Interstate Van Lines
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Moving and storage |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Founder | Arthur E. Morrissette |
| Headquarters | Springfield , United States |
Area served | United States (domestic and international moving and logistics) |
Key people | Arthur E. "Buddy" Morrissette Jr., John D. "JD" Morrissette (presidents) |
| Products | Storage and transportation solutions |
Number of employees | 250 full-time, 140 seasonal (as of 2015) |
| Parent | Interstate Group Holdings, Inc. |
Interstate Van Lines is a privately held American moving company based in Springfield, Virginia. It specializes in storage and transportation solutions for business and government sectors, counting clients such as AOL, Hewlett-Packard, and the United States military among its portfolio. Operating as a division of Interstate Group Holdings, Inc., it stands as the largest entity within a portfolio of domestic and international moving and logistics firms owned by the parent corporation.
History
The company was established in 1943 by Arthur E. Morrissette, who launched the business with a $450 investment under the name Ace Van & Storage, initially serving the southeastern Washington, D.C. area. In 1967, the firm adopted the Interstate Van Lines name along with its distinctive "Top Hat" emblem. Morrissette, inventor of the patented household goods protection system "UltraPak," acted as the company’s spokesperson for nearly thirty years before stepping down in 1993.
Leadership has remained within the Morrissette family, with Arthur E. "Buddy" Morrissette Jr. and John D. "JD" Morrissette both holding presidential roles. After relocating to Springfield, Virginia, in 1971, Interstate expanded its reach beyond its original East Coast market.
In 1998, the company won a $40.7 million contract from the Military Traffic Management Command and acquired Global Van Lines, headquartered in Orange, which helped increase annual revenue to around $120 million. Global Van Lines primarily served West Coast markets but was sold off in 2000 following bankruptcy proceedings.
Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicates that between 1999 and 2011, Interstate’s fleet size decreased from 225 to 74 power units. The company also faced a legal setback in 2010 when it was ordered to pay substantial damages related to wrongful prosecution of a former employee.
By 2015, Interstate Group had restructured as a holding company comprising various divisions including Interstate Van Lines. Over its 72-year history, the group consistently achieved profitability with net margins ranging from 5% to 10% on annual revenues between $87 million and $100 million. The workforce included about 250 full-time employees and an additional 140 seasonal workers, operating a fleet of roughly 300 trucks and serving close to 20,000 customers each year.
Recognition
On December 22, 2010, Interstate obtained accreditation from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the IMAGE program for implementing effective measures to prevent illegal hiring practices; at that time, over 100 companies participated in this initiative. The company had already instituted mandatory drug urine testing protocols as early as 1984.
In 2009, Interstate earned its eighth National Defense Transportation Quality Award for efficiently managing Department of Defense personnel relocations in the Puget Sound region, where it coordinated about 500 moves during 2008. Additionally, it received the first-ever Independent Mover of the Year Award from the American Moving & Storage Association in 2007.
Located in Springfield, Interstate's headquarters have also been venues for Republican political events. The company hosted campaign rallies for GOP presidential candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin in 2008 as well as Bob Dole in 1996.