Team Hilldrup Participates in ATA’s MSC Call on Washington Event
Our team participated in the American Trucking Association’s Moving & Storage Conference in D.C. to learn, network and promote legislation.
As a leader in the moving, storage and logistics industry who serves the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Hilldrup recently had the unique opportunity to attend the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Moving & Storage Conference (MSC) Call on Washington meeting on Capitol Hill. From September 19 – 20, we attended the meeting portion which took place at the ATA office in the Washington Navy Yard. Later, on the 21st, we joined fellow industry partners in lobbying with legislators on a number of topics and concerns related to the industry, its professionals and how we can continue to best serve clients, particularly those within the Department of Defense (DOD).
Hilldrup’s Jordan McDaniel Hinkebein, Marketing Director; Dalton Anderson, Quality Manager; Tim Licata, Director, Operations – Stafford; and Rodney Ortiz, Sr. Director, Operations – Dulles & Forestville, each participated. Jordan serves on the ATA’s MSC Board of Directors, while Dalton, Tim and Rodney each recently became members of the MSC’s 2022 – 2023 Leaders Program. Together, we joined over 50 leaders from various moving and storage companies throughout the U.S. to represent the industry. Not only was Hilldrup present to learn and network, but there was plenty of business to take care of too!
Namely, Hilldrup helped speak on three major topics that our organization, and our industry, face:
- Fighting Rogue Operations / Moving Fraud,
- Protecting Independent Contracts, and
- Improving Access to DOD facilities
As shared by the MSC, the moving industry generates over $90 billion each year in economic output and employs nearly 500,000 Americans. There’s no doubt that the moving and storage industry is an essential service – one that millions of families and individuals depend on during what can be one of the most stressful times in their lives: relocating.
Defending and promoting legislation that protects the reputation of companies, like Hilldrup, that uphold the highest levels of integrity to its professionals, customers and clients is essential for our industry to continue thriving. On the talking point of fighting rogue movers and fraudulent moving activity, attendees asked Congress to support reputable moving companies as they continue to fight such criminal activity through continued investigations and prosecutions, while protecting consumers.
In addition, we know that our success each day wouldn’t be possible without the work of independent contractors, particularly during peak moving season. During the event, moving companies urged Congress to reject the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and other policy proposals that would threaten the livelihood and profession of independent contractors. Should the PRO Act be enacted, these workers would have to forfeit their careers or lose their unique privileges in becoming an employee driver with a stricter schedule.
Finally, our DOD clients are some of our most critical customers – serving those who protect our nation is an honor, and making sure their goods and valuables arrive safely and on-time to their destination is imperative. This is why Hilldrup joined our colleagues in requesting that Congress include defense base access language in legislation that would bring a level of normalization to accessing military bases during a move, for both the driver and service team, without impacting base security.
The unique needs of our clients and customers are always evolving, so it was critical for Hilldrup to speak on these topics and share how these challenges and solutions are timely.
We can’t thank Jordan, Dalton, and Rodney enough for representing Hilldrup and bringing their expertise and insight to Washington! Thank you to all who made this event – and its success – possible!
Tim Licata, Director, Operations – Stafford; Rodney Ortiz, Sr. Director, Operations – Dulles & Forestville; and Dalton Anderson, Quality Manager (pictured left to right) were on-site at Capitol Hill to represent the moving and storage industry and speak to legislation that would support our professionals and goals as an essential service throughout the U.S. and beyond.
Team Hilldrup meets with U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (third from left) and colleagues as part of the ATA’s MSC Call on Washington meeting on Capitol Hill.
Thank you to Jordan McDaniel Hinkebein, Marketing Director; Dalton Anderson, Quality Manager; Tim Licata, Director, Operations – Stafford; and Rodney Ortiz, Sr. Director, Operations – Dulles & Forestville, who participated in the ATA’s MSC Conference event in Washington, D.C. The event brought over 50 professionals, from a number of prestigious moving and storage companies, to network, learn and promote legislation in support of our industry.
We loved being able to network, learn and advocate for our industry alongside our colleagues in the nation’s capital! Thank you to all who made this event possible!
