When it comes to running a successful moving company, your team is the backbone of your business. For example, during our years of owning J&J Metro Moving and Storage, a thriving moving company in Central Florida, we’ve seen firsthand how a reliable team can transform a stressful move into a seamless experience for clients. Reliable, skilled, and professional employees can mean the difference between satisfied repeat customers and negative reviews. Building and maintaining such a team might sound daunting, but with the right strategies and tools, you can create a workforce that sets your company apart in the competitive moving industry.
Your team represents your company’s brand every time they step into a customer’s home or business. For instance, when one of our crews helped a family move during a last-minute relocation, their professionalism and care left such a positive impression that the family referred us to three other clients within a week. Examples like this demonstrate how your team can directly impact your reputation and growth. These relationships are essential to your success. A trustworthy and professional crew ensures that your clients’ possessions are handled with care, fostering a positive reputation and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals. Beyond customer satisfaction, a strong team also helps reduce operational headaches, boosts efficiency, and contributes to long-term business growth.
The foundation of a reliable team starts with hiring the right individuals. Drawing from our extensive experience managing moving teams, we’ve identified key strategies to streamline the hiring process and attract top talent. Here are some quick and effective tips for recruitment:
Tap Into Referrals:
Ask current employees or industry contacts for recommendations. Referrals often yield candidates who understand the job’s demands.
Utilize Job Boards, Local Outreach and Social Media Groups:
Post clear, concise job descriptions on platforms like Indeed, Craigslist, or industry-specific boards. Emphasize the value of customer service and professionalism in your listing.
Leverage social media groups such as MoveitPro's Moving Company Owner Discussions (Join Here) and MoveitPro Customer Discussions Board (Join Here). These groups offer networking opportunities and help you connect with skilled professionals and other business owners
Screen Candidates Thoroughly:
Perform background checks and ask for references to ensure reliability. Services like Checkr or GoodHire can streamline the process, saving you time and ensuring thorough vetting of potential hires.
Look for candidates with experience in physical labor or customer-facing roles, as these skills transfer well into the moving industry.
Ask scenario-based interview questions, such as how candidates would handle a difficult customer or unexpected moving day challenges. This provides insight into their problem-solving and communication skills.
Use trial periods or shadow shifts to observe candidates in action and assess their compatibility with your team and work environment.
Even the best hires need proper training to succeed. Comprehensive training sets expectations, builds confidence, and reduces costly errors.
Safety First: Teach your team proper lifting techniques, packing procedures, and the importance of securing loads to prevent accidents. Consider using resources like OSHA’s ergonomic lifting guidelines or hosting a workshop with a certified safety trainer to effectively teach these skills.
Customer Service Excellence: Movers often deal with stressed clients. Equip your team with communication skills and techniques for de-escalating tense situations.
Hands-On Learning: Pair new hires with experienced staff for on-the-job training. Observing and practicing in real-world scenarios is invaluable.
High turnover can be a costly problem in the moving industry. Retaining your best employees not only saves money but also ensures consistency in service quality. As Patrick Clayton of Liberty Moves Orlando put it on a recent Episode of Shift Happens: Beyond The Boxes with MoveitPro CEO Jason Bergenske, "Finding good Movers is tough. What we've tried is to pay more to get more. We don't wanna be just a moving company, and we don't want just movers. It's been one of our biggest challenges!" Paying competitive wages shows employees their value and sets your business apart from competitors.
Fair Pay and Benefits:
Competitive wages and performance-based incentives show employees their efforts are valued. As Patrick also explained, "We try and invest in our guys a little more. We try and get a little more out of them. I try and Invest in them the same as they try and invest in me. I do whatever I can that's why I pay them more because I want them to stick around and not jump ship like a lot of movers. " Fair pay or better not only retains employees but builds a dependable and motivated team.
Recognition and Growth Opportunities:
Highlight achievements during team meetings or provide advancement opportunities, like becoming a lead mover, trainer or driver.
Foster a Positive Culture:
Create an environment where employees feel respected and supported. Simple acts, like celebrating milestones or hosting team events, go a long way in building morale.
Invest in Your Own Education:
Becoming a better leader is key to retaining top talent. Attend industry events like the Legends Retreat we put on every March, where you can learn from the successes and mistakes of others in the moving business. These opportunities provide valuable insights and networking that help you refine your leadership skills and strengthen your business strategies.
The right tools can make managing your team simpler and more effective. Software solutions tailored for the moving industry provide several key benefits:
Optimized Scheduling: Assign jobs based on employee availability and skills with ease, reducing confusion and maximizing productivity.
Performance Tracking: Monitor team performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and reward top performers.
Clear Communication: Use built-in communication tools to keep everyone on the same page, whether it’s sharing schedules or updating job details.
Payroll Simplification: Track hours and manage payroll efficiently, ensuring your team gets paid accurately and on time. Many platforms streamline this process by automatically calculating hours worked, integrating with payroll systems, and reducing manual errors. This ensures timely payments and frees up valuable time for business owners to focus on growth.
Among these options, MoveitPro stands out as the best tool for moving businesses. Built from the ground up specifically for the modern moving business, MoveitPro addresses the unique challenges of the industry with its seamless CRM and advanced team management capabilities. This tailored approach ensures that companies have exactly what they need to optimize operations and stay competitive.
| Operational Efficiency | Customer Management | Financial Management | Sales & Marketing | Support & Training |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated job scheduling | CRM for tracking leads and clients | Commissions tracking | Lead & follow-up automation | Comprehensive support documentation |
| Real-time team communication | Customizable email templates | Credit card payments | Sales funnel emails | Video tutorials for onboarding |
| Performance and payroll tracking | Integrated invoicing and payments | Custom hourly rates and tariffs | Google Calendar integration | Live chat for user assistance |
| Digital Bill of Lading (BOL) | Easy follow-ups for customer reviews | Projected revenue insights | Zillow integration | Responsive customer support team |
| Mobile-friendly interface | Secure data storage and backups | QuickBooks integration |
By integrating these features, MoveitPro empowers moving companies to enhance efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and drive business growth.
If you'd like to know more about how MoveitPro Software will help you to run, manage and grow your Moving Business. How about scheduling a complimentary Demo with one of our amazing Software Consultants who will show and guide you through what is best for you.
and visit the MoveitPro Features List.
Building a reliable and professional team is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your moving business succeeds. By hiring the right people, providing thorough training, and creating an environment where employees want to stay, you set the stage for consistent growth and customer satisfaction. With tools like MoveitPro, managing and optimizing your team becomes even easier, allowing you to focus on scaling your business.
Ready to simplify your operations and build the team your moving business deserves? Visit MoveitPro today to learn more about how we can help you take your business to the next level.