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| Company type | Agent-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Moving and storage, Logistics |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | David P. Corrigan, Chairman Jason Mills, CEO |
| Parent | UniGroup |
| Website | www |
United Van Lines is an American moving and relocation company and a subsidiary of UniGroup, Inc. [1]
The concept which evolved into United Van Lines originated in 1928 when Return Loads Service, Inc. was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, to arrange return shipments for independent moving companies. Orders were centrally registered and dispatched, and certificates of membership were sold to independent moving companies, which paid a revenue percentage on every order handled.
The premise was to enable movers, once they had delivered a shipment, to obtain profitable tonnage to haul on the return trip, instead of operating an empty van. When similar return shipment companies began appearing around the country, the Cleveland firm adopted the distinctive title, "United Van Service." The Depression spelled disaster for the fledgling firm, as United found itself unable to keep up service with depleted revenues, and many agents broke away to operate independently. In June 1933, United Van Service was dissolved, and its assets and liabilities were transferred to a new entity incorporated as United Van Lines. The new firm prospered and, in 1941, moved its headquarters to Fenton, Missouri, even though the company website states that the headquarters is in St. Louis. Fenton, Missouri, is a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1947, the ownership of United Van Lines passed from the few original stockholders who held the firm together during its formative stages to a larger group of United agents, establishing the current structure. Twenty-two years later, in 1969, United established a subsidiary, United Leasing, Inc. to provide trucks, uniforms, and other supplies needed by United and other professional movers.
To support United agents in their primary business of moving household goods, the corporation in recent years created related operating companies which offer customized insurance for movers; sell and lease equipment needed by the moving industry; and provide global mobility management services. All of these entities are overseen by UniGroup, Inc., a holding company formed in 1988 and owned by UniGroup companies’ affiliated agents and senior management. UniGroup is a transportation and relocation services company with headquarters in suburban St. Louis, Mo. In March 1995, UniGroup acquired one of its major competitors in household-goods transport, Mayflower Transit of Fenton, Missouri. [2] In addition to United and Mayflower, logistics company UniGroup Logistics and international relocation providers UniGroup Relocation and Sterling Relocation, UniGroup owns other subsidiaries that provide goods and services to professional movers.
In 1995, the company had its first billion-dollar revenue year. [3]
Fenton is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, and a suburb of St. Louis County. The population was 3,989 at the 2020 census.
North American Van Lines, or NAVL, is a large American trucking company originally formed in Cleveland, Ohio, and later based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which specializes in home and office relocations.
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Stifel Financial Corp. is an American multinational independent investment bank and financial services company created under the Stifel name in July 1983 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange on November 24, 1986. Its predecessor company was founded in 1890 as the Altheimer and Rawlings Investment Company and is headquartered in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
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Saia is an American less than truckload (LTL) trucking company, that originated in Houma, Louisiana, in 1924. With original operation occurring in Louisiana and Texas for the first fifty years, expansion came after 1980 when coverage began reaching into more states within the South. Further expansion happened through mergers with other companies, which allowed Saia to provide service for thirty six states. Saia ranks within the top ten of LTL carriers in the United States, with revenues of over $1.8 billion in 2020.
The American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) was the non-profit trade association representing members of the professional moving industry based primarily in the United States. Its approximately 4,000 members consisted of van lines, their agents, independent movers, forwarders, industry suppliers, and certain individuals and organizations.
Contract Freighters, Inc. (CFI), a subsidiary of Heartland Express, is an American truckload freight carrier headquartered in Joplin, Missouri with operations in the continental US, Canada, and Mexico. Easily recognizable on the highway by their iconic bright red Kenworth trucks. CFI provides point-to-point, full truckload, dry van service, as well as refrigerated transport, and utilizes single drivers as well as two-person driver teams over long-haul routes—most commonly with each trailer containing only one customer's goods.
Abels Moving Services is a UK-based moving company specialising in domestic and international relocation. The removal and storage company has its headquarters in Brandon, Suffolk, with facilities in London, Cambridge, Daventry covering the whole of the UK. It became the first removals firm to be granted a Royal Warrant in 1989, by appointment to HM the Queen for removals and storage services. As of 2016, the company still holds this warrant.
PODS, is a moving and storage company. Founded in 1998, it is based in Clearwater, Florida.
National Van Lines, Inc. is a privately held American moving and relocation company based in Broadview, Illinois with agents in 48 states and service partners around the world. The company’s services include residential and commercial moving and storage domestically and internationally. National Van Lines has been designated a Pro Mover company by the American Moving & Storage Association.
Atlas World Group, Inc., is a privately held company in the moving and storage industry headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1948, Atlas is the 11th largest private company in the state. Atlas World Group is the parent and holding company of Atlas Van Lines, Inc., and eight other subsidiary companies that offer transportation, storage, and related relocation services on a global scale through its network of agents and service partners. Service areas include consumer relocation, corporate relocation, government and military services, international relocation, and logistics.
