Even if you’re careful about speed limits, you can’t predict things like weather or traffic accidents. I’ve often been glad I took the time before a haul to take care of my truck. I hit a terrible blizzard one winter while hauling a cross-country move and was glad took the truck in for maintenance ahead of time. I had also packed well personally for bitterly cold weather.

It can add a lot of unnecessary stress to a move for a customer if you cut it too close on arrival. The customer is already anxious about moving in the first place. Worries about timing concerns can add another layer of stress. And the last thing you want to do once you get there is rush the loading process. Having the right pace and sufficient time for loading avoids many problems and minimizes the possibility of claims – and that’s one way to manage your bottom line.

Mike J., Suddath

Right now I’m in Rolla, Missouri. I started a week ago from my home near Allentown, Pennsylvania and I’m on my way to Phoenix, L.A., and San Diego. I won’t be home probably for another six weeks. This is pretty common for me.

Before I was a van operator, I was in restaurant management for six or seven years. One day I said to myself, you know, you’re spending a lot of time making money for somebody else. I saw an ad in the newspaper for drivers. I called the recruiter, had a good conversation with him, and soon I was on my way to Indianapolis for some basic training to learn how to drive, load, and do the paperwork. It really takes you years to learn how to properly load a truck, but the initial training was a great start and set me on my way.

When I made the job change, some of my friends thought it would be too big of a change being on the road all the time. But I figured I was spending an hour and a half twice a day driving to and from Philadelphia for work. I thought, gee, I can convert that time into making some money. Sometimes I notice all of the people wasting time sitting in traffic around major cities and I think, hey, I’m getting paid for this. I left the food industry making just $14,000 a year. I started as a van operator in May of 1977 and bought a used truck. That first year, with just eight months of work under my belt, I cleared $35,000 after expenses. Three years later I bought a house.

Pat Q., Suddath

Our February Continental Van Operator of the Month winner is Tom Bechtold. Tom runs for our Minnesota office. Tom has an outstanding United Raw score of 1. His Customer Satisfaction score is a solid 95.7 out of a possible 100. He has a perfect claims score of 0%!  Tom Bechtold uses his communication skills and his ability to be ’one of the family’  to his advantage in putting his customers at ease.  This Van Operator is simply one of the best we have ever worked with. We are glad that he is part of our family. Thanks  for an outstanding performance!!

David Meriwether, another van operator from our Minnesota office, is our Master Fleet Van Operator of the Month for February. David carries an incredible claims score of 0.23 and a great United Raw score of 1.  He has a Customer Satisfaction score of 95.7. David Meriwether has grown up in this industry with his father being a household goods mover and he worked in the branch as the Barrett local trainer.  David has learned how to treat the customers, how to manage his business and become a master at his skills as a mover over the years. David is certainly in contention to be a future van operator of the year.  Dave is driven to be the industries best and is not afraid of hard work.   Thank you David for doing a spectacular job!

Our February Special Products Van Operator of the Month winner is Kenneth Marrs. Kenneth runs for our Milwaukee, Wisconsin office. Kenneth has an terrific  United Raw score of 1. His Driver Points score is a solid 100 out of a possible 100.   Kenneth has an amazing SPR of 61,736 miles and an updating score of 100. Ken represents our commitment to being on time and professional every time!  Ken started in this business in 1979 moving household goods for Allied Van Lines.  Ken has worked in operations on and off through the years, but the freedom of the road has always drawn him back to the open highway.  Ken has a great saying that sums up his attitude: “One man’s bologna is another man’s steak.”  Thanks  for an dazzling performance!

Our January Continental Van Operator of the Month winner is Chris Loftus. Chris runs for our Orlando, Florida office. Chris has an outstanding claims score of 0.00%. His updating score is a solid 99.29 out of a possible 100.   He has an outstanding  United raw score of 1 and 100% customer satisfaction survey score for the month of January.  Chris is a consummate professional.  He manages his crews by setting very clear expectations, and making sure the customer’s needs are the primary concern for all involved.  We are very fortunate to have Chris as a member of the Suddath team! Thanks Chris for your outstanding performance!!

Sherman Lee of our Houston office  is our Master Fleet Van Operator of the Month for January. Sherman carries an incredible claims score of 0.14% and a great United raw score of 1. Sherman  has a 95.1 customer satisfaction survey score. Sherman has a wonderful SPR score of 49942. “Sherman is a fantastic pack and haul van operator for us.  We know when we put him on a job that the customer is in great hands, and he will do what is necessary to wow the customer.  Sherman and his crew do a fantastic job overall!”  Thank you Sherman for operating safely!

Our January Special Products Van Operator of the Month winner is John Hunter. John runs for our Barrett office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  John  has an outstanding claims score of 0. His updating score is a solid 97.27 out of a possible 100.   He has an outstanding  United raw score of 1 for the month of January.  John Hunter has been an  Owner-operator with Barrett for over 33 years.  In the first five years of John’s career he hauled a combination of HHGDS,  mainframe computer equipment, and extremely high value and rare artwork . During that time he established a reputation for dependability, microscopic claims liability and excellence customer service.  Because of these attributes, 28 years ago he was promoted to a full time Special Products van operator.  During John’s long career, United Van Lines has recognized his excellent work many times by awarding him Van Operator of the Month awards and finally, in 2000, Special Products Van Operator of the Year.  Thanks John for job well done!

