U-Haul numbers may bode well for Panhandle economy
More people moving in than out, vendor says
By George Ledbetter, Chadron Record editor | Monday, July 13, 2009
CHADRON, Neb. -- It may not rank highly as a financial bellwether, but local U-Haul rental dealer Paris Fisher says his business over the past few months could have positive implications for the local economy.
“We have actually had more trucks and trailers come in this year than go out,” Fisher said last week. “It seems we are having more people move into the area than out. It’s usually stable, but we have noticed more incoming volume this year than we ever have.”
Fisher, who has operated the U-Haul franchise as a sideline to his auto sales business in downtown Chadron for almost five years, was recently ranked first in the company among dealers of his size and in the top 100 U-Haul dealers nationwide.
The company issues the rankings monthly, based on a combination of customer service, business volume and other factors, Fisher said. His national ranking in May was 43rd. “It’s the fourth or fifth time we have been in the top 100 in the country,” he said.
May’s rental business was “pretty good both in and out,” Fisher said.
The trend of more incoming trucks started to become noticeable around December; it hasn’t been entirely consistent since then but remains positive overall, Fisher said.
He can even see the difference, as his lot starts to fill up with vehicles. “We ended up with more trucks than we can rent out,” he said. “We have had to send some to other communities.”
Because most of the U-Haul business is people moving households, Fisher figures that means more people are moving into the area, and he has been paying attention to where they come from. “We are receiving more business from the Upper Midwest -- Indiana, Illinois, Michigan. We have had a lot more moving in from those areas than from California.”
“We talk to people and ask them why” they are moving here, Fisher said. “A lot of them said they took a job here and maybe its not as good as they had, but they always comment on the cost of living and say they love the area.”
The numbers aren’t huge, Fisher acknowledges, but he still thinks they may be significant. “I don’t know that it’s a harbinger of great prosperity for Chadron,” he said. “It’s not been a flood, it’s been a trickle; but you have to start someplace.”
More people moving in than out, vendor says
By George Ledbetter, Chadron Record editor | Monday, July 13, 2009
CHADRON, Neb. -- It may not rank highly as a financial bellwether, but local U-Haul rental dealer Paris Fisher says his business over the past few months could have positive implications for the local economy.
“We have actually had more trucks and trailers come in this year than go out,” Fisher said last week. “It seems we are having more people move into the area than out. It’s usually stable, but we have noticed more incoming volume this year than we ever have.”
Fisher, who has operated the U-Haul franchise as a sideline to his auto sales business in downtown Chadron for almost five years, was recently ranked first in the company among dealers of his size and in the top 100 U-Haul dealers nationwide.
The company issues the rankings monthly, based on a combination of customer service, business volume and other factors, Fisher said. His national ranking in May was 43rd. “It’s the fourth or fifth time we have been in the top 100 in the country,” he said.
May’s rental business was “pretty good both in and out,” Fisher said.
The trend of more incoming trucks started to become noticeable around December; it hasn’t been entirely consistent since then but remains positive overall, Fisher said.
He can even see the difference, as his lot starts to fill up with vehicles. “We ended up with more trucks than we can rent out,” he said. “We have had to send some to other communities.”
Because most of the U-Haul business is people moving households, Fisher figures that means more people are moving into the area, and he has been paying attention to where they come from. “We are receiving more business from the Upper Midwest -- Indiana, Illinois, Michigan. We have had a lot more moving in from those areas than from California.”
“We talk to people and ask them why” they are moving here, Fisher said. “A lot of them said they took a job here and maybe its not as good as they had, but they always comment on the cost of living and say they love the area.”
The numbers aren’t huge, Fisher acknowledges, but he still thinks they may be significant. “I don’t know that it’s a harbinger of great prosperity for Chadron,” he said. “It’s not been a flood, it’s been a trickle; but you have to start someplace.”
