American Moving & Storage Association
1611 Duke Street | Alexandria, VA 22314 | (703) 683-7410
www.moving.org    www.promover.org
 
For Immediate Release:
January 22, 2010     

Contact:  John Bisney, Director of Public Relations
(703) 706-4986  jbisney@moving.org

Ontario Driver Receives National Industry Award

Rookie Moving Van Operator First Woman Honored by Trade Association

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Laura J. VanVleet of Ontario, Calif. has been chosen to receive the 2009 Super Van Operator Rookie of the Year Award from the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), the nation’s trade association for the industry. She is the first solo woman to win any Super Van Operator award in the program’s 28-year history.

The annual award recognizes van operators (drivers) who demonstrate excellent records in safety and customer service as they begin careers in the moving and storage industry. VanVleet, 38, has been driving commercially for three years with no accidents or traffic citations for American Relocation & Logistics of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., a Mayflower Transit agent. VanVleet helps abandoned dogs she encounters during her travels. She has rescued four dogs and some have traveled with her. She will also provide food and water when she finds lost or abandoned dogs. VanVleet also mentors young women in a drug and alcohol recovery program, and has an outstanding customer service rating.

The 2009 Super Van Operator Rookie of the Year Award is one of four annual AMSA awards to honor drivers and owner-operators who provide safe, reliable, and customer-oriented household goods truck transportation; the others are Super Van Operator for Special Commodities, Super Van Operator for Household Goods, and the Super Van Operator Lifetime Achievement Award. Judging criteria include miles driven, accidents (preventable or non-preventable), lifetime driving record, time out of service for any “hours of service” or equipment violations, financial responsibility, community involvement, customer service, driving awards and outside interests and activities.

“AMSA congratulates Laura VanVleet,” said AMSA President & CEO Linda Bauer Darr. “Not only has she set a standard for the newer drivers in terms of safety, she has demonstrated the compassion and caring so crucial to moving people, which is what we do. Linda is off to a great start in what we hope will be a long and rewarding career in our industry. She’s also a great example of a ProMover.” ProMover is industry’s certification program that helps consumers easily identify a quality, professional mover.

In addition to industry recognition, VanVleet will receive a special leather jacket, a gold ring and other prizes at AMSA’s 2010 Education Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona from Feb. 21-24.

# # #

The American Moving & Storage Association, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is the trade association representing the nation’s moving and storage companies, which provide household goods moving services, specialized transportation for sensitive freight such as computers and trade show exhibits, and warehouse storage services. The association has 3,200 members, including more than 200 international members, and sponsors programs and activities that promote consumer protection, professional development, safety, and operational efficiency.

American Relocation & Logistics is one of the Southland’s finest household, office and industrial moving companies. The company provides disassembly of modular furniture, shelving reconfiguration, furniture repair and liquidation services as well as computerized, bar-coded warehousing services. American’s professionals expertly handle all aspects of moves, including moving individuals’ household goods, products and equipment or entire companies — around the corner or around the globe — using specialized equipment and computerized shipment tracking American Relocation & Logistics is located at 13565 Larwin Circle, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., 90670. Telephone: (562) 229-3600. Facsimile: (562) 926-6151. Website: www.american-moving.com.

Media Contacts:

John Bisney
Director of Public Relations
American Moving & Storage Association
1611 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3406
Phone: (703) 706-4986
Fax: (703) 683-8208
www.promover.org

For American Relocation & Logistics:
Donna St. Jean Conti, APR
St. Conti Communications
949-290-0622
DConti@StContiCommunications.com