1. Description of U-Haul.
2. History of U-Haul.
3. Mission and Vision of U-Haul.
4. Evolution of U-Haul.
5. Business model of U-Haul.
6. Marketing strategy.
7. Marketing Mix of U-Haul.
8. Competitors of U-Haul.
9. Conclusion.

1. Description of U-Haul

U-Haul is a company dedicated to the rental of equipment for moving and storage. It has its headquarters in Phoenix, united States, and has been in operation since 1945.

The company rents trucks , trailers and other equipment, but many centers and dealers of U-Haul also offer units, self storage , moving boxes, packing supplies, installation, wiring hitch, and trailer and carpet cleaners, among others.

2. History of U-Haul

U-Haul was founded in Ridgefield, Washington in 1945 by the spouses Leonard and Anna Mary Shoen. Initially operated as a sole proprietorship under the name of U-Haul Trailer Rental Company. The couple had tried to rent a trailer utility for moving your belongings from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, but could not find a provider.

In consequence, they were forced to carry only what could fit in your car. It was during his trip from California to Oregon, which the couple developed the concept and scheme of U-Haul.  The Shoen bought their first trailers, welding shops, or second hand from private owners. Two weeks later, their first trailer U-Haul was available for rent.

By the end of 1945, the company had 30 trailers open available for rent in several batches of the service stations in Portland, Vancouver and Seattle.

In 1949, it was possible to rent a trailer to the back and forth on the greater part of the united States and in 1955, in the greater part of Canada. At the end of the 1950s, the fleet of U-Haul Trailer owned more than 42 thousand trailers.

U-Haul has established itself as the leading provider of storage and services trailer diy in North America. The family Shoen continues to have a significant stake in the Company through its holding company Amerco.

2.1. U-Haul time -

• 1945: Leonard Shoen co-founded U-Haul with his wife, Anna Mary Carty, in the town of Ridgefield, Washington , with an investment of 5 billion dollars.
• 1955: With more than 10 thousand trailers U-Haul on-road, the brand was nationally known.
• 1967: The corporate headquarters are moved to Phoenix, Arizona.
• 1969: Shoen incorporates American Family Corporation (AMERCO) as a holding company with headquarters in Reno, Nevada. U-Haul continues as the main operating company.
• 1974: Set the first U-Haul Centers owned by the company.
• 1986: The children of Leonard and Anna, take control of the company.
• 1988: The new leaders rejected an attempt by the founder and his allies regain control.
• 2003: AMERCO sought bankruptcy protection in Chapter 11.
• 2004: Having refinanced its debt, the company emerges from bankruptcy.
• 2010: U-Haul receives the prize Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency in Washington, DC. The award recognizes organizations/companies with more than $150 million in yearly revenue for his efforts to promote energy efficiency.
• 2019: U-Haul named the fastest growing states in 2019, with Florida the number 1.

3. Mission and Vision of U-Haul

3.1. Mission

The Mission statement of U-Haul is: "To develop products and services to help people to transfer and store their household goods and commercial economic, environmental and socially responsible."

3.2. Vision

The Vision statement of the company is: "We are committed to sustainability through environmental protection, social responsibility and economic efficiency. We accept our responsibility to act as a good corporate citizen to continually improve the sustainability performance of our products, services and activities."

4. Evolution of U-Haul

Rental services of trucks, U-Haul has grown to become one of the leaders of the industry.

U-Haul has the moving trucks ranging from 10 to 26 feet long. The trucks of 26 feet long with a capacity of more than 4 bedrooms. The units are 10 feet long with a capacity of a studio apartment.

The Company is the leader on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that covers the 10 provinces and 50 states in the USA and Canada. The geographical coverage spans more than 23 thousand locations where we share trucks and trailers U-Haul.

5. Business model of U-Haul

5.1. How to earn money from a U-Haul?

The Company earns revenues through fees rental of trucks that are charged to clients. Other income is generated by:

• Rental cargo van commercial.
• Service commercial storage and business.
• Removals services corporate.
• Sale of goods or supplies from moving.

5.2. Value proposition

U-Haul provides value to its customers in the following way:

• Strength and reputation of the brand: U-Haul has established itself as the solution provider of moving and storage more popular in North America. You have a recognizable brand and a positive reputation that dates back to the 1940s.
• Convenience and accessibility: The Company offers a range of services that can allow customers to store and transport items in the form of self-service.
• Scope of sales and service: U-Haul operates an extensive network of points of sale and storage facilities. In addition, it offers services through its online portal and mobile application, which ensures that customers can access your service with ease.
• Range of services: The company offers customers a wide range of services from storage and moving. This ensures you can meet the needs of all users.
• Affordability: U-Haul seeks to ensure that its services are accessible to customers of all income levels can access them.

5.3. Key activities

U-Haul is an operator of a business moving and storage. The company supplies products and services to help customers to transfer and store their household goods and commercial. Includes boxes, tape, and other products and services, and self-storage.

