Moving Service Driver Honored as a “Highway Hero” for Heroic Act
Stanley Gorczak ,a driver for nationwide moving service provider ABF Freight System, Inc., was recognized as a “Highway Hero” for coming to the aid of a Nebraska hotel employee.
(FORT SMITH, Ark., November 3, 2009) —ABF Freight System, Inc., which offers nationwide moving trailer and moving container services, is proud to report one of its drivers was recently recognized by the Truckload Carrier’s Association (TCA) for an act of heroism. Stanley P. Gorczak was honored in early October by the TCA as a “Highway Angel” for rushing to the aid of a Nebraska hotel employee.
On August 8, 2009, Gorczak checked into the Carlisle Hotel in Omaha, planning to spend the night before continuing his route in an ABF moving trailer the following day. While in the lobby, Gorczak heard a hotel clerk screaming that a co-worker had collapsed. Acting quickly, he handed her his cell phone with instructions to call 911. He then rushed to the aid of the unconscious employee. He checked her vital signs and administered the recommended precautions for a suspected seizure victim. Gorczak then stayed with her, continuing to administer assistance until paramedics arrived.
The story gets even more surprising because Gorczak has been hailed as a hero twice in less than a year. He was also recognized in early 2009 for administering life-saving techniques to a choking victim in a restaurant. While eating at an Illinois truck stop, he saw a man fall to the floor choking. Unable to lift the man to administer the Heimlich maneuver, Gorczak positioned him on his side and was able to dislodge the obstruction.
Gorczak is in good company at ABF. This heroic driver joins at least three other ABF drivers who have been honored for heroism over the past several years.
In 1997, ABF driver Thomas Lawson saved the life of a man trapped in a smoldering, overturned vehicle moments before it exploded. Lawson was honored with Goodyear’s Highway Hero award the following year. In 2004 the New Jersey Motor Truck Association honored ABF driver Art Lucas. Lucas rushed to assist a collapsed woman at a New York restaurant. He administered CPR until paramedics arrived and was later credited with saving her life. In April 2005 ABF driver David Kurre received the company’s highest award, the Medal of Excellence, for rescuing an accident victim from a fiery collision. Kurre, along with two other bystanders, fought flames engulfing a vehicle and pulled off the driver-side door, extracting the victim moments before the vehicle exploded.
So, is it something in the water at this moving services provider? According to ABF U-Pack business development manager Kay Lynn Clay, “It isn’t in the water, but it is in the corporate culture. ABF makes a significant effort to hire the best. Then those employees bring their best to work every day because that is the kind of people they are. As a company we try to create a culture where quality people can do quality work.” In 1984 the company introduced the Quality Process. The process outlines four company-held absolutes for quality. “Without a doubt, the ABF Quality Process is now engrained in our company’s culture,” says Chief Operating Officer Wes Kemp.
The result of this quality process outside of ABF’s doors, loading docks and moving trailers is demonstrated by the heroic, life-saving deeds of these four drivers. The result of this Quality Process inside the company is demonstrated through impressive awards and accolades including winning the A.T.A President’s Trophy Award for Safety five times and winning the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award four times. ABF also applied the Quality Process to moving services in 1997. The innovative U-Pack service allows residential customers to ship their household belongings in a moving container or on a professionally-driven ABF truck rather than driving a rental truck.
ABF U-Pack Moving is a leader in the self-move industry with a network of 281 service centers nationwide. U-Pack specializes in affordable do-it-yourself moving, combining the professional driver and equipment of traditional full-service movers with the cost savings of a rental truck. Visit http://www.upack.com/ for more information.
Since Puerto Rico is a United States territory – meaning it belongs to the United States, but is not part of the United States – requirements for moving there may seem slightly confusing. And, I’ve discovered that it’s difficult to find factual information about how to move to Puerto Rico from the U.S.
So, after some extensive research, here’s what I’ve learned:
Residents of Puerto Rico pay U.S. federal taxes, which include import/export taxes, social security taxes, federal payroll taxes, commodity taxes and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico income taxes.
Used household goods and personal effects can be imported duty-free as long as you have owned them for one year and you do not intend to sell the items or give them to another person.
There are some items that are subject to a local excise tax – which is currently 6.6% and is calculated from the commercial invoice value. These items are: - Sporting goods - Tools - Musical instruments - Cameras and camera equipment - Toys - Electronic items - Telecommunications equipment - All new items
Jewelry should not be included in your shipment to Puerto Rico.
