--- title: What Is a Van Line? Moving Glossary | O'Brien's Moving url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/van-line/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving and storage glossary](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/) - Van line # What is a van line? A van line is a national moving carrier that holds federal operating authority and moves household goods through a network of local agents. Bekins Van Lines, founded in 1891, is the van line behind O'Brien's long-distance moves, and O'Brien's has been a Bekins agent since 1955. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) The FMCSA booklet that every mover must offer customers describes an agent as a local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a larger national company. That larger company is the van line. The pair work as one team: the van line supplies the network and the rules, and the local agent knows the town. ## What a van line does A van line is the carrier of record for the shipments in its network. It holds the operating authority, publishes the tariff that sets rates and rules, and signs written agreements with its agents, which 49 CFR 375.205 requires. Customers see the van line's name on trucks and paperwork, even though a neighborhood company does the work at the front door. The arrangement exists because a family moving from Nevada to another region needs people at both ends who know the area. A national name alone cannot provide that. Local agents can. ## The Bekins network and O'Brien's Bekins Van Lines was founded in 1891. O'Brien's became a Bekins agent in 1955, and Bekins recognized the relationship in 2019 with a 65 Years of Service award. That history is the reason Bekins colors appear beside the O'Brien's name on the trucks in the Sparks yard. O'Brien's Moving & Storage, Inc. remains its own company, family owned since 1941, with its own U.S. DOT No. 30611 and MC-109375. The two names answer different questions: the van line explains who carries a long-distance shipment, and the local office explains who you meet, who writes the estimate and who answers the phone at 775-359-6683. ## What a van line means for your estimate Long-distance household goods moves are priced by weight, using the van line's tariff. That is why the in-home estimate is itemized and why the bill of lading and weight tickets matter. Moves that stay inside Nevada follow the Nevada Transportation Authority rules instead, under CPCN 1070. ## Questions to ask any mover about its network - Which van line, if any, carries the shipment? - Who is the local agent that will meet me? - Who is liable if something is damaged, and how do I file a claim? - Which parts of the move happen at which address? See [Bekins agent since 1955](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/bekins-agent/) for how this works day to day and [long-distance moving](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/long-distance-moving/) for the services around it. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2023-10/FMCSA_R%26R_Handbook_Web_v1.pdf) - [eCFR, 49 CFR 375.205 (agents)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR26b58a956b3b018/section-375.205) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [Moving and storage glossary](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/) - [Hauling agent](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/hauling-agent/) - [Bekins Van Lines agent since 1955: what that means for your move](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/bekins-agent/) - [Long-distance moving as a Bekins agent](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/long-distance-moving/) Moving glossary ## Read next - [Cube sheet](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/cube-sheet/) - [Delivery spread](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/delivery-spread/) - [Pickup spread](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/pickup-spread/) - [Tariff](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/tariff/) - [Weight ticket](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/weight-ticket/) - [Reweigh](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/reweigh/) - [Usdot number](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/usdot-number/) - [Mc number](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/glossary/mc-number/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Is a van line the same as a moving company? A van line is a carrier with a national network. A moving company can be a van line, an agent of a van line, or an independent carrier with its own authority. Your bill of lading names who is responsible for the shipment. ### Is O'Brien's the same company as Bekins? No. O'Brien's Moving & Storage, Inc. is a separate, family owned company in Sparks that serves as a Bekins Van Lines agent. Each company's name and U.S. DOT number appear on the paperwork that applies to it. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) C Charles C. May 31, 2025 Great company, I'd highly recommend for any move!!! ### Owner's reply Charles, It was a pleasure working with you on your moves. We hope your trip is amazing and if you ever come back our way, we will be happy to help. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to complete this review on our behalf. N Nadine K. May 15, 2025 The guys were very friendly and hard working. Would definitely use them again! ### Owner's reply Nadine, We are pleased you chose us for your move, it was a pleasure working with you! We are extremely happy the move was a success. G Greg S. January 22, 2025 3 O'Brien movers came down from Reno to South Lake Tahoe to assist our company moving a lot of big furniture out of a large warehouse. They showed up on-time, were friendly, and were professional and got the job done quickly and diligently. Will definitely use them again. ### Owner's reply Thanks for the great review Greg! We really appreciate you taking the time to do that for us. We look forward to working with you again! ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070