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Edition 30/ Oct-Dec <strong>2021</strong><br />

<strong>Quarterly</strong><br />

Inside This Issue<br />

Marketing ideas<br />

Employee Spotlight<br />

Winterizing Your Trucks<br />

Recipes, and MORE!


Through superior customer service and<br />

quality innovative products, On The Move<br />

provides their Licensees the ability to add<br />

value and profits to their business.<br />

Table of Contents<br />

Editor’s Letter / Letter to the Editor / Events............................................................... 3<br />

On The Move News...................................................................................................... 4<br />

New Trucks .................................................................................................................. 6<br />

Employee Spotlight...................................................................................................... 8<br />

Getting Property Ready for the Winter...................................................................... 10<br />

New Product Announcement..................................................................................... 12<br />

Winter Prep Checklist................................................................................................. 14<br />

Featured Vehicles....................................................................................................... 16<br />

Net Operating Income................................................................................................ 17<br />

Tips For Packing Your Moving Truck........................................................................... 18<br />

On The Move Representation at SSA Tradeshow....................................................... 20<br />

Catalytic Converter Thefts.......................................................................................... 22<br />

Cartoon...................................................................................................................... 23<br />

Recipes....................................................................................................................... 24<br />

Trucks of the Quarter................................................................................................. 26<br />

Resource Guide.......................................................................................................... 31<br />

Name Title E-mail<br />

Maury Westerdale Chairman of the Board info@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Susan Parra CEO/President susan@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Brian Obeck CFO bobeck@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Sales Team<br />

CJ Stratte Marketing Director cj@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Daniel Garza National Sales Manager daniel@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Tim Moranz Specialty Vehicle Manager tim@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Will Winslett Pre-Owned Vehicle Manager wwinslett@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

David Nasis Sr. Account Executive david@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Michael Woolard Sr. Account Executive m.woolard@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Insurance Agency<br />

Billy Parra Agency Director bparra@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Jacquelyn Nash Sr. Account Executive jnash@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Angie Reese Administrative Executive areese@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

David “Doc” Vaughn Customer Service Executive dvaughn@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Derek Gariss Sr. Broker derek@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Kurt Varela Account Executive kvarela@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Admin Team<br />

Rebecca Johnson Controller rjohnson@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Lexie Rose Staff Accountant lrose@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Karen Lunski Customer Service Director karen@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Noemi Farias Title and Registration Associate noemi@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Juan Castillo Warehouse Manager Juan@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

2 | On The Move


Editor’s letter<br />

The Holiday season has snuck up on us once again! We wish you and your family a Happy<br />

Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, and a Merry Christmas! Make sure to look for your<br />

planners that will be arriving in the mail before Thanksgiving.<br />

So much is going on with us at On The Move, it is hard to believe what all has been<br />

accomplished this year. We went from planning on attending zero events to twenty three.<br />

We have attended the ISS World Expo, SSA Fall Conference and several state association<br />

events are still on the horizon along with the National Association of Realtor show in San<br />

Diego. Make sure to stop by our booths or tables to learn more about all of our new<br />

programs and products.<br />

Additionally, our agency has rebranded their logo colors and is about to launch their<br />

completely brand new website. Simultaneously, they have launched their RV/Boat<br />

Deductible Reimbursement program, SecureOutdoor. Please reach out to them to learn<br />

more!<br />

If you would like to be featured in our magazine, advertise or submit articles, please let me<br />

know by emailing me at cj@onthemovetrucks.com or calling me at 800-645-9949.<br />

