Choice Van Lines: Four Complaints in Three Weeks From a Saddle Brook Carrier

Choice Van Lines Inc (USDOT 4528356) is registered in Saddle Brook, NJ. Between August and September 2026, four consumers submitted complaints to Trunk about this carrier. All four describe the same sequence: a contract signed at an agreed price, movers arriving in a rented U-Haul rather than a company vehicle, demands for significantly more money, and then silence after loading.

Every complaint follows the same sequence.

The consumer signs a contract at an agreed price. On moving day, movers arrive in a U-Haul, not a marked company truck. They demand more money than the contract specifies, citing additional inventory or cubic footage.

After the consumer pays or the truck is loaded, the company stops responding. Calls go unanswered. Emails are ignored. Delivery either never happens or arrives with an additional cash demand.

The U-Haul detail is significant. It signals the carrier has no company fleet, leaves consumers with no way to verify who is actually transporting their belongings, and makes it nearly impossible to track the shipment.

Delano M.: Paid via Zelle to a person identified as Ahmad Alomari. Items picked up July 10. As of the complaint date, nothing delivered. Company not responding.

Stephen H.: Belongings picked up July 24 in Circleville, OH for Wesley Chapel, FL. Told items were going directly to Florida. By August 16, nothing arrived. Later told different movers would handle delivery. Movers at pickup attempted to charge more than the inventoried contract price. Items hold sentimental value from deceased grandparents.

Donald M.: Quoted $4,100. U-Haul showed up. Movers demanded more money. After loading, company went silent. Final charge approximately $7,000. "My life is on that truck."

Angie I.: Worked with a representative named Alicia. Movers demanded an additional $1,000 over the signed contract. Consumer is a disabled senior. Told she would forfeit her $900 deposit if she refused to pay. She paid under duress.

A separate consumer (Steve L.) reported that Howards Van Lines "also uses Choice Van Line name." Howards Vanlines Inc (USDOT 4391903, Garfield NJ) is one of the most complained-about carriers in the Trunk database, with 166+ complaints from a single truck.

If the two companies share operational infrastructure, the complaints attributed to Choice Van Lines may represent only a fraction of the total victim count. Consumers who believe they hired Howards may have interacted with the same network, and vice versa.

In September 2026, a consumer (Greg Ellis) documented his Choice Vanlines experience in detail on Facebook. Contracted for a New Hampshire to Florida move with a binding estimate of $4,339.95. Paid $2,089 before pickup. Crew demanded an additional $1,000 in cash. Loaded only part of his belongings. Told a second truck would come for the rest for an additional fee. The crew drove away with his property and never returned.

The consumer's bank records revealed that his $2,089 payment was processed as two ACH withdrawals described as 'APEX CONSULTING, MOVING EXP.' An entity called Apex Consulting appeared in the payment trail for a Choice Vanlines transaction, undisclosed to the consumer.

The consumer still has not received a Bill of Lading, complete inventory, physical location of his property, warehouse name or address, identity of the carrier possessing his belongings, or a delivery schedule. Family photographs, photo albums, important paperwork, and prescription medication remain in Choice's possession. FMCSA Case No. 00298897, categorized as Hostage Goods.

A commenter on the post stated that Choice 'is part of Howards Van Lines,' connecting Choice to the Sherwood Lane network. This is consistent with a consumer report already in Trunk's database linking the two operations.

Red flags specific to Choice Van Lines:

U-Haul trucks at pickup: A legitimate carrier operates marked commercial vehicles with a visible USDOT number. If movers arrive in a rental truck, the entity that loaded your belongings may not be the one registered with FMCSA.

Zelle and cash payment requests: Payments to individuals via Zelle are unrecoverable and provide no documentation trail for disputes.

Price changes after loading: Once belongings are on the truck, consumers are in a hostage position. A signed binding estimate is legally binding. Document everything and report to FMCSA.

Silence after pickup: Do not wait. File with FMCSA immediately at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov and contact local law enforcement.

If you are currently dealing with Choice Van Lines, see our guide: trunk.lorea.ai/insights/first-24-hours-after-moving-scam