Moving Services Industry Profile

Companies in this industry primarily provide local or long-distance truck transportation of used household, institutional, or commercial furniture and equipment, as well as related packing and storage services. Major US companies include UniGroup (owner of United and Mayflower); SIRVA (owner of Allied, Global, and North American); Atlas Van Lines; and Bekins.

The US moving services industry includes about 8,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $12 billion. Slow growth is forecast for the industry over the next two years. Challenges include high unemployment and continued weakness in many housing markets.

Self-storage services, which involve leasing of storage units but not moving services, and warehousing and storage, which typically involves logistics services as well as storage, are covered in separate industry profiles.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Home sales, residential rental turnover, and corporate relocations drive demand for moving and storage services. The profitability of individual companies depends on good marketing, as services are largely the same. Large companies have economies of scale in marketing and in being able to consolidate loads on long hauls. Small companies can compete with large ones by specializing in local markets and by offering competitive prices and better service for local moves. The industry is fragmented: the 50 largest companies hold about 45 percent of the market.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Companies in this industry move household and office goods, as well as specialty items such as pianos and trade show exhibits, either locally ...