U-Haul “8 for 80” Dealer Series
In celebration of our 80th anniversary in 2025, we are highlighting eight small businesses serving as U-Haul dealers who have teamed with us to bring DIY moving products and services to their communities. These dealers may be old or new, have a fun story, a unique location, or just be in an interesting line of work. Enjoy!
Welcome to Craig, Alaska.
Population: 1,043 … give or take a few.
Yes, even on remote islands in southern Alaska, customers can still find U-Haul trucks for rent, even when they have to be ferried back and forth to the mainland.
That’s the beauty of offering more than 24,000 rental locations in North America, including approximately 22,000 independent dealers. U-Haul dots virtually every corner of the map across two countries, delivering affordable and accessible residential mobility to the masses.
The Shop, a local auto repair facility, recently became the first U-Haul dealer on Prince of Wales Island in over 10 years.
Island Life in Alaska
Craig is a close-knit community and the largest town on Prince of Wales Island, located west of the British Columbia border and south of Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. It is accessible only by ferry or float plane.
The Inter-Island Ferry runs every day, weather permitting, and is the most common mode of transportation to the island. Because of the remoteness, one could imagine how difficult it may be to rent a truck or trailer, or acquire moving supplies, once there. At least until now.
“It’s surprising how often the need pops up for a trailer last minute,” said Kat Cinkovich, co-owner of The Shop. “We have some pretty unique businesses here, including fisheries that sometimes require immediate transport. We are excited to be able to provide more than one service that can make peoples’ lives easier.”
Craig is full of good people who care about their neighbors, love the outdoors, and look out for wildlife, Cinkovich noted.
“The views are out of this world,” she added. “We even get the northern lights from time to time.”
No Easy Journey
The Shop’s first U-Haul truck traveled 24 hours and took two separate ferry rides to get to Craig so the locals on Prince of Wales Island would have affordable mobility services.
“Living in one of the most remote regions in Alaska can make moving tough, but we know that partnering with the right business can really make an impact. We’ve done just that,” said Jeff Norris, U-Haul area field manager.
“We are so excited to partner with The Shop because they really care about helping the community.”
This is the first blog in the “8 for 80” Dealer Series. Continue visiting myuhaulstory.com for more posts.
U-Haul Dealer Network
Independent dealers have been the backbone of the U-Haul service model since 1945, accounting for almost 90% of all network rental locations.
Do you own a small business that could benefit from a supplemental income stream while meeting a basic need for your neighbors and community? If so, consider partnering with U-Haul as a dealer and start earning commissions from rental transactions at your site. Learn more at uhaul.com/dealer.
