As someone who represents movers for a living, I regularly run into two issues. The first is explaining our industry. I live in Burbank, the real capital of the entertainment industry, so when I say, “moving industry,” many people hear “movie industry” and are visibly deflated when I explain the reality.
The second issue is not so funny. Our industry too often suffers from a negative image, largely because of rogue operators who harm the moving public, the legitimate industry, and, just as important, the taxpayers. Rogue operators don’t pay taxes and fees. They don’t carry proper insurance, and they don’t answer to regulators. Any consumer who thinks it doesn’t matter who they hire is fooling themselves. When a rogue operator holds a family’s belongings hostage or simply disappears, the damage doesn’t stop at that household. It lands on the whole community.
That’s why we should never understate the good work of legitimate movers, our CMSA members. They are employers, taxpayers, and neighbors in the communities where they operate. Let me share one small example.
Recently, our partners at Special Olympics of Southern California told me they needed to move their 50-person office to a new building in the area. As a nonprofit, they keep as much revenue as possible directed to their mission of serving people with special needs. They hoped we could find a mover willing to handle the move pro bono, or at the very least for a greatly reduced fee. I sent a broad request to our Southern California membership, expecting a bit of a challenge. It has not been an easy year for a number of movers, and a 50-person office is no small job.
The response was heartwarming. Within minutes, Donnie Hill of Alexander’s committed to doing the move. His company was the first of more than a few members to offer help, and so it was awarded the job. Larry Levin of New Haven Moving Equipment then stepped up to provide whatever packing material was needed. Neither response surprised me. Many other members also raised their hands, and I’m grateful to every one of them.
This is who legitimate movers are. They are licensed, insured, and accountable, and they show up for their communities without being asked and without fanfare. That deserves recognition, and it should be remembered the next time anyone searches online for a mover using the vague prompt “best value.” The best value is a mover who is licensed, who is insured, and who is part of the community they serve.