Atlas Amplifier PDF - Atlas Van Lines

Atlas WorldNews and InformationThe Atlas VanOperator andOperationsManagementMeetings provideattendees with thelatest informationfor their success inthe year ahead.Atlas Convenes Meetingsfor Van Operators andOperations ManagementMuch is happening at Atlas and in the industry that willaffect business in the months ahead. Which is why expertsfrom Atlas headquarters are holding a series of specialmeetings around the country during March and April.“We take the success of our van operators andoperations people seriously,” says Dennie Lynn, SeniorVice President of Operations, Atlas Relocation ServicesGroup. “We want them be the best equipped personnelin the industry.”Nearly 100 attended the first meeting, held March 10at the offices of Alexander’s Mobility Services in Tustin,California. “We had good discussion and lots ofquestions, including on the hand-held inventory device,”says Dennie. “It was rather new to many so the meetingprovided an opportunity to get them thinking.”Itwasalsoan opportunity tolearnaboutanimportantpolicy change under consideration.“We’re planning to take compliance with casual laborcertification to the next level,” says Dennie. “We explainedthe proposed revisions and what it means to theiroperations.” Dennie says the change would stiffen thepenalty for non-compliance and it is intended to takeeffect before the summer season, pending approval bythe Atlas board in April.An Opportunity for ImprovementThe agenda also covered issues related to the fuelsurcharge, Tariff 600, cross-border hauling, militarytraffic, insurance requirements, safety and claimsprevention. Attendance by Atlas executive managementunderscores the importance of the information.“The folks who attend are interested in their businessand in Atlas,” says Chairman Mike Shaffer. “They investtheir most important asset, their personal time, to get thelatest information from Atlas and about the industry. As Ialways do, I came away very impressed by our professionalvan operators. They are the hardest working people inour business.”“All the information is of value,” says Safety Director RickKirby. “My goal is for the van operators to realize that AtlasSafety is here to help them with any regulatory issues orproblems they may have. I want them to come away withpractical information that can help them every day.”The meetings also point to a unique Atlas strength:the willingness of agents to volunteer their resources.“I can’t say enough about the Atlas agency hosts whooffered their resources to make these meetings a success,”says Mike. “We couldn’t do it without their support.”A special thanks to our host agents: Alexander’s–207 (Tustin, CA);Guardian Relocation, Inc.–1032 (Indianapolis, IN); Ace Relocation Systems,Inc.–15 (Jessup, MD); Nelson Westerberg of Georgia–1517 (Mableton, GA).2007: Another Subway Series?New York baseball fans remember 2000 fondly as the year of the last Subway Series.That was when the Mets and Yankees vied for the world championship, and fans could travel by subway toShea Stadium in Queens and Yankee Stadium in The Bronx.Now, two Atlas agents are doing what they can to make 2007 another “Subway Series” year.“We’d love to see the Mets with another winningseason,” says Darin Laby, Interstate Operations Directorwith A-1 First Class-Viking Moving & Storage, Inc. (2123)“Moving them during the playoffs is always fun.”A-1 First Class has provided relocation services forthe Mets since 1986 when President Michael Labywooed and won the account.For each of the last 21 years, Van Operator ThomasBankhead has hauled the team’s gear to and fromFlorida for annual spring training. During the regularseason, Jesus Feliciano makes sure the team’s goods getfrom Shea Stadium to the airport for away games. . .andthat the truck is ready and waiting when the team’splane returns.The relationship extends to serving club members forpersonal relocations. As an added perk, the A-1 FirstClass crew sometimes gets to park its truck in thebullpen in right field, where all the fans can see it.“We’re Mets fans here at A-1 First Class,” says Darin.“They are the home team as far as we’re concerned.”The team at A-1 First Class makes sure the Mets get all theadvantages of friendly and efficient relocation service whenthe team travels.The folks at County Van Lines (1689) are also bigfans of New York baseball. But their hometown teamis the Yankees.“At one time we worked for both the Yankees andthe Mets clubs,” says Denis DiDonato, Long DistanceOperations Manager. “But since 1987, we’ve workedexclusively with the Yankees.”Most recently, County transported the storiedfranchise from Yankee Stadium to Tampa for springtraining and back in time for the home opener onApril 2. The team’s gear was in the capable handsof Van Operator Alston Glenn.“Alston is the first operator who transported theYankees for us,” says Denis. Operator Richard Hicks isanother mainstay at County, bringing never-fail serviceto the Yankees over the last ten years.The people at County pride themselves on givingexcellent service. With a little luck, they believe it justmight help the Bronx Bombers make it to thepost season.“We like the Yankees, that’s for sure,” says CountyCEO Mia Mercado. “We’re extremely proud to bemoving the world’s greatest baseball team.”Go Yankees! The moving experts at County Van Linesare doing their best to help their favorite team makeit to the post season.48Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2007Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2007 49