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Last Updated: Apr 2024

Top-Rated Shipping Solutions Ohio in 2024
Reliable shipping services for cross-country moves

Make your next move easy and stress-free with our comparison of top shipping companies. Discover affordable options for shipping boxes across states or the country to suit your needs.

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We find the 10 best options, so you can make informed decisions on tons of products and services.

Why Choose a Shipping Company for Your Moving Needs?

Many people ponder, "Why opt for a shipping company when I can handle the move myself?" Yet, when you’re looking to ship boxes cheap or find shipping companies that offer cost-effective solutions, professional shipping services provide clear benefits:

Cost-Effective and Reliable Solutions

When you're planning to ship boxes across the country, choosing a reputable shipping company can offer you affordable peace of mind. You can concentrate on personal matters while experts handle the logistics of your move. This is particularly advantageous when seeking how to ship boxes to another state affordably.

Insurance and Safety Net

Professional shipping companies typically provide insurance coverage for your items. This is vital when shipping boxes across the country. In case of any damages, your belongings are covered – offering a safety net that's invaluable.

Time-Saving and Efficient

Time is an asset that everyone values. Opting for professional shipping companies can save you substantial time. This benefit is often more significant than cost considerations, especially when shipping boxes across country.

Expert Handling and Transportation

Experienced shippers are adept in safely and efficiently packing and transporting your belongings. Their expertise ensures your items reach their destination swiftly and securely, allowing for a smoother transition to your new home.

Reduced Risk of Damage and Injury

Professional shipping companies know how to handle your belongings safely, reducing the risk of damage to your items and personal injury during the moving process.

Finding the Right Shipping Company

To ensure you’re choosing the best service, check the shipping company's website for coverage areas and customer reviews. This is essential for ensuring that they service your specific area and have a track record of reliability and cost-effectiveness.

How to Select the Right Shipper

The ideal shipping company, even those offering competitive pricing, should have a solid reputation, a range of services, and proper insurance coverage. Here’s what to consider:

Reputation and Reviews

Check online reviews and accreditations. A strong reputation, especially in handling long-distance shipping, is a good indicator of reliable service.

Type of Move

Consider the nature of your move. If you're looking to ship boxes cheap, assess if the company specializes in long-distance shipping. The distance of your move significantly impacts the choice of the shipping company.

Volume of Items

The amount of stuff you need to move will dictate the type of shipping service required. For larger shipments, a company offering comprehensive services, including insurance, is advisable.

What Makes a Shipping Company Stand Out?

The best shipping company offers tailored services at a reasonable price and operates within your area. Customer support and positive online reviews also play a crucial role in your choice.

Finding Affordable Shipping Options

To find cost-effective shipping options, compare online quotes from various shipping companies. Remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best in terms of value. Consider the range of services, coverage options, and terms offered by each company.

Value Beyond Price

While affordability is key, also consider the additional services and coverage provided by the shipping company. A slightly higher price might offer more comprehensive services and better protection for your belongings.

Remember, cheaper options might not include insurance, which is crucial for shipping valuable items. Weigh the pros and cons of each option to find the right balance between cost and quality of service.

Safer Options

Professional movers know how to handle heavy items safely. This is crucial when using cheap long distance movers or shipping boxes across country, as it reduces the risk of personal injury during the move.

How Can I Find a Moving Company Near Me

Bottom line, it's a good idea to hire one of the professional local or long-distance moving companies out there, but make sure that you are working with someone that services your area. This is easily done by looking at their website to see the coverage area. Local movers will have a smaller coverage area than the major long-distance moving companies. But the coverage area doesn't have to be large. It just has to include you.

How to Choose a Mover

The best moving companies, even those offering cheap long-distance services, should have a solid reputation, added value services, and insurance. Here are a few important features you should look for during your quest for good and cheap moving companies or shipping services:

Reputation for Affordability

Look for online reviews and BBB accreditation, especially when searching for the cheapest way to move out of state or reliable shipping companies to ship boxes cheap. A fair amount of good reviews will tell you that this company is worth investing in, will treat you well, and will get the job done right.

What Is the Best Moving or Shipping Company?

The best moving and shipping companies are those that fulfill your specific requirements, offer affordable pricing, and work within your area, whether you're moving across the state or shipping boxes across the country. Key factors to consider include not only their geographic coverage but also the range of services they offer, like cheap long-distance moving or cost-effective options for shipping boxes to another state.

It's wise to evaluate the customer support experience. Good customer support is crucial, especially when dealing with the complexities of moving or finding the right shipping companies. Reading online reviews can provide insights into the service quality you can expect, particularly when you need to ship boxes cheap or find the most reliable shipping companies for your move.

What is the Cheapest Moving or Shipping Company?

