More complaints continue to roll in about moving company's tactics

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Updated: 6:38 PM CDT Jun 3, 2026

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Editorial Standards ⓘ

Matt Flener

KMBC 9 News Investigative Reporter

A New Jersey-based moving company now has nearly 100 complaints on file with the U.S. Department of Transportation database, as KMBC 9 Investigates continues to hear from more customers of Howards Vanlines about undelivered goods.

Gracie Vanover moved from Ohio to North Carolina earlier this year. Her stuff never arrived, and the company is demanding more than $5,000.

"Everything I own, my birth certificate, everything is on that truck," Vanover said.

Aaron Cadman, who moved from Missouri to Michigan, said Howards still has not delivered his items.

"It's challenging because they, they made it sound like it was such a, you know, such a good service and ends up being completely the opposite," Cadman said.

Both of their stories mirror complaints from an Independence couple, Ted and Emily Knox.

Independence couple still searching for items after moving company's payment demands

The Knoxes are trying to find their household goods after Howards Vanlines upcharged the couple by $15,000 after loading their items onto a truck.

They're now in the process of replacing all their documents, like car titles, Social Security cards and other items that went with the moving truck. They believe tens of thousands of household items are now at risk of being gone forever.

U.S. Department of Transportation complaint records against Howards Vanlines show 88 complaints against the company already this year.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General offered the following tips when choosing a moving company:

• Contact various reputable, long-standing moving companies to compare estimates and get a foundation of what the legitimate cost of your move will be.
• Ask the moving company if they will be conducting the move or if it is being brokered for fulfillment by another company.
• Keep all records of contracts, proof of payments and communication with the moving company.
• Carefully examine the reviews on various online business rating websites to ensure they contain more than just recent glowing reviews.
• Use online street-view and satellite maps to research the moving company's address to verify that the address is a business and not a residence.

If you have gone through something similar or need help getting your items back, email investigates@kmbc.com.

Complaints against moving company growing during KMBC 9 Investigation