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March 8, 2000 10:54 AM, EST

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. — Movers have decided to take action to stem the tide of Internet-based operations taking a slice out of their household goods hauling business.

The board of the American Moving and Storage Association, meeting for its annual convention, Feb. 24 to 28, voted to establish a committee to look at the competitive threat posed by online businesses. Also, the organization’s leaders were given free reign to continue to lobby federal regulators to make sure non-traditional competitors meet the same requirements as movers.

Class I carriers, such as United Van Lines, Wheaton World-Wide and Nilson Van Lines, had revenue of $4.05 billion in 1998, the latest figure available from AMSA. Private household and corporate moves accounted for 84.5% of business and government agencies 15.5% in 1998.

The moving industry is concerned about the rising competition it faces on the Internet – from less-than-truckload companies picking up trailers that consumers have loaded themselves by using Web sites that take a cut from a mover’s payment in return for business leads. Consolidated Freightways has established CFMovesU.com within the past year, for example, and upstart Movenet.com is set to begin in March.

For the full story, see the Mar. 6 print edition of Transport Topics. .