Colonial Van Lines, the Pompano Beach interstate mover, has drawn a mix of lawsuits and consumer complaints: one federal Carmack Amendment suit brought by customers that quietly settled in late 2025, two trademark suits Colonial itself filed against competitors, and 145 Better Business Bureau complaints in three years clustered around price hikes after booking, undisclosed subcontracting, and belongings withheld until additional payment. The company has not been the target of any publicized government enforcement action, and its FMCSA safety rating remains satisfactory.1FMCSA. Colonial Van Lines Inc. FMCSA Carrier Snapshot
Lawsuits Involving Colonial Van Lines
Ballantyne v. Colonial Van Lines
The most prominent customer suit was filed in October 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. Barbara and Richard Ballantyne sued Colonial and a co-defendant, United Moving Solutions, under the Carmack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, the federal statute that governs a carrier’s liability when goods are lost or damaged during an interstate move.2PACER Monitor. Ballantyne et al v. Colonial Van Lines et al
The case ran more than three years before the parties settled. The Ballantynes filed a stipulated motion to dismiss on November 25, 2025, and the court dismissed the case with prejudice on December 1, 2025, meaning it cannot be refiled. No fees or costs were awarded to either side, and the settlement terms were not disclosed in the court record.2PACER Monitor. Ballantyne et al v. Colonial Van Lines et al
Trademark Suits Filed by Colonial
Colonial has also been the plaintiff. In July 2024 it filed two trademark infringement cases in the Southern District of Florida. The first, against Safeway Moving, LLC, Safeway Moving Systems, Inc., and Safeway Inc., alleged infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114. The court referred the case to mediation with a July 2025 deadline and set a jury trial for September 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale. No final ruling appears in the available record.3Justia Dockets. Colonial Van Lines, Inc. v. Safeway Moving, LLC, et al.
The second, against Top Rated Moving Van Lines, was filed four days later. Before the court ruled on the defendant’s motion to dismiss, the parties reported an amicable settlement on November 11, 2024, and Judge Donald Middlebrooks closed the case in early December.4PACER Monitor. Colonial Van Lines, Inc. v. Top Rated Moving Van Lines
The Perry Family Incident
A March 2026 News 12 report described a dispute that captures the subcontracting risk running through many complaints. Neil and Noel Perry hired Colonial in October 2025 to move belongings from California. The day after pickup, a man identifying himself as the driver contacted the family and demanded an additional $10,000 for delivery. The driver was arrested and charged with extortion. As of the report, the trailer holding the family’s possessions had not been recovered. Colonial’s counsel told the outlet the company would “take responsibility for the lost items,” but the Perrys had not yet filed a formal claim, hoping their property would be found. Federal regulations give consumers nine months from the date of the move to file a claim for missing or damaged items.5News 12 Connecticut. Family Left in Limbo as Trailer of Belongings Disappears After Move
What Customers Complain About
Colonial Van Lines is not accredited by the BBB. As of mid-2026, its Pompano Beach profile showed 145 complaints filed in the previous three years, with 46 closed in the most recent 12 months. The BBB classified 108 as “Answered” (the company responded but the customer did not confirm satisfaction) and 37 as “Resolved.”6BBB. Colonial Van Lines Inc. Complaints
The recurring themes:
- Price increases after booking. Customers say binding estimates were raised after pickup, citing weight discrepancies, added packing fees, or inventory changes. Some reported final bills thousands of dollars above the original quote.
- Undisclosed subcontracting. Customers who believed they had hired Colonial directly describe unbranded trucks and unfamiliar crews arriving on move day. One complainant alleged workers were hired that morning with no background checks.
- Delivery delays. Complaints describe shifting windows and weeks-long waits. Colonial has responded by citing a federal regulation it reads as providing a 30-day grace period before a shipment is officially late.
- Shuttle fees. Several complaints involve non-negotiable “shuttle service” charges for smaller trucks even when no transfer between vehicles occurred. Colonial has defended the charges as contractual accessibility fees.
