Moving Drivers

This is a blog with information for current and new van operators, and information for employers in the moving industry.

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Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operation. CMV brakes are designed to hold up under tough conditions, but they must be inspected and maintained carefully and consistently so they operate and perform properly throughout the vehicle’s life. Brake Safety Week is an annual outreach and enforcement campaign designed to improve commercial vehicle brake safety throughout North America.

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a helpful article from Team Run Smart

“While you don’t think about the potential of developing a heat-related illness in your cool air-conditioned cab, as soon as you leave your cab you put yourself at risk. Heat-related illnesses can happen to anyone, including truckers on the road or at home.”

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ReadyTalk's web conferencing and audio conferencing solutions are intuitive to use, simple to join, and easy on the budget. Contact us today for successful web meetings and conference calls.

Finding the Best Financing Option for Your Small Business (Hint: It's Usually Not A Bank!)Don't miss this webinar on Thursday, August 27, at 2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific, brought to you by Staples.

Meeting Description: Due to the growth of online lending, the quickest way to get money in the bank isn’t always by going to the bank! During this webinar, Lendio’s Brock Blake will review alternative sources of financing that may make better sense for your business and are easier to obtain than your traditional bank loan. Brock will present sought-after information and insights that are sure to help you identify the best source of financing for your company – and help you secure it! Brock will cover:

What financing options are available

How to identify the best source of financing for your business

The documentation and reports that are required for each type of lender

What risks or hidden catches you should be aware of when applying for alternative financing

And much more!

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For drivers like you, business always comes first. How well are you cutting your expenses to maximize your profits? Trucking has never been more complicated. Learn the business side of trucking inside and out.

Learning to Prosper as an Owner-Operator. Team Run Smart provides key factors when formulating your plan for success including: know yourself, get smart, and love your equipment. Read more http://www.teamrunsmart.com/articles/business-smart/august-2015/humana?campaign=SITE_WDTR

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We recently built a brand-new, fully furnished bunk house for our long-distance drivers!

An important part of any moving company's success is its drivers. Long distance drivers in particular are frequently away from home, friends, and family for several days – or even a couple of weeks – at a time. We don't see them as often as some of our other employees, so we make extra efforts to make them feel valued and appreciated.

If you’re not sure whether being a long-distance driver job is right for you, there are always pros and cons - here’s one of the ways that AMSA member companies are making sure you’re comfortable.

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International Roadcheck is June 2-4, 2015

International Roadcheck, now in its 28th year, is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 17 trucks or buses inspected, on average, every minute across North America during a 72-hour period in early June. Each year, approximately 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors in every jurisdiction across North America perform the truck and bus inspections.

International Roadcheck is an annual three-day event when CVSA-certified inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement and educational initiatives targeted at various elements of motor carrier, vehicle, driver and cargo safety and security.

Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during Roadcheck have numbered over 1.4 million, resulting in more than 318 lives saved and 5,840 injuries avoided. It also provides an opportunity to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) sponsors International Roadcheck with participation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators,

Read more: http://www.cvsa.org/programs/int_roadcheck.php

[movingdrivers]

11 Ways to Reduce Trucking Insurance Premiums

For drivers like you, business always comes first. How well are you cutting your expenses to maximize your profits? Trucking has never been more complicated. Learn the business side of trucking inside and out.

[movingdrivers]

Herlihys take pride in growth of family-owned company

Herlihys take generational pride in growth of family-owned moving and storage company affiliated with Mayflower Van Lines. Check out this article for a story about how this business celebrating its 95th anniversary may have met its end during the 1950s had it not been for a thief in New Orleans. 

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Robert Hirchak, Jr. of Nor-Cal Moving Services (agent for Allied Van Lines) is the 2014 recipient of the AMSA Super Van Operator Award in the Household Goods category.

The AMSA Super Van Operator awards recognize drivers and owner-operators who provide the best in safe, reliable, and customer-oriented household goods truck transportation. Judging criteria include miles driven, accidents (preventable or non-preventable), lifetime driving record, time out of service for any “hours of service” or equipment violations, financial responsibility, community involvement, customer service, driving awards and outside interests and activities.

