The regulations, market place and technology has dramatically changed how we interact with both our customers and team members since this truck was dispatched from our original Lubbock, Texas location. When Gene Anderson started Dependable Relo in 1947 and signed an agency agreement with United Van Lines, he had no way of knowing the dramatic changes that would impact the relocation industry almost 70 years later. He began the company with a simple vision of providing the customers with the service they needed. Whether it was moving across town or storage and fulfillment of product, he knew the customer needed people who cared enough to do the job right the first time.
In my more than 25 years with Dependable Relo, I have seen changes in everything we do. It was not that long ago when, if you wanted to locate a driver, you had to wait until he checked in for his daily call. When they did call in, you had to communicate the entire shipment information to them over the telephone and hope they had a pencil handy to write it down. Today, we can not only locate the van operator immediately, but we can also send them messages and the entire load information directly to them in seconds.
In the past, the driver showed up at origin and completed a hand written inventory of all the items being relocated. Today, the movers are equipped with handheld computers to inventory and bar code each piece being moved. This inventory can be printed or e-mailed to the customer upon completion and the customer can check each piece into their new home as it arrives.
Despite all these changes, customers still need people who care enough to do the job right the first time.
In today’s fast-paced environment, we tend to forget about the personal touch. A team of people is still needed to load and unload the trucks. We can have the most recent technology, but the driver must still drive to the pickup point, load the order, drive to the destination, and unload it. You need dedicated people to correctly estimate, coordinate and dispatch the packing and loading teams.
Moving is a complicated process. The customer has to worry about a lot of things on top of their move. The last thing they need to worry about is the team of people handling everything they own.
When you choose your mover ask the following questions.
1. What is your hiring process for the people who will service my order?
2. Do you run background checks on everyone on your team?
3. What type of training do your movers complete before they are allowed on a job?
4. Are they registered with the state and federal government? Check their status by having them provide you with their Department of Transportation registration numbers.
If the company cannot answer these basic questions to your satisfaction, then you have not found your relocation provider.
At the end of the day, it is not the truck or the technology that will handle and deliver your belongings. It is the team of people that care enough to do the job right the first time. If they miss the mark, are they willing to work to correct their mistake quickly?
As always, do not hesitate to contact Dependable Relo and allow us to help with all your moving and relocation needs.