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Mover’s Edge, January, 2012
Happy New Year
The directors and staff of the Canadian Association of Movers wish you, your staff and your families, health, happiness, and prosperity in the New Year. As an Association, CAM is looking forward to the challenges that the New Year will present. We see many opportunities for CAM to provide benefits to all stakeholders in the Canadian moving marketplace.
In this, our first newsletter of 2012, we are asking you for your input on upcoming programs. During the course of the year, we will continue to do so. The Association’s operating committees are beginning their work for 2012. They will need your help – they can only provide you with value when they know what you need and want from your Association. So call and tell us!
CAM’s Education Programs
As mentioned in the last newsletter, CAM’s education and training programs are now open to all current members.
CAM’s online training program, the Canadian Professional Movers course, will require that each individual be registered for the course. Each will require a username and password. Upon successful completion of the course, an individual may request a framed certificate. There will be a $15 charge that includes tax and shipping. An individual may also choose to receive the certificate as a PDF by e-mail at no charge.
All other education training material can be accessed through CAM’s members-only area. WE HAVE CHANGED THE WAY IN WHICH OUR ONLINE SYSTEM HANDLES USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS FOR THE MEMBERS-ONLY AREA. The four-digit number that appears in the upper right corner of your membership invoice is your username. The contact name (exactly as it appears in your listing on CAM’s website or in the membership directory) is your password.
CAM’s Annual Conference Questionnaire
In mid-January, we will be circulating a questionnaire asking for your input on the 2012 and future annual conferences. We need your feedback in order to provide you with the kind of conference you want. Watch for this by e-mail.
CAM’s Conference-Call Seminar Programs
We have planned a few conference-call seminars for later this month and in the months to come. Current topics to be explored include employee recruiting and criminal record checks. Again, we would appreciate your input into what topics you would like to hear about on these seminars.
A New Scam (?)
This may not be a new scam, but it’s ingenious and making the rounds of trucking and moving companies in the USA. Our appreciation to our friends in NCMA and CMSA for letting us know about this.
A man called claiming he was with a truck repair firm called “Truck Part Service”. He stated that his trailer was in need of repair and in a remote area “in the hills” and there was no cell phone coverage. He said he was on the “two way” with his repairman and that was the only way they were able to communicate. He gave a trailer number that was my trailer and said it needed two tires, total of about $800. Gave the size and brand of the tire, etc.
He said that he couldn’t take a credit card and “COMCHECK” was best. I called my driver and he told me he was on the road and driving and not in need of service at all, but that he had been in the Knoxville area and had left a truck stop after getting fuel.
I may have been fooled if I was not able to get a hold of my driver or if he didn’t answer for some reason. I am glad he was able to pick up the phone, if not I may have assumed the caller was telling the truth about not being in cell coverage, and issued the COMCHECK to get my driver on the road.
I called COMCHECK about this scam, and the representative said there was an individual who sits at truck stops and gathers info on trucks, waits until they leave and then calls about this type of service, he always keeps the amount under $1000. He takes notes on who he talks to and what the service was that he was requesting, thus seeming reliable and trustworthy.
IF YOU HAVE NEWS THAT CANADA’S MOVING INDUSTRY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, please let CAM know and we will include it in upcoming issues of this newsletter.