When moving the Puerto Rico from the U.S., the following documentation is required and must be presented by the owner of the goods when clearing the items at the tax office in San Juan: - Power of Attorney - Two pieces of identification - Bill of Lading - Inventory list in English and signed by owner - Freight Bill signed by owner
Your inventory list must include dollar values of the items in the shipment. If you underestimate, fines can be assessed.
Your items must be cleared at the tax office before the moving company can deliver your shipment.
The local currency is the U.S. dollar.
The borders are open between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico – so a passport is not required.
ABF U-Pack specializes in moving to Puerto Rico from the U.S. mainland. If you have questions about the moving process, or need to know the cost to move to Puerto Rico with ABF U-Pack, call us at 800-413-4799or get a free quote online.
Have you noticed how much the word ‘pods’ is used these days? Remember back when the word just meant something that had to do with a flowering plant? My how times have changed.
So, it seems U-Pack has joined the bandwagon. Not on purpose, it just happened. Our moving and storage containers are called ReloCubes – but lots of people call them moving pods. I guess because ‘moving pods’ is such a catchy term. Even though we’re not PODS®, it doesn’t bother us when customers refer to our ReloCubes as ‘moving pods’, since the meaning of the word has evolved – and actually in a round-about way pertains to what we do.
Think about it…you store music in the Apple iPod. Pre-packaged coffee beans in their own filters are called coffee pods. And you can view a podcast when you want to see a stored video. And that’s just a snapshot of all of the products that use ‘pods’ in their name. I guess since you can move and store in our ReloCubes, it makes sense that people would naturally call them moving pods. It’s just become a generic description.
This great YouTube video posted by a U-Pack customer is the perfect example of what I’m talking about. The customer calls it, “U-Pack pod delivery” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym9EnlZW5u8.
When you call and request a moving quote for “one of those moving pods”, we’ll gladly give you a ReloCube quote. Then when you compare your U-Pack price to other services that offer moving pods, we think you’ll be very pleased with the service and the price – U-Pack’s that is.
When you’re talking about U-Pack moving containers – ReloCubes – there are several things:
Easy to park. They fit right into a standard-sized parking space so you don’t have to worry about blocking traffic.
Easy to load. They sit flat on the ground so you can carry your stuff in without the use of a ramp.
Easy to secure. The tie-down points located throughout the moving containers allow you to tie everything down to keep it from shifting in transit. Then, you get to put your own lock on it and keep the key.
Easy to store. If you’re not ready to unload. Choose portable storage and store the moving container at a secure ABF moving service center for as long as you need.
Easy to unload. See bullet #2.
Easy to pay for. No down payment or deposit. You pay for what you use – if you reserve three moving containers and end up using two…you pay for two. Seriously.
Ok, so excessive use of the word “easy”, I know. But, when you consider what a pain it is to load and drive a rental truck – using moving containers sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Especially considering the price. If you haven’t checked out your moving cost using U-Pack moving containers, I highly recommend it.
There may have been a time when moving to Fort Wainwright, Alaska was cheapest when it was done in a rental truck. Times have changed. With the advent of ‘you pack, we drive’ services like ABF U-Pack, you can still get prices similar to truck rental, but you don’t have to drive. That’s a big deal when you’re talking about the trek up the Alcan Highway to Fort Wainwright in a rental truck. There’s a reason Fort Wainwright is home of the “Arctic Warriors” – obviously it can get COLD and icy in the winter months…may not be the ideal conditions for driving a truck full of all your earthly possessions.
Bonus: Where moving to Fort Wainwright takes most moving companies 20-30 days, U-Pack averages 11 business days.
Here’s how you can expect your DITY move to Fort Wainwright to work with U-Pack:
• ABF gets your certified empty weight ticket. • ABF brings a moving trailer to your location. • You load. • ABF gets your certified full weight ticket. • ABF drives to the port in Tacoma, WA where your trailer sets sail to Anchorage (aboard a barge). • Once it gets to Anchorage, ABF schedules a driver to deliver right to your door in Fort Wainwright. • You unload. • ABF picks up the empty trailer.
