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!
Many significant events occurred in 1989: George H. W. Bush became the 41st President of the U.S.; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Dead Poets Society, and Batman premiered at movie theaters; Wayne Gretzky became the NHL’s all-time leading scorer; the Berlin Wall came down; and JPowers Auto became a U-Haul dealer.
Well, perhaps that last one isn’t as well known on the world stage. But in Buckeye, Ariz., the westernmost suburb of metro Phoenix, it was a big deal. Locals there had a friendly small business they could turn to for dependable truck and trailer rentals over the next 36 years … and counting.
JPowers Auto is a gas station at 223 E. Monroe Ave. owned by John Powers. It has been part of the U-Haul Dealer Network across a section of five decades.
The Secret Sauce
Powers has been a staple of the Buckeye community throughout that time, providing great service as everyone’s U-Haul contact in town.
“My U-Haul dealership is often a well-known point of contact in the neighborhood,” Powers noted. “I engage with the community, understand local needs, and provide reliable service, fostering a sense of connection and trust.”
Being a small-business owner for 36 years hasn’t always been easy, but the supplemental income from his customers’ U-Haul rental transactions has made the difficult times more sustainable.
“From the market crash in 2008 through 2012, those were some hard years,” he said. “But with the continued help of the community, we were able to stay on our feet.”
Blast From the Past
Before becoming a U-Haul dealer, JPowers Auto was the go-to mechanic shop. Until the mid-90s, both Powers and his father were helping their customers with both their moving and auto needs.
As Buckeye grew from 2,200 residents to more than 100,000, they decided to transition to strictly being a U-Haul dealer and gas station.
“John has refined how to efficiently run a U-Haul dealership alongside his core business,” said Daniel Tennyson, U-Haul area field manager who oversees and lends support to the JPowers Auto affiliation. “Throughout the area, many business owners have known John and his family for decades. They always call him the town’s ‘U-Haul guy.’”
Added Powers: “Watching my business and U-Haul grow and develop since the 1980s has been unique. Going from four-speed transmissions and no power steering to the trucks that U-Haul has today … they have come a long way.”
Service Stations and U-Haul
Until U-Haul debuted its first owned-and-operated self-storage center in 1974, the U-Haul Dealer Network was the only way customers had access to U-Haul trucks, trailers and moving supplies. Most of the earliest U-Haul dealers were gas stations, and many still are today.
Due to the sheer volume of service stations, as well as their locations along heavily traveled highways and near residential areas, it has always made good business sense for them to partner with U-Haul. This synergistic alliance offers their large customer bases easy access to shared-use services like U-Haul truck sharing for in-town or one-way rentals.
“JPowers Auto and other service stations are well-positioned to act as U-Haul dealers because they naturally align with what U-Haul needs — visibility, space and customer flow,” Tennyson said.
“Staying in touch with the community and treating people the way I like to be treated has kept us in business for over 30 years,” Powers explained.
This is the second 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.