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Controlling Costs

One thing about van operators in the moving business, you have an excess of expenses beyond those of most other truckers: labor costs, packing material and equipment like dollies, pads, straps and a tool box that would make a mechanic envious. Then there are costs like claims that, if not managed correctly, can put a mover in the poorhouse very quickly. So what's a van operator to do to control and manage the cost of doing business? You should complete a Line Item Cost Analysis at least once a year to ensure you're doing everything possible to hold those costs down to a point so you actually make a profit. Another recommended time to complete a Line Item Cost Analysis is any time you experience a sudden uptick in what it costs you to run your moving van. Now you may be thinking, "I'm a mover; not an accountant. I have no idea how to even start this type of analysis." This isn't an actual accounting procedure, however. It's more of an evaluation of what is necessary and not necessary. It's easy to say, "Well, if I'm spending too much in fuel, I just won't buy as much fuel." Great in theory, but it won't work in application. It would be great to reduce your fuel cost just by buying less. But we all know that if you did so, you'd constantly find yourself short of where you needed to be when the truck came to a halt with empty tanks.

Expenses are a cause and effect; each cost doesn't exist in a vacuum. You can reduce one cost and it will, at times, increase another. The question that needs to be answered is, "Where can I effectively reduce or eliminate an expense so it doesn't end up costing me more down the line?" That's what a Line Item Cost Analysis accomplishes. A Line Item Cost Analysis is often the most ignored, yet one of the most important, projects you can undertake for improving your van operation's bottom line. Think of it like your laundry; if it’s left undone you'll either be running out of clothes or constantly purchasing replacements. Relying on mechanical devices to generate needed revenue plus the human element creates an environment for inefficiencies to occur. By taking a look at your expenses and whether that item’s cost is necessary and reasonable to your operation, you remove inefficiency.

Here’s the litmus test for determining each expense’s worth to your operation:

Is it necessary?

What would be the results if I did away with it entirely?

Can I reduce its number or cost?

Will it increase another cost somewhere else?

What will be the net savings?

Can I replace this expense with something less costly — with the same results?

By reducing or eliminating the item, will I become more or less efficient overall?

Is the cost of the item reasonable for the operation?

Does its cost exceed its benefit?

Is there a way I can use the item more efficiently?

Before you can justify asking your agent or van line to increase your revenue, you need to be sure you’ve done everything possible to reduce your costs of doing business. Keep in mind the idea here is to reduce cost—not efficiency, quality or value to your shippers. Cutting costs without looking at overall results on your entire business can be more devastating than doing nothing at all.

A proper Line Item Cost Analysis will add tremendously to your ability to compete in this very aggressive industry. And, by completing that Line Item Cost Analysis and discovering you've done all the cutting and reducing you can, you have documentation to take to your agent and van line that proves what you're being paid doesn't meet the cost of doing business. That can be powerful in strengthening your position when negotiating for more money.

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Insight and Guidance on Succession Planning for Family Businesses

Family owned businesses play a key role in the global economy. They account for an estimated 80 percent of companies worldwide and are the largest source of long-term employment in most countries. In the United States they employ 60 percent of workers and create 78 percent of new jobs. These aren't just mom-and-pop shops either. However, only 30 percent of family businesses last into the second generation, 12 percent are viable into the third, and only 3 percent operate into the fourth generation or beyond. Those that do continue often see their value decline significantly when leadership changes. The struggles for Family businesses include: governance, leadership transitions, and even survival. If more of these companies mastered key people management, leadership development, and succession practices, there would be huge benefit to the global economy. The way to do this is to establish good governance practices that separate the family and the business and ensure oversight from a professional board. In addition, “Family Gravity” also needs to be established. Read more about this here: https://hbr.org/2015/04/leadership-lessons-from-great-family-businesses 

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7 Red Flags that can Lead to a Tax Audit

Tax season is simply stressful. Many people worry that they may owe money, or that their taxes haven’t been done properly. However, even if you do make a mistake, most aren't big enough to trigger an audit. According to Wayne Roszelle from Team Run Smart, the seven red flags that can lead to a tax audit are: high income, failure to report incomes, not using fair market value, typos and entry errors, missing forms, high charitable giving, and being a business owner. 

