U-Haul® will symbolically kick off “moving season” on Friday with the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
The ceremony will also mark the start of a special summer for the do-it-yourself moving and self-storage leader, which is celebrating 80 years of empowering American families with residential mobility.
Memorial Day weekend begins a busy three-and-a-half month stretch through Labor Day when nearly half of all residential moves in the U.S. occur each year.
That means lots of reliable U-Haul trucks and trailers on the roads, and U-Haul teams and local dealers at more than 24,000 rental locations across the U.S. and Canada working to meet the mobility needs of millions of customers.
“Moving can be a stressful life event, and for 80 years our job has been to make people’s lives easier through accessibility, affordability and support,” said Navy veteran and U-Haul Co. of Manhattan/Bronx president Jeff Sonberg, who will ring the closing bell. “We welcome the chance to care for every customer who needs U-Haul services.
“It’s exciting to ring the bell on another moving season,” Sonberg added. “To do so alongside fellow veterans and Gold Star families just before Memorial Day is an honor.”
Commitment to Veterans
U-Haul was founded by a WWII Navy veteran and his wife in 1945, with the first one-way trailers being available to customers on or about Independence Day of that year.
The Company’s commitment to veterans is as prevalent today as it was then. Recognized consistently as a top veteran-friendly employer, U-Haul commits a substantial portion of its community work toward organizations that honor and address the needs of veterans.
U-Haul is a founding sponsor of the 20th annual National Memorial Day Parade and will march again on Monday in Washington, D.C., to salute and remember our fallen heroes and the families that they left behind.
Sonberg will be joined on the NYSE floor by Gold Star family members; active-duty military members; Army, Navy and Marine Corps veterans; veteran service representatives of the USO, United War Veterans Council, and Achilles International; and FDNY veterans and their veteran liaison.
Other distinguished U-Haul members will include Nick Marra, Area District Vice President of the New York City metro area; Allan Cotto, U-Haul Co. of Northern New Jersey president; Felicia Roberts, U-Haul Co. of North Central New Jersey president; Sebastien Reyes, President of A&M Associates, the U-Haul in-house advertising and marketing team; Ashleigh Wagner, Community Relations manager; and Robert Price, Army veteran and customer service rep.
Tea and The Tribute Journey
Prior to the May 23 closing bell, U-Haul will help put on The Tribute Journey Fleet Week Afternoon Tea from 1-3 p.m. at the NYSE.
The tea returns to New York City during Fleet Week (May 21-27) for the first time since the COVID pandemic, honoring Gold Star families, senior officers, veterans, veteran service representatives, and the Sea Services.
Kathryn Cross, U.S. Navy Gold Star Mother, artist and Tribute Journey founder, has partnered with U-Haul since 2009. Tribute Journeys are expressions of appreciation for current service members and veterans through the delivery of custom-made greeting cards. Cross creates the illustrations and poetic verses, and the cards are printed at U-Haul International headquarters in Phoenix, Ariz.
U-Haul produced45,000 Memorial Day Tribute Journey greeting cards this year that will be delivered to VA hospitals in 49 states before Memorial Day.
“Our Tribute Journey Fleet Week Afternoon Tea provides an opportunity for Gold Star parents and families to unite with the military’s most senior officers and join together without a schedule, ceremony or media to acknowledge the lives dedicated to service of our country,” Cross said. “It’s a unique opportunity that allows us nobility and dignity. Everyone deserves to recognize and reflect on the close bond linking our military families.”
Where are People Moving?
What will be the top origins and destinations of U-Haul customers this moving season? Migration trends always pique the public’s interest.
One-way truck, trailer and U-Box® transactions determine the leading growth states, provinces, metros, and cities that U-Haul announces at the end of each calendar year.
The U-Haul Growth Index recapping 2024 moves revealed South Carolina was the leading growth state with the largest gain of arrivals over departures. Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee were top five growth states. California had the biggest net loss of one-way movers, while Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania ranked among the last five states for growth.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area was the No. 1 growth metro, and Ocala (Fla.) was the leading U.S. city for in-migration. Alberta and Calgary topped the U-Haul growth rankings for provinces and cities in Canada, respectively.
Stay tuned for 2025 updates and be sure to check your neighborhood to see if the U-Haul trucks are coming or going.
