History

History  

UniGroup, founded in 1988, is a $1.5 billion transportation company and the parent company of United Van Lines, the nation’s leading corporate mover, and Mayflower Transit, the most well-known name in the moving industry. Between the two van lines, UniGroup handles one in three professional interstate moves.  

UniGroup is also the parent company of UniGroup Worldwide and other transportation-related brands, including UniGroup Logistics; Allegiant Move Management, a transportation management company for corporate and government accounts; and Trans Advantage, which sells and finances rolling stock and sells moving supplies.  

UniGroup, headquartered in suburban St. Louis, is owned exclusively by active agents of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, and senior management of the UniGroup companies. In 2018, UniGroup became a Missouri cooperative (co-op) to even better serve its agents and customers via centralized support functions; products and services; purchasing power; information networks; and other benefits.  

Charles W. McDaniel is chairperson of the UniGroup Board of Directors and Jason Mills is the president and CEO of UniGroup.  

Key Dates  

The depth of UniGroup’s history lies in its people and agent network, its culture and its unique way of doing business. For decades, the people who work for UniGroup subsidiaries have provided professional, knowledgeable and courteous customer service. This legacy continues today as the company strives to remain an industry leader and provide innovative tools and moving services to its customers.  

1920s 

Newly paved roads made transporting customers’ belongings easier. United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit began developing uniform standards of performance for the rapidly emerging group of independent movers eager to join the networks. The van lines quickly gained recognition for providing safe “door-to-door” pickup and delivery. 

1950s-1960s 

United Van Lines International and Mayflower Transit International were formed to support America’s government and military activities throughout the world. Mayflower was the first van line to equip its long-distance moving vans with “air-ride” suspension systems and RCA mobile radios. It was also the first to be licensed by the FCC for nationwide mobile communications.  

1970s 

United Van Lines introduced an online system to control its shipments and vans, linked directly to its central computer. Mayflower introduced its fuel squeeze system to help reduce fuel consumption.  

Early-mid 1980s 

United’s Special Commodities Fleet was inaugurated and the first freight forwarder subsidiary was introduced. United took an industry leadership role by implementing a comprehensive, mandatory drug testing program for its van operators.  

1988  

UniGroup, Inc., was formed to combine and use “back office” support functions for all its operating companies.  

1989  

Mayflower became the first U.S. household goods carrier to establish a presence in Eastern Europe and delivered its first household goods shipment to Moscow.  

1991  

UniGroup/United was listed as one of the 100 most effective users of information systems in the United States by Computerworld magazine. The company is ranked sixth nationally among transportation companies.  

1995  

UniGroup acquired Mayflower Transit, the most recognized name in moving and the third-largest mover in the United States. Through the UniGroup structure, Mayflower operated as a sister company of United Van Lines. Today, the two van lines continue to actively compete for business in the marketplace, while both receiving support services from UniGroup. The acquisition made UniGroup the nation’s largest household goods moving organization.  

1996  

UniGroup consolidated the two international operating companies to create one of the world’s largest specialized moving and freight forwarding companies, UniGroup Worldwide.  

Early 2000s  

The special products division was created for UniGroup van lines’ non-household goods activities. 

2011  

UniGroup introduced a new global logistics brand called UniGroup Worldwide Logistics, now known as UniGroup Logistics. Building on the experience United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit had as trusted, specialized transportation and 3PL service providers for more than 50 years, it leveraged the assets of the van lines and the relationships with third-party transportation providers. This way, UniGroup Logistics service could better customize global supply chain solutions for its customers at a competitive price. Services included truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, specialty transportation, freight forwarding, distribution services, project management, IT relocations and third-party logistics.  

Due to the extensive corporate client growth in the United Kingdom, UniGroup Worldwide opened its London service center to allow for regular communication and availability of service to our clients in this region.  

United and Mayflower unveiled mobile websites to provide customers with a convenient way to request a moving quote, contact a representative directly, track a shipment and find moving tips to plan their move.  

UniGroup introduced Quotes-To-Go®, its proprietary moving quote tool. This one-of-a-kind, web-based tool allowed sales representatives to offer the moving public added convenience through real-time pricing, side-by-side moving quote comparisons and e-acceptance so they could start move process without printed paperwork.  

2013  

To communicate the expansion of its service offerings while providing a seamless global experience, the UniGroup companies created a consistent look and logo to visually depict the UniGroup network.  

2018  

In February 2018, UniGroup shareholders voted to become a cooperative (co-op). This allowed UniGroup to better serve its agents and customers by providing centralized support functions, products and services, buying power, information networks, and other benefits through UniGroup.