Bekins Van Lines, Inc.

Last updated
Bekins Van Lines, Inc.
Company type Subsidiary
IndustryMoving and Storage
Founded1891;134 years ago (1891)
Headquarters
Indianapolis, Indiana
,
United States
Number of locations
Over 300
Area served
International
Number of employees
Over 5,300 (over 5,000 drivers and 300 agents) (2009)
Parent Wheaton World Wide Moving
Website www.bekins.com
A postcard of a Bekins storage facility in Omaha, NE from the early 20th century. Bekins Van and Storage Co., Bekins Van Lines Co., 16th and Leavenworth Sts., Omaha, Neb (81166).jpg
A postcard of a Bekins storage facility in Omaha, NE from the early 20th century.

Bekins Van Lines, Inc. is an American domestic and international private and corporate household goods relocation service provider. [1] Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bekins also offers special commodities and logistic services. [2] The United States Armed Forces is one of Bekins' largest customers. [2]

Contents

History

In 1891, in Sioux City, Iowa, John Bekius and Martin (né Bekius) Bekins, brothers, started a furniture moving business. [3] [4] [5] [6]

In 1894, Martin Bekins brought the Bekins business to Los Angeles. [7] In 1927, he built his Eagle Rock, Los Angeles estate. [7]

Bekins was purchased by Minstar Inc., controlled by Irwin L. Jacobs, for $89.2 million in 1983. [8] In 1987, Bekins' management team, led by president Thomas E. Epley, purchased 60% of the company for $66 million. [9] Jacobs re-acquired Bekins through IMR Fund L.P. in January, 1993.

Operation

In 2009, the company had over 300 locations and a fleet of over 2,100 vehicles. [2] The company also owns warehouse space that exceeds four million square feet. [2]

Bekins was acquired by Wheaton World Wide Moving in 2012. [10] After the acquisition, the Bekins Van Lines brand name continued to be used as a separate brand. [10]

It is the oldest, currently operating, household moving, company in the United States. [11] [12] It is one of the largest moving companies in North America. [2] [10]

In Movie

A Los Angeles California Bekins moving and Storage Truck is one of the Landmarks used in the 1936 Columbia pictures Short "False Alarms" starring the Three Stooges.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Company Overview of Bekins Van Lines, Inc". Bloomberg. January 29, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Plunkett, J.W. (2009). Plunkett's Transportation, Supply Chain & Logistics Industry Almanac 2009. Plunkett Research Limited. p. 242. ISBN   978-1-59392-142-2 . Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Martin Bekins". New Netherland Institute . Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bekins History". EDC Mover. 29 August 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-08-29. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bekins: A Storehouse of History". Los Angeles Times. 1 March 1989. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Richardson, Ian (March 11, 2018). "Progress: Bekins building transforming into loft-style apartments". Sioux City Journal . Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Bekins Estate (Historic District)". HistoricPlacesLA .org. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Sloane, Leonard (23 April 1983). "Bekins to be Sold to Jacobs" . New York Times. ProQuest   424602963 . Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Keppel, Bruce (9 May 1987). "Jacobs Retains 40% Stake Minstar Sells Bekins to Unit's President in $66-Million Deal" . Los Angeles Times. ProQuest   292681163 . Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Wheaton acquiring residential mover Bekins". Indianapolis Business Journal. February 11, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  11. ↑ Benson, Lee (January 8, 2017). "About Utah: Meet a man who loves his boss". DeseretNews.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  12. ↑ "What can you do to ensure that your moving experience is a positive one?" . Retrieved 2025-07-08.

Further reading

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