United Van Lines
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| United Van Lines | |
|---|---|
| Type | Agent-owned |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Headquarters |  St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Key people | Richard H. McClure, president H. Daniel McCollister, chairman |
| Industry | Moving & Storage |
| Website | www.unitedvanlines.com |
United Van Lines is a moving van company now part of UniGroup, Inc. It is the largest mover in the United States with more than 30% market share (according to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics). United offers free, professional in-home estimates [1] and moving tips [2] to assist consumers with the moving process.
The concept which evolved into United Van Lines originated in 1928 when "Return Loads Service, Inc." was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, to arrange return shipments for independent moving companies transporting goods from one city to another. Orders were centrally registered and dispatched, and certificates of membership were sold to independent moving companies, which paid a revenue percentage on every order handled. The premise of Return Loads Service, Inc. was to enable movers, once they had delivered a shipment, to obtain profitable tonnage to haul on the return trip, instead of operating an empty van. When similar return shipment companies began appearing around the country, the Cleveland firm adopted the distinctive title, "United Van Service." The Depression spelled disaster for the fledgling firm, as United found itself unable to keep up service with depleted revenues, and many agents broke away to operate independently. In June 1933, United Van Service was dissolved, and its assets and liabilities were transferred to a new entity incorporated as "United Van Lines." The new firm prospered and, in 1941, moved its headquarters to St. Louis.
In 1947, the ownership of United Van Lines passed from the few original stockholders who held the firm together during its formative stages to a larger group of United agents, establishing the structure which has remained intact for more than five decades. Twenty-two years later, in 1969, United established a subsidiary, United Leasing, Inc. to provide trucks, uniforms, and other supplies needed by United and other professional movers.
To support United agents in their primary business of moving household goods, the corporation has created related operating companies which offer customized insurance for movers; sell and lease equipment needed by the moving industry; and provide global mobility management services. All of these operating entities are overseen by UniGroup, Inc., a holding company formed in 1988 and owned by UniGroup companies’ affiliated agents and senior management. UniGroup, Inc. is the parent company of United Van Lines and other subsidiaries which support the worldwide operations of the leading household goods transportation company; Vanliner Group, Inc. (providing specialized insurance coverage for movers); Total Transportation Services, Inc., (which sells and leases vehicles and sells movers' supplies); and UniGroup Worldwide, Inc., a global mobility management company.
In 1995, the company had its first billion-dollar revenue year and has continued to grow and increase market share ever since.
Over the years, the United has demonstrated remarkable adaptability and resourcefulness in meeting the challenges of economic uncertainty, changing mobility patterns, even world war. The company’s evolution has reflected both stability and the willingness to take responsible risks, a combination perhaps most strikingly demonstrated following the re-regulation of the moving industry in the early 1980s. Since 1980, every major van line except one has undergone at least one change of ownership; only United Van Lines can boast a direct line between its founders and today’s ownership structure, with dozens of Shareholders having held United stock shares for 40 years or more. The stability of United is regarded as a primary reason why the van line has grown more rapidly than any competitor. While other carriers were preoccupied with fending off take-over attempts or finding ways to recoup expenses associated with buyouts, United remained focused on the moving business.
[edit] External links
| United States moving companies | Edit |
|---|---|
| UniGroup: Mayflower - United Sirva: Allied - Global - North American Independents: Atlas - ABF Freight - Bekins - Interstate - STI - Specialized Transportation Inc. |
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