phone (907) 456-5291 (read 2026-10-09). FMCSA's SAFER snapshot for USDOT 2381620 (data as of 10/07/2026, read 2026-10-09) lists GOLDEN NORTH FAIRBANKS MOVING INC, 620 OLD RICHARDSON HWY STE 200, FAIRBANKS, AK 99701, phone (907) 349-3511 (the Anchorage company's number), USDOT ACTIVE, AUTHORIZED FOR Motor Carrier of Property, Motor Carrier of Household Goods and Broker of Property, MC-817977, interstate, 3 power units, 2 drivers, MCS-150 05/03/2023, 0 inspections in 24 months.

    The shared name, branding and phone tie the two companies together, but their ownership relationship is not verified because the Alaska corporations register could not be read. Its federal record, ratings and complaints belong to that entity.

    Before booking: For a Fairbanks move, ask which company (Golden North Van Lines Inc, USDOT 163057, or Golden North Fairbanks Moving Inc, USDOT 2381620) will be the carrier on your paperwork.

    Source: FMCSA SAFER company snapshot, USDOT 2381620 · Golden North Van Lines contact page (Anchorage and Fairbanks offices) · as of Oct 9, 2026

11. ON RECORD

    Golden North says it is an agent of United Van Lines, and United's Anchorage page lists it; on a United-booked move, United may be the carrier.

    The company homepage (read 2026-10-09) says 'As an agent of United Van Lines' and that the company has provided moving services since 1976; BBB lists the alternate name 'Agent of United Van Lines Inc'. United Van Lines' Anchorage page (read 2026-10-09) lists Golden North Van Lines, 940 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518, with phone 907-349-2581; the same page shows that number for another Anchorage agent, World Wide Movers (7120 Hart Street), so it is treated as a United page number rather than a Golden North line. United Van Lines LLC is USDOT 77949 with MC-67234 and active household-goods carrier authority (SAFER, data as of 10/07/2026). Golden North's own USDOT 163057 / MC-140586 also has active household-goods authority.

    An agency relationship does not show which company will carry a particular shipment. Customer reviews describe out-of-state and military moves, which may run under either authority.

    Before booking: Ask whether your move will be booked with United Van Lines or with Golden North, and check that the carrier named on the bill of lading matches the USDOT and MC numbers you were given.

    Source: Golden North Van Lines homepage · United Van Lines Anchorage agent page · FMCSA SAFER company snapshot, USDOT 77949 (United Van Lines LLC) · as of Oct 9, 2026

12. ON RECORD

    Google: 50 reviews retrieved (2012 to April 2026), 41 five-star and 4 one-star, with no owner responses; only 6 reviews since 2024.

    The Google listing for Golden North Van Lines at 940 Raspberry Rd (phone (907) 349-3511, website goldennorthvanlines.com; rating 4.6) returned 50 reviews on 2026-10-09 with no further pages: 41 five-star, 4 four-star, 1 three-star and 4 one-star (sample average 4.56), 41 with text, dated 2012-08-01 to 2026-04-13. Reviews per year: 2012 2, 2014 1, 2016 8, 2017 9, 2018 5, 2019 4, 2020 6, 2021 3, 2022 5, 2023 1, 2024 4, 2025 1, 2026 1. Positive reviews describe careful packing, military and out-of-state moves (for example Anchorage to North Carolina, 2023-09-15; an out-of-state move, 2026-04-13) and named coordinators. One-star reviews allege that a salesperson's promises proved untrue and the move cost much more (2024-10-08), a delivery three weeks late with two damaged furniture pieces and an unpaid claim (2017-12-31), and careless packing and damage on a Department of Defense move with a claim expected to pay about 20% (2016-05-14); one 2018 one-star review has no text. The company has not responded to any review.

    Reviews are customer accounts, not verified findings. Google's own total count was not returned, so whether these 50 are every review is unverified. Recent coverage is thin. Yelp shows a lower 3.2 average from 13 reviews whose text could not be read.