Sincerely,<br />

CJ Stratte, Marketing Director, On The Move, Inc.<br />

Events<br />

SHOW DATES LOCATION<br />

TXSSA Big Ideas Expo Oct - 3-5 San Antonio, TX<br />

Tom Ferry Summit Oct 5-7 Dallas, TX<br />

NJSSA and PASSA conference Oct 7-8 Manheim, PA<br />

TNSSA Conference Oct 12-13 Knoxville, TN<br />

NYSSA show Oct 13-14 Tarrytown, NY<br />

Southeastern SSA Oct 25-27 Alpharetta, GA<br />

Greatlakes SSA Oct 26-27 Chicago, IL<br />

Inman Oct 27-28 Vegas, NV<br />

OKSSA Nov 2 Tulsa, OK<br />

CJ Stratte, Marketing Director<br />

On The Move, Inc.<br />

P: 800-645-9949<br />

C: 210-378-8122<br />

28825 IH-10 W<br />

Boerne, TX 78006<br />

MDSSA and VASSA Nov 3-4 Tysons Corner, VA<br />

NCSSA Show Nov 8 Raleigh/Durham, NC<br />

NAR Nov 12-15 San Diego, CA<br />

TNSSA Nov 16 Nashville, TN<br />

On The Move | 3


On The Move News<br />

TEXAS SELF STORAGE ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON<br />

David Nasis, CJ Stratte, and Susan Parra represented On The Move as this luncheon.<br />

The turnout was incredible! They were excited to see many familiar faces and<br />

learned a lot from the panel!<br />

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY<br />

Congrats to Karen Lunski for 10 years of service at On The Move.<br />

She has been an integral part of our admin team. We love her<br />

loyalty and eagerness to help!<br />

4 | On The Move


BILLBOARD TRUCK<br />

Check out our latest billboard truck. This is our very 1st truck ever<br />

owned by On The Move. We have transformed it into a billboard<br />

for us. It is parked across the highway from our headquarters in<br />

Boerne, Texas.<br />

Congrats to Tristan!<br />

We are very proud that Tristan had a 98% score on his<br />

standardized reading test. We hope to have him join our<br />

marketing team one day.<br />

GRAFFITI TEST<br />

Is graffiti a problem in your area? One of our customers found an<br />

awesome solution to add to your graphics. Check out this photo!<br />

They were able to just wipe the graffiti off their test graphics. Let<br />

us know if you would like more information.<br />

On The Move | 5


6 | On The Move<br />

NEW TRUCKS<br />

ON THE ROAD


On The Move | 7


Employee Spotlight<br />

BILLY PARRA<br />

Name: Billy Parra<br />

Position at On The Move:<br />

Agency Director at On the Move<br />

Insurance Agency<br />

When did you start<br />

working at On The<br />

Move? November 1, 2020<br />

Where are you from?<br />

I was born and raised in Mexico City,<br />

until I left for the US at 19.<br />

Alma mater? BS from<br />

University of North Carolina at<br />

Greensboro<br />

Hobbies: Golf and spending as<br />

much time as possible in Cabo.<br />

What did you do before<br />

On The Move? Owned a<br />

bar in Winter Springs, FL for 20<br />

years. Owned a computer export<br />

company for 18 years. Worked for 7<br />

years at Select Merchant Solutions<br />

which processed credit cards for the<br />

Self-Storage facilities, dentists and<br />

veterinarians.<br />

8 | On The Move


Favorite thing about<br />

On The Move? Never a dull<br />

moment and the fact that this<br />

company has so many revenue<br />

generating sides for storage owners.<br />

Tell us about your family:<br />

Met my wife, Susan, at the ISS<br />

Storage show in 2016.<br />

Favorite animal: Dogs<br />

Favorite music:<br />

Country music<br />

Proudest moment<br />

at On The Move?<br />

Being able to join and help the<br />

company grow.<br />

On The Move | 9


GETTING THE PROPERTY READY FOR THE WINTER<br />

BY CAROL MIXON-KRENDL, OWNER OF SKILCHECK SERVICES, INC.<br />

This topic really depends on which part of these beautiful United States that you live and<br />

work in. Since I am from Tucson, Arizona, we have very little winter weather, but we do get a<br />

sprinkling of snow on occasion. And, typically in July and August we experience our monsoon<br />

