Introduction
Running an independent moving company in today’s market is not for the faint of heart. Between competing with van line giants, keeping crews happy, and balancing customer demands with razor-thin margins, owners are constantly searching for proven strategies that actually work.
At the Moving Titan Retreat in Tampa, Florida, Movified host Mark Hirschi sat down with Steve Kuhn, co-founder of JK Moving and now the driving force behind MG Moving Services. Steve has seen both sides of the industry—from launching a startup mover to running one of the largest independents in the country—and he didn’t hold back when sharing what it takes to thrive without a van line.
In this article, we’ll unpack Steve’s five rules for building an independent moving company that grows with integrity, supports its people, and delivers top-tier customer experiences. Whether you’re a small-town mover or running a $10M operation, these lessons cut across size and market.
“Find the right people—and then trust them.” — Steve Kuhn
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Independence scales when you invest in the right people and remove trust-killing restrictions.
- Affiliate relationships beat agency agreements for flexibility, transparency, and aligned incentives.
- Consistency wins long-distance business: pack-load-haul continuity is a premium service.
- Customer-first culture drives everything: when relationships are authentic, execution improves.
Table of Contents
Why Independence Wins in 2025
The moving industry is evolving. Traditional van line networks, once the backbone of long-distance relocation, face financial strain, shifting rules, and increased customer dissatisfaction. For many owners, tying themselves to these structures has created dependency instead of growth.
An independent moving company thrives by:
- Owning local relationships. Decisions are made close to the customer, not in a corporate office.
- Flexibility in partnerships. Independents can build affiliate networks that match their standards.
- Keeping margins healthy. Instead of splitting percentages with a central office, independents reinvest locally.
Steve Kuhn’s career shows the power of this model. By focusing on grassroots growth, transparent partnerships, and customer trust, he built companies that didn’t just survive—they reshaped expectations for what moving could look like.
Steve Kuhn’s 5 Rules for Independent Moving Company Success
Rule #1: Outwork Everyone—But Protect Balance
Steve’s mother told him early: “If you’re a Kuhn, nobody outworks you.” That mindset shaped his work ethic and his company’s growth.
But there’s a warning embedded in the rule: hustle without balance is a trap. Owners need to push hard, but they also must build systems that allow employees—and themselves—to thrive long-term.
Practical steps:
- Reward progress, not just hours.
- Schedule company-wide huddles to celebrate wins.
Automate repetitive tasks (dispatch alerts, survey confirmations, payroll).
Rule #2: Find the Right People
Growth hinges on who’s on the bus. Steve stresses the non-negotiable importance of hiring well. A moving company with average people will forever struggle with reputation, claims, and culture.
What to look for:
- Integrity over experience—skills can be trained, ethics can’t.
- Adaptability and eagerness to learn.
- A natural orientation toward service.
Pro tip: Design interviews around role-play. Ask applicants how they’d handle an upset customer or a heavy piano move.
Rule #3: Trust the People You Hire
This is where most owners fail. They hire good people, then cage them in with overbearing rules.
Steve’s view: policies designed to control one bad actor usually strangle the 99% of employees who want to do a great job. Trusting staff communicates respect and responsibility.
Implementation ideas:
- Replace blanket restrictions with “owner’s intent” guidelines.
- Empower crews with decision rights for small-dollar situations (<$200 claims).
- Track performance, but resist micromanagement.
“A lack of trust from ownership kills culture faster than anything else.” — Steve Kuhn
Rule #4: Stay Independent and Strategic
Steve is blunt: he has no interest in van line agreements. He sees them as restrictive, one-sided, and reactive to crises.
Independents, by contrast, can:
- Build peer-to-peer affiliate relationships with transparent pricing.
- Offer pack-load-haul continuity (same crew from origin to destination).
- Keep control of their customer experience end-to-end.
Related subheading: Independent moving company vs. van line contracts
Instead of funneling tonnage through a centralized system, independents can design flexible partnerships that align directly with their growth goals.
Rule #5: Relationships Matter More Than Contracts
For Steve, relationships are the secret weapon.
If he has a critical delivery next week in another market, he doesn’t rely on a corporate contract. He calls a trusted owner, someone he’s built a real relationship with. That owner ensures the best crew shows up, because there’s mutual respect and shared accountability.
How to build affiliate power:
- Map 3–5 trusted partners in every major market.
- Share SOPs and pricing transparency.
- Schedule quarterly check-ins to strengthen the bond.
- Recognize and reward affiliates who over-deliver.
This philosophy flips the traditional agency model: instead of being forced into relationships, independents choose their partners based on trust and quality.
How to Execute the Independent Model Day-to-Day
Turning principles into practice takes structure. Here’s how an independent moving company can operationalize Steve’s rules.
Sales & Scoping: Sell Crew Continuity
- Market crew consistency as a premium differentiator.
- Offer virtual surveys to speed up quotes.
- Promise only what dispatch can support.
Training: Speed to Competence
- Use short online modules (20–30 minutes each).
- Pair new hires with mentors.
- Track pass rates and practical skills before deployment.
Dispatch & Capacity: Protect Customer Windows
- Maintain a 10–15% buffer for last-minute changes.
- Keep a partner matrix by market with live updates on capacity.
- Use standardized affiliate handoff packets for seamless jobs.
Billing, Claims & Feedback: Keep Trust Compounding
- Provide clear, itemized invoices.
- Triage claims in under 24 hours.
- Collect reviews within 48 hours to capture goodwill.
Suggested image: Workflow diagram showing “Sales → Training → Dispatch → Billing → Customer Feedback.”
Problem–Solution: Replacing Van Line Dependence with Affiliate Power
Problem: Van line agreements often shift policies to suit headquarters. Agents bear the cost, lose flexibility, and risk disappointing customers.
Solution: Build an affiliate network.
- Identify aligned operators.
- Codify expectations with SOPs and pricing.
- Execute a pilot job, then expand.
- Review quarterly to refine partnerships.
Case example: A national account relocation required delivery on a precise date. Instead of routing through a van line, the sending mover called a trusted affiliate, sent a full packet with scope and customer notes, and coordinated a crew pre-brief. Result: on-time service, no claims, and a repeat customer.
“Relationships carry more weight than money.” — Steve Kuhn
Why Choose Movified
Movified isn’t just a podcast—it’s an insider hub built for movers by movers. Hosted by Mark Hirschi, who runs one of Western Canada’s oldest moving companies, Movified brings credibility and candid stories you won’t find anywhere else.
Why movers trust us:
- Decades of first-hand ownership experience.
- Guests like Steve Kuhn who shaped industry history.
- Practical templates, SOPs, and checklists you can plug into your business.
Conclusion
An independent moving company can absolutely scale in today’s industry—but only with the right foundations. Steve Kuhn’s five rules—work ethic, people, trust, independence, and relationships—offer a blueprint that balances culture and customer experience with growth and profitability.
The challenge is putting those rules into daily practice. By adopting crew continuity, training systems, affiliate partnerships, and customer-first thinking, independents can carve out their place without sacrificing autonomy.
“It’s all about the customer. There’s nothing else.” — Mark Hirschi
Meet The Host
Mark Hirschi is the founder and host of Movified. With over a decade in the moving and storage industry, Mark combines real-world leadership experience with a passion for mentorship and elevating industry standards.