So, you can pack it, load it and hop on a plane…or if you’re a little more adventurous, take a trip in your own vehicle up the Alcan Highway or take a Ferry through the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Remember, your DITY move and your mode of travel has to be pre-approved by your origin Transportation Office. My best advice is to start planning your move to Fort Wainwright as early as possible. Regardless of where you’re moving from – Alaska is far away, so you want to make sure you’ve covered all your bases and have everything ready to go on your move day.
Moving to Fort Wainwright Resource If you need more detailed information about Army regulations regarding moving to Alaska, The Army in Alaska is a great resource, with tons of helpful information.
Always looking for a deal It seems like everyone is looking for the cheapest moving truck rentals these days. And why wouldn’t they? Penny pinching is what’s “cool” right now. I would wager a bet that if you picked up a magazine from a news stand today, you would find a helpful article titled something like: “Ways to save”, “Top 10 things you can do to cut back”, or “20 painless money-saving tips”.
It’s the world we’re living in - although, there are rumors of things picking back up. People who lost jobs earlier in the year are finding new ones and they’re starting to move again. Yippee!
Even if things are getting better, you can’t help but want to make sure you’re getting the best deal when it comes time to move. Looking for the cheapest moving truck rentals is a good place to start.
Now, here’s the good news. You don’t have to drive a rental truck to save money on your move.
What?
You can do a U-Pack move, pay prices that compare to renting a truck, and move on the cheap.
Now, aren’t you glad you decided to look for the cheapest moving truck rentals? You can move and don’t even have to drive the truck.
• ABF delivers a moving trailer or moving container to your home. • You load. • ABF drives to your new location. • You unload.
There's absolutley nothing wrong with cheap moving, especially when it's as easy as U-Pack!
Gone are the days where your storage options were limited to packing everything and moving it into your relative’s garage or into a rental truck to unload in the storage facility across town. Now there’s portable storage. So much easier *sigh*. Now you just load and unload it once – and your relatives don’t have to look at it in their garage.
If you’re just starting to compare portable storage containers, consider the U-Pack ReloCube. By the way, it’s pronounced Relo (like the first part of ‘relocation’) and Cube (like a box). Clever…I know.
Here’s what you should know about the ReloCube when you compare portable moving and storage containers:
This portable storage container is small enough to fit into a standard sized parking space – but large enough to hold a standard studio-sized apartment.
Exterior dimensions are 6’ x 7’ x 8’. Its interior dimensions are 70” x 82” x 93” (LWH).
Each portable storage container can hold up to 2,500 pounds of household goods.
You can reserve as many containers as you need, and only pay for what you use.
Each portable storage container is custom-built and made of metal.
It’s weather-proof.
The container sits flat on the ground for easy loading and unloading.
The logistics tracking (those are ‘tie down points’ for those not familiar with the lingo) are strategically placed to allow you to secure your belongings.
They can be stored at your location or at an ABF service center – for as long as you need.
You put the lock on the portable storage container, and you’re the only one with the key.
The main questions to ask when you compare portable storage containers are:
How big is it?
What if I need more or less space?
What is it constructed of? (if it’s wooden or has a top that consists of a tarp, you may want to reconsider)
Is it weatherproof?
Are there tie down points?
How long can I store it?
Can I lock it?
And…last but not least…How much does it cost?
If portable storage sounds like a solution that might work for you, give us a call for a free moving quote.
Military moving is a little more involved than “normal” household moving – especially when there’s reimbursement involved (weight tickets etc.). When you add moving to Alaska to the mix, it gets even more complex.
In the next few weeks, we’ll talk about the specifics of moving to all of the military installations in Alaska…but today, let’s start with moving to Elmendorf Air Force Base.
My moving to Elmendorf AFB recommendation Of course, if you're searching for moving companies, I recommend using U-Pack for your move – even if you intend on driving. I’m going to guess that driving up the Alcan Highway will be much more enjoyable in your own vehicle than in a rickety rental truck – even if you end up with a good one, it’s a long drive! Since U-Pack is so much more affordable than full service movers, it’s a good option all around. If you’re being reimbursed, we’ll do full and empty weight tickets. And, it’s likely you’ll end up getting to pocket some of your DITY allowance.
Now…decide how you’ll get there Speaking of the Alcan Highway – you’ve got a few options for moving to Elmendorf AFB. The base borders Anchorage, so you can fly, drive or sail. If you want the easiest way to get there – fly. If you want a good site-seeing road trip – drive the Alcan Highway. If you want to sit back and enjoy the scenery - sail on an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry. Whatever your travel choice, you’ll need to make the official arrangements through your TMO.