Read more about these red flags and how to avoid them here: http://www.teamrunsmart.com/articles/business-smart/march-2015/7-red-flags-that-may-lead-to-a-tax-audit?campaign=SITE_WDTR

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A World Without Trucks

At the American Moving & Storage Association, van operators have our utmost respect.  Most people don’t realize how important trucks and their drivers are in our day-to-day lives.

 Consider what might happen to everyday necessities if trucks stopped operating. Here are some examples by Beth Bogdewiecz from www.teamrunsmart.com.

Within the first 24 hours:

·         Medical supplies would run low, and hospitals would run out of syringes and catheters as well as other basic supplies

·         Fuel at service stations would begin to run out

·         Mail and package delivery services would stop

·         Hospitals and nursing homes would exhaust food supplies

 At the end of the first day:

·         Grocery stores would begin to run low on food

·         Prices at gas pumps would go up as fuel availability lowered further

 Within two to three days:

·         Grocery stores and restaurants would no longer be able to keep up with consumer demand

·         Banks and ATMs would run out of cash

·         Fuel would run out completely at gas stations

·         Cities and suburbs would begin to gather piles of uncollected garbage

 Within one week:

·         Lack of fuel would cause travel to cease, and many people would have difficulty getting to food or medical care

·         Lack of fuel would also mean that police, fire, and other rescue vehicles would be unable to provide assistance

·         Oxygen supplies at hospitals would run very low

 Within two weeks:

·         Clean water supply would begin to decrease

·         Farmers would be unable to get fresh food and produce to consumers

 Within four weeks:

·         Clean water supply would be gone

·         Major manufactures (from computer companies to automakers) would have to shut down assembly lines due to lack of components, leaving thousands out of work

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The AMSA Super Van Operator awards recognize drivers and owner-operators who provide the best in safe, reliable, and customer-oriented household goods truck transportation. Judging criteria include miles driven, accidents (preventable or non-preventable), lifetime driving record, time out of service for any “hours of service” or equipment violations, financial responsibility, community involvement, customer service, driving awards and outside interests and activities.

Congratulations to Lifetime Achievement award recipient: Roy Lee Richards of Farley Brothers of Lancaster, Inc. (Allied Van Lines agent)

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David Campbell lives in Norman, Oklahoma with his wife, Le, of 30 years and three dogs. Their three children, all in their 20’s, are ‘out of the nest.’  Campbell says he’s been married that long “Despite being on the road for 25 years!” Another longevity record–21 years–is his tenure in the Special Commodities Fleet at Safeway Moving Systems, an agent of United Van Lines based in Indianapolis, Indiana. He’s twice been named United Van Lines’ Operator of the Year (2007, 2010) and the 2009 winner of the AMSA Super Van Operator of the Year Award, all while in Special Commodities. Not one to brag, Campbell said, “While it is an honor to receive these awards, I feel that I was not doing anything over and above what my job required.”

Why Special Commodities?

Campbell: “It’s the different challenges of the commodities fleet that keeps me interested in the moving industry, although there are times when bumping a dock and letting someone else load/unload my trailer sounds appealing.”

  Greatest Challenge?

“In the mid-1990's, my agent, Safeway, took on a move for Uniden Electronics, moving their parts distribution facility from Indianapolis to Fort Worth, Texas. It eventually ended up being a 30-truckload move, and because of the small electronic components being moved, it required some special handling to make sure the product did not get mixed up in transit.

  “I was primarily involved with the set-up of the facility in Fort Worth, but to do this I had to spend time working at origin, so I could understand how their system worked.

  “What we did was to go through the shelved section of the facility and videotape the set-up, so as we could set up the same way in Fort Worth, as everything had to go back in the exact same order.”

  Everything?

