Mover’s Edge, June, 2010

Industry Issues

The Canadian Association of Movers was asked by the Consumers Measures Committee of Industry Canada about the number and nature of consumer complaints about movers. CAM shared its experiences with the committee. The stated objective of the committee was “to gauge the level of consumer satisfaction with the business practices of the moving sector in Canada…”

This initiative was highlighted in various media articles about the moving industry in early May in which several moving industry professionals and CAM representatives were quoted in the articles. CAM’s stated position was that, between highway traffic rules (conditions of carriage and consumer legislation), there was sufficient legislation and regulation in place to govern the industry. What we felt was needed was consumer education and enforcement of the existing regulations.

In late May, the Toronto Police Service arrested a local mover, charged him and his employees with various criminal charges and seized his assets as “forfeiture of the proceeds of crime.” This may lead the way to the use of the Criminal Code as an additional tool in fighting the rogues who pretend to be movers. Congratulations to the Toronto Police on their initiative. See the Consumers page.

CAM and its directors have begun a letter-writing campaign to ministers in the provincial legislatures asking that they request the police services in their provinces to act for consumers when exorbitant fees are being extorted. The police are the only agency capable of acting in a timely fashion when one of these incidents is occurring.

You too can (and should) write to your member of the provincial legislature about the abuses that consumers suffer at the hands of these rogues.

Employment Applications and Job Postings

CAM’s online database of job applicants is available in the members-only area of the website. Here you can find applicants for your driver, helper and staff positions arranged by position type and postal code. We have received over 1,000 applications from EI offices across Canada.

Check out the employment ads on CAM’s website. You can apply in confidence to CAM. If you are applying to an ad that does not show the employer’s name, CAM will not forward your résumé to your current employer.

• A leading van line agent in the Toronto area is still looking for a new general manager.
• A leading mover in SW Ontario is looking for a dispatcher/manager.
• UniGroup Worldwide UTS Canada is advertising for an International Manager.

CAM Events

Mark your calendars for CAM’s fall events:

• 14th Annual Golf Tournament, Monday, September 20, 2010, at Granite Ridge Golf Club in Milton, Ontario
• 15th Annual Conference, Sunday to Tuesday, November 14 to 16, at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel

Watch this newsletter for details of these events or call us now and we’ll reserve your space.

Moves Online

CAM has had 175 requests for referrals between February 1 and the end of May. The program will be continued at no cost. We are working with Don Kachur on the costing model for this program and will contact you when the free estimates period ends.

Training & Education

Congratulations to the following individuals who have graduated from CAM’s Canadian Professional Mover course:

• Great Canadian Van Lines Ltd.: Rick Valiant, Phillip Sachinidis, Steve Ellis
• Hoyt's Moving & Storage Ltd.: Sean Smith
• King's Transfer Van Lines Inc.: Ron Proudfoot
• Milne's Moving & Storage Ltd.: Dominic Kozma
• Quality Move Management, Inc.: Shane Sweet
• Quick Transfer Ltd.: Vicki Sisko
• SIRVA Canada LP: Amanda Armstrong, Karen Jamieson, Denise Ducharme, Nicole Janzen, Martin Domingue, Bruce Gowen, Ivan Bitz, Dave Sanchez, Rick Smallwood
• Taylor Moving & Storage Ltd.: Dawn Brown, Todd Dinelle

In addition, 33 CAM members have registered for CAM’s training modules with 58 of their staff members having taken and passed the basic video training module for helpers. The video training provides a few basic lessons that a newly-hired person needs in order to work as a helper.

Watch for our new packing-unpacking training video later this summer.

New Members

CAM welcomed three new members in May. Check them out in our online database. They offer value-added products and services. They are looking forward to hearing from you.

Suppliers

• Blue Bins Unlimited, Mississauga, ON
• COSMO Containers / Inspirion Ventures, Calgary, AB

International Mover

• SOYER International Moving Company, Göztepe-Istanbul, Turkey

Equipment Wanted

A Toronto mover is looking for storage vaults. If you have a surplus, advise CAM and we will put you in contact with them.

CAM Awards

We will be presenting our three awards this fall at the 2010 Annual Conference:

• Distinguished Service Award
• Innovators Award
• Founders Award

Visit CAM’s website and nominate a deserving member of the Canadian moving community.

Summer Moving Season

The summer moving season has begun. CAM wishes all its members much success in finding and executing profitable moves.