    Before booking: Get the estimate type, the price and anything the salesperson promises in writing, and ask how damage claims are filed and who pays them (Golden North or United Van Lines).

    Source: Google Maps listing, Golden North Van Lines (Anchorage) · Google reviews retrieved through the Firecrawl Maps provider (newest first, 50 returned) · as of Oct 9, 2026

13. ON RECORD

    MOTUS lists a $1,000,000 filing and a $5,000 filing on MC-140586, both effective 2023-04-01, with no cancellation date.

    FMCSA's MOTUS record for USDOT 163057 (read 2026-10-09) lists, under both the household-goods and property authorities of MC140586: policy MMA 3745200-00, maximum coverage $1,000,000, effective 2023-04-01, received 2023-05-22, cancellation date blank; policy CGV 3745200-09, maximum coverage $5,000, effective 2023-04-01, received 2023-05-22, cancellation date blank; and a blanket filing received 1995-08-04 with no cancellation date. The response does not name the insurer or label the form types. The stored dossier's insurance-history check cited an FMCSA Licensing & Insurance page for USDOT 5575604, a different registration with no filings, so it is not evidence for this registration.

    This shows filings on file on 2026-10-09, not a complete history. FMCSA's Licensing & Insurance portal, which holds filing and cancellation history, presented a challenge question and was not read. No conclusion about past gaps in coverage.

    Before booking: Ask for a current certificate of insurance and the valuation (liability) options for your move in writing.

    Source: FMCSA MOTUS carrier record, USDOT 163057 (insurance filings) · FMCSA Licensing & Insurance carrier search, USDOT 163057 (challenge presented) · as of Oct 9, 2026

14. CHECKS OUT

    Active federal household-goods authority (MC-140586)

    FMCSA: ACTIVE; authorized for Motor Carrier of Household Goods; Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods); insurance filings on file.

    Source: Captured FMCSA record · Captured FMCSA record · as of Oct 11, 2026

15. CHECKS OUT

    BBB rating A+ (not accredited)

    No BBB complaints in the last 3 years. Source observations: accreditation 2026-10-09T04:35:38.395Z; complaint count 2026-10-09T04:35:38.395Z; rating and review count 2026-10-09T04:35:38.395Z.

    A BBB letter grade is BBB's own assessment; it is not an endorsement, a licence check or a clearance of the company.

    Source: BBB profile

What kind of company is this?

Address use and operating locations

A registered office, mailing address and operating facility can be different places. Residential or mailbox use alone does not establish improper operation.

No current source-backed property-use determination is available. This is a verification gap, not proof of a false address or a verified operating facility.

Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing · checked Oct 9, 2026. A business-entity registration is separate from federal moving authority and from a state mover licence.

• Limitation: Business registration is not a mover licence.
• Limitation: Neither 'GOLDEN NORTH VAN LINES INC' nor 'Golden North Van Lines' could be submitted to the official register because the CAPTCHA blocked access.
• Limitation: The entity record, entity number, type, status, formation date, registered agent, officers, address, source URL, and source date could not be confirmed from the register.
• Limitation: No conclusion about whether matching entities exist or their status is made.
• Limitation: The official page itself identifies the service as 'Search Corporations Database'; only the search form page was readable, not search results.
• Limitation: The register search was blocked: The official Alaska entity-search page was blocked by a DataDome verification CAPTCHA ('Verification Required' / 'Slide right to secure your access') before the search form could be submitted or results read.

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.

Each section of the full report names its sources: official federal and state records, the company's own website, review platforms and other public pages. Access requires a one-time fee, shown at checkout.

What this report checked, source by source. Coverage describes the scope of the report; it does not grade the company. A search with no match applies only to the named source, date and recorded scope; it does not establish that no cases exist.

Checked 12 of 15 applicable sources. Not available when checked: FMCSA insurance filings, State business entity register, Google.

Ledger evaluated Oct 11, 2026.