Worker's Torch Sparks Easton Warehouse Fire

A moving company's storage warehouse recently burned down in Easton. Workers were using torches to cut a beam and apparently a spark caused the building to ignite, according to an article in the Taunton Daily Gazette. This was the same warehouse that had a roof collapse earlier this year. Sounds like this warehouse was just destined to go down one way or another. Still, it's important to always make sure that all safety precautions are being taken. When it comes to something like a storage warehouse, the value of the items being stored can be very high. Losing all of those items in a fire would not only cause problems for the company but for the customers who would also be likely to lose trust in that company for future jobs.

"Undercover Boss" Runs into Problems

Recently the CEO of United Van Lines went on the show Undercover Boss. He became an "undercover" employee of his own company and learned first-hand that being part of a moving crew is a tough job. In his administrative role, he forgot how hard people actually work to fulfill all the demands of this job.
However, as TV Squad points out in today's article, it appears that Rich McClure, the CEO, started giving special treatment to the men in the company while a female employee raised concerns about the company being a "boy's club."

This obviously raises ethical concerns, but there is another issue at hand. United is the parent company for hundreds of independently owned and operated agents, much like a franchise. Each moving company under the United name is actually an independent company. So while Rich McClure is the CEO of the van line, is he really these employees' boss? Not really. He doesn't have the authority to hire or fire them because they work for an independently owned company.

An interesting twist to the whole "undercover boss" concept.

North Carolina Loses Moving Companies Due to New Regulation

A recent article in the News Observer tells an interesting story. Apparently, in 2008, a new state rule was adopted which required movers to perform criminal background checks on all employees. At the time, the state had 270 certified moving companies for residential moves. Moving companies were also required to carry insurance.

Since that time, 30 moving companies have allowed their certificates to expire, many of them apparently claiming that the new rules are an invasion of privacy. Another 30 movers had their certificates suspended for compliance reasons. This includes fees in order to get the certificates reinstated.

It's interesting that something like criminal background checks can cause so many companies to lose their certificates. Although correlation is not the same as causation, this may be an indication that many movers are hiring crews with criminal backgrounds. And that may be something to worry about if you're hiring a mover.

Utah Couple Sues Moving Company for Hiring Felons

The examples of dishonest or unprofessional moving companies are easy to come by. It seems like almost every week there's a new story of someone getting tipped off by a low quality mover. This time, a couple in Utah hired the moving company, Two Men and A Truck, for their household move. As it turned out, a couple of the crew members were former felons and the company had not done background checks. The crew members stole a very valuable book, valued at $35,000, as well as some pain medication. More on this story can be found at the Deseret News website.

We've said it before and we'll say it again - always do your best to make sure that the movers you hire are licensed, insured and reputable. Look up their reputation online, read the reviews and talk to them. Ask about background checks, references from previous customers, etc. Most of the time, you'll be able to tell if you're talking to someone who values their reputation or someone who's just looking to make a quick buck.

Soaring Price of Gas is Bad News for Movers

Lately the price of gas has been increasing very quickly. Just in the past week the national average went up about 20 cents! Currently the average is at about $3.47 but it's still rising. Gas prices are always highest in the summer, but it's only March, so it wouldn't be unlikely for the prices to go up to around $4 in the summer. It will all depend on the political situation in the Middle East, and right now things aren't looking that good.

The high cost of has prices affects transportation and moving companies in a big way. It's common for fuel to account for 20-30% of our costs. And considering how much driving we do, and the fuel economy of our vehicles, you can imagine how large of an impact an extra 20 cents per gallon really is!