Finding affordable moving and shipping options is easier than you might think. Start by gathering online quotes – these should be free, so avoid services that charge for quotes. Once you have a list of potential movers or shipping companies, compare their rates to determine the most cost-efficient option for your needs, whether it's for long-distance moving or shipping boxes across country.

However, don't make your decision based solely on price. The best moving and shipping companies offer added value beyond the basic price. This might mean extra services, better coverage, or more flexible terms, which are especially important when looking for the cheapest way to move cross country or the most economical options to ship boxes to another state.

Remember, the cheapest movers or shippers may not include insurance. More professional services might be priced higher because they offer insurance and quality guarantees. If your move involves fewer items, or less valuable ones, a cheaper option without insurance might suffice. However, for more valuable or extensive shipments, it's worth choosing a company with a comprehensive insurance policy, ensuring your belongings are protected whether you're moving them or shipping them long-distance.

Our Top 3 Picks

  • 1
    Colonial Van Lines

    Colonial Van Lines

    • Main services coveredLong-distance moving, cross-country moves, corporate relocation, packing, unpacking, and storage
    • Participating states48
    • Online quote toolYes

    Colonial Van Lines - Best moving company overall

    Colonial Van Lines is a carrier company that handles everything from coordinating the move to transportation and heavy lifting. With its expertise in long-distance relocations, it also offers a seamless experience for cross-state or cross-country moves.

    It’s streamlined the planning process with a free app full of moving resources and a direct communication channel with your coordinator. Plus, during the actual move, the company’s customer service team keeps you updated every step of the way. 

    It’s ideal if you need a moving company with storage, as you can keep your belongings safe in a climate-controlled facility. And despite limiting its default insurance to 60 cents/pound, its industry professionals are known to handle your items with care.

    Why we chose Colonial Van Lines: We chose Colonial Van Lines as our best moving company overall due to its two decades of experience as a full-service packing and storage company. It also has a detailed resources section with checklists, FAQs, and training videos on how to pack properly.

    Client perspectives: Christine (34) from Jacksonville said she liked that the quote tool “quickly generated a price” based on photos and videos of her apartment. She added that the company was “upfront about additional services included in the price, like packing and storage.” But since a truck couldn’t park near her place, she had to pick the shuttle service.

    Pros
    • Offers corporate relocation services
    • Innovative app-based estimate system
    • Transparent about the factors that affect the price
    Cons
    • No service in Alaska or Hawaii
    • Default insurance coverage is limited
  • 2
    American Van Lines

    American Van Lines

    • Main services coveredLocal and long-distance moves, packing and unpacking services, storage, moving specialty items
    • Participating states48
    • Online quote toolYes

    American Van Lines - Best for sustainability

    As a sustainable carrier-broker hybrid company, American Van Lines aims to reduce fuel consumption. It encourages employees to carpool and coaches dispatchers to plan efficient routes. Considering the transportation sector contributes to nearly one-third of US greenhouse emissions, it shows how important the initiative is.

    American Van Lines only directly handles relocations within North Carolina, Dallas, and Florida. If you live outside these areas, the company connects you with a local third-party carrier, so there’s always a risk of varying service quality and delivery care for your items.

    Why we chose American Van Lines: If you want an eco-friendly moving solution, American Van Lines can broker multiple third-party moving agents near you. The company establishes linerboard and paper product recycling initiatives for each of its partners, so you don’t need to look online for another sustainable company to recycle moving materials after you settle down.

    Client perspectives: Matt (27) from Raleigh appreciated that the moving crew called him to confirm his appointment and notify him that they might be late because of traffic. He added that “the coordinator went through all of the things [he] had to move over video call” before offering an initial quote.

    Pros
    • Full-service moving options
    • Responsive customer service agents
    • Environmentally friendly
    Cons
    • Using local contractors makes the overall quality of service inconsistent
    • More expensive than other companies
  • 3
    Safeway

    Safeway

    • Main services coveredShort and long-distance moves, short-term storage, packing
    • Participating statesAll states and Canada
    • Online quote toolNo

    Safeway offers reliable and secure moves, both long-distance and local all across the United States and Canada. Along with excellent reviews, Safeway is known for its professionalism and fairness. The company also has fair pricing and includes everything in the initial price quote. Unlike other services, Safeway includes packing, protective padding, and even disassembly and assembly of furniture items. What’s more, Safeway throws in a 30-day storage facility for those few belongings you aren’t exactly sure where to put when you first move into your new space.

    Safeway has no hidden fees and even covers things like gas, tolls, and any other transportation costs that arise during the move. You’ll get basic insurance coverage for free and you can opt for a more extensive coverage plan if you want. Safeway also works with condo associations, holding the proper licensing, insurance, and credentials to mitigate the risks involved in moving.

    Pros
    • Excellent reputation for fairness and quality
    • Loads of extras included in price
    • Licensed and insured movers
    Cons
    • You won’t get any info on the website
    • Can’t track shipments online