“Everything. The small electronic components were stored on shelves in little tray-type boxes, numbered with the parts number–which had to be kept in sequential order. These trays were approximately 4" wide by 8" long and 3" tall, and there were several thousand units. In order to keep everything in the correct sequence, we set up a system. We had people stand side-by-side and hand off the trays to be stacked in large gondolier boxes and kept in the same order. This meant loading the highest-numbered tray in the bottom of the first box and the lowest-numbered on the top of the last box. The gondolier boxes were then numbered on the outside to make sure they were unloaded and all of the boxes of electronic components set on the shelves in correct order.”

  “This procedure was very time-consuming and had to be done with great precision to avoid any mix-up, as this would have created major headaches and untold expense.”

  What about a schedule?

“A very strict time constraint, as Uniden wanted to be able to maintain the flow of parts to their customers.”

  Sounds like an extreme challenge. Was there more?

“Apart from all the small components, there was also the breakdown and set up of all the shelving which consisted of numerous rows of shelving approximately 50 feet long by 8 feet tall. All shelving had to be set up in the new facility on a floor surface painted with special non-static paint, and we had to be extremely careful not to scratch the floor when doing set-up.”

  So even the floor was a hurdle. Any ordinary items moved?

“There were work benches and office furniture to be moved. That’s why it required so many trailers.”

  What about crew?

“The crew at origin was all from the agent, but at destination, I had to work with a crew from temporary services, as agent help wasn’t available. This posed its own problem, in that two of the guys who showed up were mutes, and one of them was also deaf. However, these two guys ended up being my best help!”

  Was your customer pleased?

“When all was said and done, Uniden was extremely happy with the move and didn’t miss a beat as far as their distribution network was concerned. Fortunately, the moving of work benches and office furniture was not time-sensitive, so once we got the parts set up, we could relax a little. All in all, the move took approximately 2-3 weeks, and it all went off without a hitch. (PHEW).”

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Success Story: Van Operator Profile: Dennis Putnam, Jr.

Van Operator for Hilldrup Moving & Storage, a United Van Lines agent 2013 AMSA Super Van Operator of the Year for Household Goods

Dennis Putnam, Jr. operated with North American Van Lines 26 years and United Van Lines 12-and-a-half years. "I hauled just about everything in the moving business," he says. “Trade shows, cars, electronics, household goods. I have 38 years of safe driving, and was recently named AMSA's 2013 Super Van Operator of the Year for Household Goods."

Putnam was awarded United Van Lines' Van Operator of the Year 2011 and several other awards with North American Van Lines, including the Million Mile Award. He has racked up 2.5 million miles driving overall.

How did you come to be a household mover?

I'm a second-generation driver; my father drove from the early 1950s to the late 80s. I worked on the trucks at the local agent for which my father drove, on his moving van as a helper every summer and during school breaks. Like others who work in the moving business, it grew on me. One of my sons works with me these days.

What are some of those things you like about the moving business?

I like being around the trucks and like the work. I really enjoy dealing with people, from first-time moves to 'old hats' that have multiple moves behind them. I think I'm pretty good at it; working through the years, it's just second nature now. If I had one wish, I wish my father was still around to see how much the business has changed through the years and the new challenges that are out here now.

What has been your most challenging move to date?

Most challenging thing that comes to my mind was a 4,500-pound bank safe my son and I moved. It came out of a warehouse in Birmingham, Alabama, going to a customer's home in Palm Springs, California. The safe belonged to her grandfather, who'd opened a bank in the late 1930's. It was easy to load off the dock with safe jacks, but when we got to destination, the customer wanted us to put the safe inside her home on a ¼-inch plywood base made to sit on the marble floor. The problem was we couldn't get it off the truck because of the steep incline of the walk-boards. It would've been like unloading a car without brakes.

How did you handle it?

The customer had a friend with a wrecker service and called him to come out to take the safe off the trailer. But when the wrecker came, he brought a large crane and pulled it out of the back of the trailer with his boom and then boomed it into the garage. We couldn't set the safe on the base on top of the marble floor – we still couldn't ensure it wouldn't damage it. There have been a few other challenging moves, but this one stuck out the most.

Contact Tim Brady at www.timothybrady.com or call [phone]