5.4. Key partners

U-Haul is working in close collaboration with a network of partner companies and organizations that support their core operations.

These partners are organized into: 

• Vendor partners: Includes a supplier of equipment and tools that support the basic services of storage and rental of vehicles of the Company.
• Distributors and sales partners: Comprises a network of independent distributors who provide services to customers on behalf of or in association with U-Haul. These help the Company to expand its range of sales and services.
• Strategic Partners: Includes several commercial companies with which the Company collaborates on strategic projects such as: business development, brand building and marketing in the united States and Canada.
• Partners in Sustainability: Are non-profit organizations. The Company collaborates with them in projects designed to ensure that the company operate in the most sustainable manner possible.
• Community Partners: Includes charitable organizations with which the Company works in social projects and community.

5.5. Relationship with the client

U-Haul serves its customers through its service centers and storage facilities. Your sales staff offers personal guidance, handling of complaints and advice.

Once that has been agreed upon rental, guests can make use of the equipment or facilities of the Company in the form of self-service. U-Haul also operates a web site in www.uhaul.com, through which customers can search for products and services and make purchases.

5.6. Segmentation

U-Haul segments of their target market, classifying it as well: 

• Students: Includes students and families who need to move their belongings over long distances as part of the assistance to the university.
• Tourists: Includes individuals, groups, and families who require extra space to carry belongings, to national holidays to short-or long-term.
• Enthusiasts of the sport: Includes the fans of sports and activities that require extra space for transporting sports equipment specialist.
• Homeowners: Include families and individuals who own or rent property and require additional space to store goods.
• Business customers: U-Haul also provides services to commercial customers, small or medium-sized businesses that do not operate their own fleets of logistics.

6. Marketing strategy

The main marketing activities performed by the company are:

• Advertising by means of social networks, especially Facebook and YouTube.
• Improvement and constant updating of their website.
• Production of daily content through social networks such as Instagram and Twitter.
• Assistance and sponsorship of events such as trade fairs and stands.
• Traditional advertising by means of brochures, cards, signs and billboards.

7. Marketing Mix of U-Haul

7.1. Product

U-Haul has grown to become the company with the fleet, rent larger. These are some of the most popular services that the company offers in addition to your rental moving truck:

• Workforce in motion.
• Moving supplies.
• Trailers and Trailer car.
• Container U-Box.
• Storage solutions.
• Hitches trailer.
• Insurance SafeMove.
• Roadside assistance.

7.2. Price

The prices offered by the company may vary depending on the size of the transport that the client requires. Prices range from $ 20 onwards, taking into account the destination to go the user.

The rates of the trucks will also vary, depending on the rental period and the charge per mile. Are determined by factors such as: Size of the vehicle, starting point, destination, and date of the move.

Some of the prices established are: 

• Truck 10'): $19.95 (Price per day) – Plus $0.79 per mile.
• Load trailer 4 'x 8' Trailer: $14.95.
• Dolly: Tow Dolly : $44.95.

7.3. Place

The company operates a network of more than 21 thousand locations of service in all 50 states of the united States and 10 canadian provinces. Includes more than 1700 retail stores mover operated by the company and around 20 thousand independent distributors.

7.4. Promotion

The company uses advertising visual that carry the majority of their trucks on the side and rear. Also done advertising by means of the social networks and search engines such as Google. This directs customers to the Company website where you can check the deals of the month.

8. Competitors of U-Haul

8.1. Penske Truck Leasing

Penske Truck Leasing Co, is a joint venture of Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and Mitsui & Co. It has its headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania. The company was founded by Roger Penske on December 1, 1969.

The company serves customers in America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Among its services is the lease of commercial trucks, full-service fleet maintenance truck and the sale of used trucks. The company operates and maintains a fleet of more than 300 thousand vehicles.

8.2. Ryder

Ryder it is an american company, transportation and logistics. It is known for its fleet of commercial trucks rental.

Ryder specializes in fleet management, the management of the supply chain management and dedicated transport. It also offers full-service lease, rental and maintenance, sale of used vehicles, transportation management, professional drivers, compliance, e-commerce and delivery services last mile.

Ryder operates in North America and the United Kingdom. It has its headquarters in Miami, Florida.

8.3. Enterprise Rent - A-Car

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a rental car agency u.s. with headquarters in Clayton, Missouri. Enterprise is the flagship brand of Enterprise Holdings, which also owns other agencies, including Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental.

In addition to the rent-a-car, Enterprise Holdings, it also sells other services that include: fleet management business, the sale of used cars and rental operations of commercial trucks.

9. Conclusion

Since 1945, U-Haul has been serving the homes and businesses with the rental service and support on transfers or removals. Like many others, the concept of the business was generated based on solving a need. 

The Company rents trucks, vans and trailers moving for people who prefer to do the work themselves but do not have the necessary equipment. U-Haul has become popular for people who do not want to pay high prices for a moving service professional.