season with heavy rain and lots of lightning. So, depending on the climate where you live<br />

and work, it will make a huge difference in how you prepare your storage property for winter<br />

weather and the holiday season.<br />

• Watch and maintain roofs<br />

• Add pipe insulation to protect your plumbing and<br />

prevent frozen pipes<br />

• Ensure that all smoke and carbon monoxide<br />

detectors are in working order<br />

Let’s start with assessing your store’s risks. There<br />

are several hazards businesses need to watch out<br />

for when it comes to cold weather.<br />

Winter Weather Threats<br />

Here are just a few potential winter hazards to consider as<br />

you evaluate your specific risks:<br />

• Slip and fall injuries, slippery sidewalks, hallways, and<br />

office floors<br />

• Unsafe driving conditions even on the property<br />

• Road closures<br />

• Hypothermia and frostbite (yes, there have been frozen<br />

bodies found in storage spaces)<br />

• Structural stress and damage<br />

• Fire activity – customers using space heaters in the<br />

storage unit<br />

• Power outages<br />

Make a plan for bad weather and identify your risks. It<br />

is a good idea to sign up for winter storm warnings.<br />

Decide specific triggers (e.g., Power outage, snowstorm,<br />

etc.) and how you are going to operate the property in<br />

as safe a manner as possible. Keep in mind that many<br />

homeowners keep generators, snow blowers, etc. in their<br />

storage space. They will want access to their space prior<br />

to and sometimes during storms. Generally speaking,<br />

some owners open the main gates and allow customers<br />

to enter. Other owners may choose to close the property.<br />

If you close the property, it would be nice and prudent to<br />

notify the customers by email that the gates will be closed<br />

during the storm.<br />

Before storms hit, consider taking these<br />

preventative and preparedness measures:<br />

• Keep a variety of portable chargers and batteries to<br />

charge cell phones, radios (my kids laughed at this<br />

one), flashlights, etc.<br />

• Winter Weather Advisories are the least severe<br />

weather designation and suggest light wintery<br />

precipitation is expected which could create slick<br />

conditions and impact travel.<br />

• A Winter Storm Watch is the National Weather<br />

Service’s designation for storms anticipated to<br />

produce heavier precipitation resulting in snow,<br />

sleet, or ice.<br />

10 | On The Move


• A Winter Storm Warning is the highest severity<br />

designation and means there is a high level of certainty<br />

that a storm will produce snow, sleet, or ice.<br />

• Build an office winter weather safety kit and encourage<br />

employees to keep their own emergency supplies at<br />

home. At a minimum, these kits should include:<br />

• Flashlight and extra batteries<br />

• Battery-powered NOAA weather radio<br />

• Extra food and water<br />

• Extra prescription medicine<br />

• First-aid supplies<br />

• Emergency heat source (portable generator, fireplace, or<br />

space heater properly ventilated)<br />

• Fire extinguisher<br />

Build a winter emergency kit for your vehicle<br />

Of course, many employees don’t sit at a desk and must travel<br />

