This “Heard On The Street” column is the most popular feature of our periodic newsletter……In this column we share information, announcements and yes “scuttlebutt” that we are hearing out there in our daily contact with professionals in the industries we serve.
If you don’t see something that you believe would be of interest to your peers, simply email us. If desired, we will keep the source of the information confidential.
Now, here’s the most recent “scuttlebutt” that we’ve “Heard On The Street”:
The U.S. Congress has just passed legislation, now awaiting President Biden’s signature, that will re-establish the INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION. One of the HHG Industry’s own, CHUCK KUHN, principal of the highly successful JK MOVING in northern VA, is rumored to be in line to be nominated to Chair the ICC. It is believed Chuck is the front runner for the Chairmanship not because of his stellar reputation as the leader of one the Nation’s most successful moving and storage operations, but because he already lives in the DC area! In fact, it appears that the government is refurbishing the old ICC Building in DC and is adding a helipad on the roof to make it easier for Chuck to commute back and forth in his helicopter!……..Interestingly enough, other former and current HHG Industry veterans are being considered for ICC Commissioner positions, including ALAN MILESKI, JD MORRISSETTE, DAVID ARPIN, JACK GRIFFIN and TIM HELENTHAL. DAN MCCOLLISTER reportedly earlier withdrew his name from consideration for the ICC Chairmanship citing “a desire to continue adding to his vintage automobile collection rather than involving himself in the politics of the ICC”.
Following the lead of the U.S. Congress on the federal level, BUBBA SPIVEY, Chairman of the Florida State Senate, issued a press release outlining Florida’s plan to re-regulate the Moving Industry under the auspices of the FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. Bubba, a long-time FL Moving & Storage businessman, was quoted as saying “Florida made a BIG mistake when we de-regulated movers back in the 80’s….it’s time that I (I mean the moving industry), started making good money again!” Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis is apparently ready to sign the legislation into effect once it reaches his desk…….
Speaking of Movers making more money, it appears that re-regulation of the HHG Industry may have come a bite late for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK as this popular franchised mover has suffered greatly during Covid. Citing declining revenues and severe cutbacks, they have decided to change their name to ONE MAN AND A VAN……..
Regarding corporate name changes, in honor of NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, moving giant ALL MY SONS will now be known as ALL MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS……
FRY-WAGNER United out of Missouri, pursuant to an earlier partnership agreement, will change it’s name to WAGNER-FRY…..A spokesperson for this well known UniGroup agent said: “it’s simply a matter of carrying out the wishes of the two founders of the company who agreed to share ‘top billing’ every twenty years or so”….The name change becomes effective May 1, 2021 and will revert to “Fry-Wagner” in the year 2041 (unless Fry passes before Wagner)…..
BEKINS NORTHWEST (Agents for ATLAS VL) and ATLAS TRANSFER & STORAGE (Agents for ALLIED VL), two companies that have set the standard for confusing brand names, apparently are in line for the tables being turned on them: BEKINS VAN LINES has announced that it is going to open agent offices in locations of Bekins Northwest and will name those agencies “NORTHWEST BEKINS”….Atlas Van Lines will open a new agency office in the San Diego market, home of Atlas Transfer & Storage, and will name it “ATLAS SHRUGGED & STORAGE:……
ON ANOTHER NOTE….A formidable group of RUSSIAN INVESTORS have combined with truck drivers from the former Soviet Union to form a new moving company named I-VAN…(and yes, almost half of this company’s employees are named IVAN)………
SPEAKING OF NEW COMPANIES…It was announced last month that a new national van line has been launched. SUPER VAN LINES, based in Los Angeles, has been formed by a group of executives and former shareholders of defunct moving companies Security Van Lines, U.S. Van Lines, Pyramid Van Lines, Engel Van Lines and Republic Van Lines. The principals of this new company stressed their desire to conduct business in a manner reminiscent of the “golden years” of the HHG Industry. Along that line, the company’s stated goals were threefold: 1) To charge full tariff rates, avoiding discounts entirely; 2) Refuse to deal with third party relocation companies whom SUPER VAN LINES executives said “squeeze the profit out of national account business for movers”; and 3) Insist that their salespeople “err on the side of overestimating weight and costs” and that their owner-operations be paid a compensatory rate that will attract a higher-caliber of driver to our van line”…..Super Van Lines began operation last March 1st…….
NEW WORLD VAN LINES, the highly-successful independent national account mover owned by the MARX FAMILY and based in Chicago, announced the opening of four (4) new offices this spring. NWVL will expand their operations to Portland, Phoenix, Minneapolis and San Diego. In keeping with the family tradition of installing family members as GM’s of their branch operations, New World announced the “un-retirement’ of four uncles, Groucho, Chico, Harpo and the lesser known Zeppo, as interim managers until a younger generation of Marx’ can be groomed to take over. All four of the Marx brothers appeared at a recent news conference announcing the new branches and their appointments as GMs….Three of the brothers spoke excitedly about the New World expansion plans…..Only HARPO had no comment……
SUPER VAN LINES of Los Angeles CA (see preceeding story), announced that they were ceasing operations as of March 31st, citing a complete lack of business……
UNIGROUP has traded SUDDATH UNITED and ARMSTRONG RELOCATION to Atlas Van Lines for ATLANTIC RELOCATION, ALEXANDER’S MOBILITY SERVICES and another multi location Atlas agent to be names later….An even bigger 3-way blockbuster trade was in the works but collapsed when HILLDRUP, BELTMANN and BERGER invoked the “no trade” clauses in their agency agreements with their respective van lines…..
In a conciliatory gesture, AIRES, CARTUS, BGRS and other major third party relocation companies issued a joint press release Wednesday stating that they would henceforth concentrate their efforts on other areas besides HHG transportation, thus freeing up the moving industry to once again deal directly with their national account client base. As such, movers will no longer be required to compete with the third party Relocation companies for national account business, beg for unprofitable moves or accommodate unreasonable demands. AIRES and CARTUS made a special point of acknowledging the great service and extraordinary efforts of all of their moving vendors and said “it is time for the movers to once again reap the benefits of their hard work and investment in equipment, facilities and labor….we need to get out of their way and let them do what they do best—-Move people well and AT A PROFIT!”
AND IF YOU HAVEN’T FIGURED IT OUT BY NOW:
APRIL FOOLS!
We hope that you have enjoyed our little fictitious spoof!