Flying to Elmendorf AFB If you choose to fly, make sure you pack enough stuff to get by until your shipment arrives, and pack for the season you’re moving in. Good news – U-Pack takes only about 10-12 business days (most companies take 25-30 days, so plan accordingly).
Driving to Elmendorf AFB If you’re driving, remember that you’ll be crossing the Canadian border, so proof of citizenship is necessary – including birth certificates for your children. Make sure you have a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate or U.S. naturalized citizenship documents (just a driver’s license won’t work). If you’re traveling with pets, you need complete shot records for them. If you have questions about crossing the border, check with the Canada Border Services Agency.
Sailing to Elmendorf AFB If you’re the adventurous type and have a little extra time to get to your new assignment, check out the Alaska Marine Highway System. You’ll see some amazing sites! Make sure if you’re taking the AMHS, you check into the requirements for shipping your vehicle. According to the Elmendorf Newcomers Guide, you have to travel with your vehicle in order to be reimbursed – if you don’t travel with your vehicle, it’s considered a vehicle shipment and you won’t be reimbursed.
For great information about what to expect once you get to the area, make sure to download the newcomers guide – you’ll find tons of helpful information. Then, call or click to get a free moving quote from U-Pack. You’ll be glad you did.
The BBB of Arkansas has awarded the highest rating possible to ABF U-Pack Moving®, a nationwide moving service. The bureau is the consumers’ most reliable tool for researching the nation’s best moving companies. U-Pack has been accredited with the BBB since 2001.
(FORT SMITH, Ark., September 29, 2009) – ABF U-Pack Moving, a nationwide “you pack, we drive” moving service, has been awarded an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. This is the highest rating the BBB can bestow upon a company. U-Pack has been accredited since 2001. BBB accredited businesses must meet certain standards to qualify for accreditation and to retain that status as BBB movers.
ABF U-Pack was granted the A+ rating based on a number of qualifications – including a limited number of BBB complaints, the company’s willingness to resolve complaints in a timely manner, and their reputation in the marketplace. The BBB Accreditation is the consumer’s most reliable way to identify trustworthy businesses. One of the best ways to avoid moving scams and other hazards is to search for BBB moving companies with high ratings.
ABF U-Pack’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service has enhanced the customer’s moving experience and has contributed to this superior BBB rating.
“Consumers must have a place they can turn to for reliable advice and recommendations when choosing a moving service. The BBB can be counted on to fulfill this need,” remarks Kay Lynn Clay, business development manager of U-Pack. “ABF U-Pack considers our BBB membership of vital importance in the eyes of our customers and will work hard to maintain the A+ rating we’ve earned.”
The Better Business Bureau’s grading system replaces the BBB’s former system where moving company ratings were either ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’. The new grading system, with A+ being the best and F being the worst, demonstrates the BBB’s degree of confidence that the company being graded is operating in a trustworthy manner.
About ABF U-Pack Moving ABF U-Pack Moving is a leader in the self-move industry with a network of 281 service centers nationwide. U-Pack specializes in affordable do-it-yourself moving, combining the professional driver and equipment of traditional full-service moving companies with the cost savings of a rental truck. Visit http://www.upack.com/ for more information.
The name ABF U-Pack Moving is an obvious indication that U-Pack is a service of ABF. And that’s something we’re proud of. While you’re traveling cross country, you may have seen our trucks with the green stripe and the yellow letters “ABF” across the side – they’re a familiar site on U.S. highways these days. You may have also seen on our website where we tout that ABF is one of the safest, most reliable carriers in the U.S.
ABF is the only carrier to earn both the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award and the Excellence in Security Award in the same year – and that has happened twice.
Some things are worth bragging about.
If I were moving, I would absolutely want my mover to take care of my things like they were their own. Granted, I’m a bit of a control freak – but I think everyone wants the same. And that’s what the people at ABF make every effort to do.
In fact, September 17, 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of the ABF Quality Process. “What is the Quality Process?” you might ask…It’s ABF’s commitment to meet the agreed-upon requirements and to achieve total customer satisfaction through error-free work. When a problem does arise, ABF employees are committed solve it and prevent it from happening again – and there are processes in place to do this. That’s how we’ve gotten so good at what we do.