for work—even during winter driving conditions. In addition to<br />

fully inspecting and servicing vehicles before the winter season<br />

begins, ensure employees who must drive as part of their job<br />

duties carry the following:<br />

• Blankets<br />

• Sand or kitty litter<br />

• Tow rope<br />

• Flashlight<br />

• Bottled water<br />

• Non-perishable snacks<br />

• Warm clothes (mittens, hats, boots, jackets)<br />

• Snow shovel and brush<br />

• Cell phone charger<br />

• Spare tire<br />

• Jumper cables<br />

• First-aid kit<br />

Keep Everyone Informed<br />

Having a plan for how—and with whom—you will communicate<br />

when winter weather hits is equally important. Have accurate<br />

contact information on hand for third parties you may need<br />

to contact. Depending on the various action plans you’ve<br />

identified, this may include your utility provider, landlord, and<br />

insurance company. Identify how you will disseminate stormrelated<br />

information and maintain contact with employees<br />

during winter weather events. It’s also important to consider<br />

how you will keep customers and suppliers informed of impacts<br />

to your business. They also need to know about things like<br />

office closures or delayed openings.<br />

To communicate effectively, use technology to your advantage.<br />

E-mail alone may not be enough and calling several hundred<br />

customers isn’t practical either. E-mail and put signage up at<br />

the property fence, gate operator and office door to notify<br />

customers of a storm that is coming your way.<br />

Tis the season to be festive too! Since you will be in the office,<br />

be sure to decorate for the holiday season. I like to have a<br />

donation box/barrel for customers to give to Toys For Tots or a<br />

charity of your liking.<br />

For more information on On the Move Trucks and self-storage<br />

related training, go to SkilCheck’s YouTube channel!<br />

Enjoy the winter season and happy renting!<br />

On The Move | 11


Introducing Our Latest Prototype:<br />

Tear Drop Food/Bar Trailer<br />

We delivered to Dormie<br />

Group at Briggs Ranch<br />

for testing and are very<br />

excited to hear their<br />

feedback.<br />

12 | On The Move


WINTER PREP CHECKLIST<br />

for Self Storage Owners<br />

BY DEREK GARISS, ON THE MOVE INSURANCE AGENCY<br />

I grew up in the wilds of North Idaho. By the end of September, most people were dreaming of<br />

long winter days spent on the ski slopes. For those folks, winter is a great time. But for the rest<br />

of us in the Northern states, winter can be rough. If your self-storage property is located in one<br />

of these northern or mountainous states, you’ve probably experienced winter conditions and<br />

have seen the effects of extreme cold on your personal belongings as well as your self-storage<br />

facility.<br />

While your kids may love the idea of possible snow days from school, there are no snow days<br />

for business owners. Whether it snows three feet or the sun is shining, you’ve got to take care<br />

of your investment to ensure tenants are happy and the property is kept safe. If your property is<br />

in a northern state, check out this checklist to prepare for the cold and wet of winter.