- Goods held until payment. Consumers describe crews refusing to unload until disputed charges were paid in full, a practice some characterized as holding items hostage.
- Damage and missing items. Reports of broken furniture and missing boxes are common, along with disputes over Colonial’s standard liability of $0.60 per pound per article.7BBB. Colonial Van Lines Inc. Complaints – Page 2
Colonial’s responses on the BBB tend to follow a pattern. The company acknowledges the complaint, expresses regret, cites signed contract terms or revised estimates, and offers a “good faith” refund typically between roughly $100 and $1,500. Those offers are often conditioned on signing a release that would bar future claims for damaged or missing items, a condition some customers have rejected.8BBB. Colonial Van Lines Inc. Complaints – Page 4
Your Options If You Have a Dispute
Federal regulations require interstate movers to offer a neutral arbitration program. Colonial’s program, administered by the Law Office of Michael Garcia, sets the ground rules: for claims of $10,000 or less, the company must participate in binding arbitration if the customer requests it. Above that amount, the company can decline. The arbitrator’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. Each side pays a $250 filing fee plus a $50 administrative fee, splits the arbitrator’s cost, and covers its own expenses, including attorney fees.9Colonial Van Lines. Neutral Arbitration Program Brochure
The alternative is a lawsuit, but the legal ground favors carriers. The Carmack Amendment, codified at 49 U.S.C. § 14706, is the exclusive federal remedy for loss, damage, or delay of goods shipped interstate. It preempts nearly all state-law claims a customer might otherwise bring, including negligence, breach of contract, and deceptive trade practices. A shipper must prove the goods were handed over in good condition, arrived damaged or incomplete, and the specific dollar amount of the loss. Punitive damages and attorney’s fees are not recoverable.10Texas Bar. Interstate Shipping Claims and the Carmack Amendment
The FMCSA itself says it “has no authority to enforce a court judgment, or act as your advocate against the mover.”11FMCSA. Handling Disputes Preempted state claims, capped damages, and the cost of litigation together explain why cases like Ballantyne are relatively uncommon and why most disputes end at the complaint stage or settle in arbitration.
Whichever route you take, the nine-month federal window to file a claim for missing or damaged items starts running on the date of the move.
Regulatory Status
Colonial has not been the target of any publicized enforcement action by the FMCSA or a state attorney general. Its FMCSA safety rating is satisfactory as of an April 2025 review, and its operating authority is active for property and household goods transport under USDOT number 1434373. The active corporation reported zero crashes and six inspections in the 24 months before June 2026, with fleet size listed between 17 and 25 vehicles depending on the registration.1FMCSA. Colonial Van Lines Inc. FMCSA Carrier Snapshot
The FMCSA has broadened industry enforcement in recent years. Its “Operation Protect Your Move,” launched in May 2024, targets movers and brokers with high complaint volumes and focuses on practices like holding possessions hostage. A similar 2023 initiative produced more than 1,000 regulatory violations, revoked operating authorities, and a Department of Justice civil penalty case.12U.S. Department of Transportation. FMCSA Continues Nationwide Crackdown on Fraudulent Household Goods Movers and Brokers The public record does not show whether Colonial’s complaint volume has drawn that attention.
Who Runs Colonial Van Lines
Colonial Van Lines Inc. was incorporated in Florida on April 18, 2003, with a principal office at 1441 SW 29th Avenue, Suite 100, in Pompano Beach. The BBB identifies Aldo DiSorbo as a principal of Colonial Van Lines, Nationwide Move Management, and a related company called Moving Squad, Inc.13BBB. Colonial Van Lines Inc. BBB Profile According to the company’s website, the DiSorbo family founded Colonial after the elder Mr. DiSorbo opened his first moving company, “The Right Move,” in Coral Springs in 1988 at age 21. The company credits him with creating the moving-company brokerage business model.14Colonial Van Lines. About Us That business model sits at the center of many customer complaints: people who believed they hired Colonial directly often found their belongings in the hands of a subcontractor they had never heard of.