I’ve been a van operator for 17 years and have been with Suddath a little over 10. I do all kinds of moves but I like deliveries in and out of the warehouse the most. These are typically temporary moves for the customer to hold their things until they’re ready to move to a new place.

I’ll admit that when I first got into the business, I just needed a job. A local moving company ran an ad in the paper and I had experience driving trucks, so I applied. The company put me through a training program where I learned how to pack, lift, load, do the paperwork and all the rest. I learned just as much or more watching other guys with experience. I got my own truck after four years and that really changed things for me. The money was better. I saw how much I enjoyed the people I met and worked with. Meeting different people all the time has a lot of appeal for me. And nothing beats being your own boss.

As a local mover, my hauls take me to a different part of town almost every day so I’ve been able to learn a lot about my area. Looking back, I don’t think I’d change my decision to be a van operator. I was able to raise my kids and give them a good home. Just by answering an ad in the paper years ago, I fell into a good situation.

Shawn K., Suddath Van Operator

Win a free oil change
for your truck.
Send us your tips for
a healthy life on the road.

Your chance to win: Register to win a free oil change for your truck, courtesy of Suddath Relocation Systems.  We want to know how you have made your life on the road healthier.  All you have to do is submit your story for our “Life on the Road” or “Lifestyle Tips” section with ideas for staying healthy on the road.

How? Submit your story to kmurray@suddath.com along with your email and phone number, so we can reach you. If your story is chosen for our Drivers Room blog you will receive one free oil change.

When? Drawing for the winner will be made on April 30, 2012. We’ll contact the winner within a few days, and publish the winning blog entry on the Drivers Room site.

Become part of one of the fastest growing careers in the country by joining the winning team of SuddathRelocation Systems. As the largest agent for America’s #1 mover United Van Lines, Suddath can provide the resources to maintain your profitability year-round.

WHY SUDDATH:

• Unigroup’s largest booking agent
• Company driver positions available
• Tremendous hauling opportunities
• Centralized dispatch causing less dead-head miles
• Growing company with increased demand
• Significant career-development opportunities
• Payment within 72 hours of completion
• Financial Stability

Responsibilities:

• Drive van to loading point and consult with customer on household goods to be moved
• Supervise labor and give direction regarding moving articles to van
• Wrap furniture with blankets to prevent damage
• Load truck, distributing weight evenly, forming compact load, and utilizing space efficiently
• Drive van to destination and unload cargo
• Obtain customers signature or collect payment for services

Requirements:

• Excellent customer service skills and positive “can do” attitude
• Proven history of driving with a safe driving record
• Valid CDL driver’s license: clean MVR
• Ability to lift up to 75lbs throughout the day
• Must pass DOT medical screen, pre-employment drug screen, criminal background search and pre-employment driving road test
• Prior moving and storage experience is preferred
• Suddath Relocation is an equal opportunity employer offering a professional working environment, competitive pay and excellent benefits

For further information, contact our Van Operator Recruiter at 888.768.3056

By email: vanoperator@suddath.com  Resumes may be sent in confidence…

Congratulations to Walid Katini and Clive Hinds for their excellent service on a recent move from our New Jersey branch to our Orlando Branch. Not only did our customer rate the quality of service as EXCELLENT in every category,  but many comments highlighted the professionalism, skill, and courteous attitudes our van operators demonstrated. Some of the customer comments included:

“Wonderful assistance done precisely and professionally. I can’t say enough about the packers. Great job!!”

“If I were to move again, I would ask for these two gentlemen. They were awesome!!”

“I know I got the best ones from Suddath United in New Jersey and in the Orlando area. What a bunch of wonderful people who work for this company!!”

“I would not hesitate to use them again. I wouldn’t even bother getting estimates from other movers. I would definitely  recommend Suddath United to any of my friends and family members!”

I think Suddath and Barrett do a great job of recognizing good work in their van operators. I was fortunate enough to win the American Moving and Storage Association Lifetime Achievement Award for 2011. Barrett asked me if I’d consider letting them nominate me. I didn’t think much about it. I thought, sure, fine, try it and see what happens. Well, lo and behold, they told me I won. We went to Jacksonville, Florida for the convention last March and attended the awards ceremony. It’s an industry-wide award so I have no clue how much competition there was for it. We spent two or three days at the convention and had a nice time going to some good meetings, luncheons, and meeting interesting people. It was a pretty entertaining time.

I’ve been a van operator since the early 70s. I’m 61 and I still feel like I have as much energy as I used to and can work just as hard. I enjoy this work. It’s a treasure to meet people who are good to you. It seems like what you give, you generally get back. I enjoy giving people a quality move. I’ve always put out a 100% and considered every day a learning experience.

Rich R., Barrett

Walid is seen holding his award and posing with
Suddath VP of Operations Paul Gleason, Suddath CEO
and President Barry Vaughn, and
Suddath SVP of Corporate Services Dick Eschbacher

Congratulations to Walid Katini for being awarded Suddath Relocation Services 2011 Master Lease Van Operator of the Year. Walid works at Branch 483. Walid’s superior service and professionalism are mentioned  in many comments from his customers.   Walid’s courteous and friendly approach give his customers a great sense of security during the move.

We were proud to give this award to Walid at the Suddath Van Operator Rally  in Jacksonville, Florida and we feel honored that Walid is part of the Suddath Family! Congratulations Walid!