Nilson Van & Storage
Licensed interstate
Safety: Satisfactory
- USDOT
- 122025
- MC
- 109331
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29203 (9 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 43 trucks, 36 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 1974
Ames sits about 1,042 miles northwest of Columbia, which makes this an interstate relocation from South Carolina to Iowa that most movers classify as a long-distance move.
At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $4,440 to $6,610 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 18 h 40 min.
On the Columbia side there are 389 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (223 of them authorized for interstate work), and 55 around Ames (25 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Ames.
Columbia has a population of about 147,035 and Ames about 66,000. Ames is the denser city (2,355 people per square mile versus 999 in Columbia), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.
Cost of moving from Columbia to Ames
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $1,780 | $2,170 | $2,640 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $2,670 | $3,250 | $3,970 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $4,440 | $5,420 | $6,610 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $7,110 | $8,670 | $10,580 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $9,780 | $11,920 | $14,540 |
Rental truck (DIY)
$1,520–$2,150
One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.
Portable container
$1,950–$2,870
Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.
Full-service mover
$4,440–$6,610
Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.
Moving cost calculator
Distance is pre-filled for Columbia, SC → Ames, IA. Adjust the other options to see your range.
—to—
Typical full-service range.
Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.
Moving companies for this route
Near Columbia (origin)
Two Men And A Truck
Interstate carrier
Legal name: Kb Enterprises INC
- USDOT
- 1713552
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29209 (8 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 18 trucks, 11 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2007
R L Solutions Trucking LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 2074562
- MC
- 749775
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29204 (5 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 16 trucks, 15 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2010
On Time Services
Licensed interstate
Legal name: On Time Services Incorporated
- USDOT
- 1290786
- MC
- 663927
- Based in
- West Columbia, SC 29169 (11 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 9 trucks, 6 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2004
Movemart Relocation INC
Licensed interstate
Safety: Satisfactory
- USDOT
- 787737
- MC
- 1217231
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29201 (8 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 8 trucks, 5 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 1998
Bossman Trucking LLC
Licensed interstate
Safety: Satisfactory
- USDOT
- 3790147
- MC
- 1360126
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29223 (4 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 7 trucks, 7 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2021
Prohelp LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 3304870
- MC
- 1048763
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29201 (8 mi from center)
- Service
- Local moves
- Fleet
- 7 trucks, 7 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2019
Johnson & Smith Global Services LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 4464723
- MC
- 1761240
- Based in
- Columbia, SC 29223 (4 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 6 trucks, 6 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2025
Near Ames (destination)
Central Iowa Towing And Recovery
Licensed interstate
Legal name: Central Iowa Towing And Recovery INC
- USDOT
- 2359315
- MC
- 1349765
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 88 trucks, 79 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2012
Hemmen Moving INC
Licensed interstate
Safety: Satisfactory
- USDOT
- 608245
- MC
- 292343
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50014 (4 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 8 trucks, 5 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 1995
J T L Transport LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 2528339
- MC
- 887466
- Based in
- Randall, IA 50231 (15 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 4 trucks, 4 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2014
V&c Express Corp
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 3635053
- MC
- 1246860
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 2 trucks, 1 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2021
Combined Relocation Services LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 1666941
- MC
- 709641
- Based in
- Huxley, IA 50124 (10 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 2 trucks, 2 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2007
Alex Moving LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 4346742
- MC
- 1699031
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 1 truck, 2 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2025
Property Service Agency LLC
Intrastate carrier
- USDOT
- 1433739
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Local moves
- Fleet
- 6 trucks, 6 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2005
M&a Moving And Hauling
Intrastate carrier
Legal name: Myers & Associates LLC
- USDOT
- 2340775
- Based in
- Madrid, IA 50156 (13 mi from center)
- Service
- Local moves
- Fleet
- 2 trucks, 3 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2012