M.C.
We looked into when needing to ship stuff to family from VA to FL. The cost was more than the quote from the long-haul movers.
At first the cost of the POD was going to be a few hundred dollars more, so we went with a long-haul mover, but then that mover started charging extras because they wanted EVERYTHING in some type of box. When they got to my house and saw that we had things in totes, they whipped out the packing tape to 'secure' the tops. When they saw we had some coffee tables unboxed, they said 'nope, have to box them'. when they saw that we had tools like shovels/hole digger, etc. they wrapped and taped a box around them. Then charged like $200 for supplies! In the end the cost of the movers was at about the price of what the POD would've been.
So I think in the long run that the POD would've been the better deal. Just remember if you choose it, that your stuff will not only be moving forward, but up and down as its loaded and unloaded....