Make sure you check out these simple to-do’s before winter<br />

hits your location. Being prepared and vigilant can help you<br />

prevent thousands of dollars in damages from freezing water<br />

and snow, and make your facility safe to access for tenants, no<br />

matter what time of year it is.<br />

Before winter:<br />

1. Check the structural integrity of the roof.<br />

Accumulating snow can put a lot of stress and weight<br />

on your roof, leading to leaks and water damage.<br />

Clean out the gutters, add extensions to downspouts,<br />

and check the roof for loose, damaged or missing<br />

shingles. If your roof is flat, rake or blow off debris,<br />

leaves, and pine needles. If your building had lots of<br />

icicles hanging on it last year, your roof may have an<br />

air leak or inadequate insulation. By having it repaired,<br />

you can save a lot of energy and prevent ice dams,<br />

which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into<br />

the building.<br />

2. Trim any tree branches that are hanging close to roofs<br />

and siding.<br />

3. Make sure your access control keypads are in<br />

good working condition. If necessary, check out<br />

weatherproofed keypad boxes to protect your keypad<br />

from water damage. If you have an outdoor selfservice<br />

kiosk on your property make sure that the shell<br />

of the kiosk has been properly maintained to function<br />

flawlessly in cold or wet weather.<br />

4. Secure on-demand snow removal services for your<br />

facility’s parking lot and driveway, or service your<br />

facility’s snow plow to prepare it for use. If you own<br />

your own snow plow make sure that it is in good<br />

working order and ready to use.<br />

5. Check and service your facility’s HVAC system,<br />

especially in your office and climate-controlled<br />

buildings.<br />

6. Replace worn-out weather stripping around doors and<br />

window sills to keep warm air inside. On the outside of<br />

your office or building, check for gaps between siding<br />

and doors and windows. If the gaps are bigger than<br />

the width of a nickel, you’ll need to reapply exterior<br />

caulk to prevent heat from escaping through windows<br />

and doors.<br />

7. Make sure the weather stripping on the roll up doors<br />

at your facility are in good shape to prevent water<br />

from melting snow running into the units.<br />

8. Test your sump pump by pouring several gallons of<br />

water into it to make sure the pump turns on when<br />

it should. You should always test your sump pump<br />

after a long dry period or before the start of a rainy or<br />

wintry season.<br />

Before the first freeze:<br />

1. Restock winter essentials like shovels, windshield<br />

scrapers, rubber doormats, and ice melt. If you have<br />

a space heater or snow blower, make sure it’s in good<br />

working condition.<br />

2. Ensure you have a winter storm emergency kit<br />

available in your office. Stock it with flashlights, a<br />

battery powered radio, waters, snack food, extra hats,<br />

socks, and mittens, a first aid kit, blankets, a charged<br />

power bank for cell phones, and jumper cables.<br />

3. Disconnect hoses from the tap and drain all water that<br />

remains in the faucets.<br />

4. Ensure your property managers all know how to shut<br />

off the building’s water valves in case a pipe bursts. If<br />

you have a backup generator, train managers on how<br />

to use it in the event of a power outage. Leave clear,<br />

posted instructions for how to shut off water valves<br />

and how to operate the backup generator in your<br />

office where all managers can access them.<br />

Before a winter storm:<br />

1. Contact your on-duty property managers and inform<br />

them of potential weather-related events, like changes<br />

to office or access hours and scheduled snow removal<br />

services.<br />

2. Immediately notify all impacted tenants of potential<br />

closures, changes to access hours, or scheduled snow<br />

removal services. Send updates to tenants through<br />

your management software and post changes to your<br />

office hours or access hours on your website to ensure<br />

tenant safety during winter weather.<br />

3. Post a list of emergency contacts and helpful phone<br />

numbers (like the phone number of your snow<br />

removal service and your local police or fire station) in<br />

the office where all managers can easily access it.<br />

While wintery conditions can be rough don’t let this affect<br />

your business’s potential. By prepping for winter weather<br />

months in advance, you’ll be able to handle whatever mother<br />

nature throws at you and impress your tenants with highquality<br />

customer service.


Featured Vehicles<br />

<strong>2021</strong> BMW X1 sDrive28i<br />

sDrive28i 4dr Sports Activity Vehicle<br />

Price: $37,499 :: Mileage: 3,677<br />

2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty XLT<br />

4x4 XLT 4dr Crew Cab 8 ft. LB Pickup<br />

Price: $49,999 :: Mileage: 115,993<br />

2019 Ford E-450<br />

16’ Food Truck with Platform Serving Area<br />

Price: $175,000 :: Mileage: 121<br />

2019 Toyota Highlander XLE<br />

AWD XLE 4dr SUV<br />

Price: $36,399 :: Mileage: 54,162<br />

Call 800-645-9949<br />

for more information.<br />

16 | On The Move


NET OPERATING INCOME,<br />

CAP RATES AND ANCILLARY<br />

PRODUCTS, OH MY.<br />

JACQUELYN NASH, ON THE MOVE INSURANCE AGENCY<br />

Whether you are a family owned business<br />

focusing on your legacy and retirement,<br />

a REIT or somewhere in between, our<br />

industry boils down to one key metric:<br />

Capitalization Rates or better known as<br />

Cap rates.<br />

Everyone is concerned with their facility’s<br />

value and the key to calculating, understanding<br />

and growing that value is cap<br />

rates. Cap rates, fundamentally look at the<br />

correlation of your net operating income<br />

and facility value. Cap rate is calculated by<br />

dividing a self-storage facility’s NOI by its<br />

current market value, yielding a percentage<br />

that reflects the potential return on<br />

investment.<br />

Cap rates fluctuate based on your market<br />

and the overall economy, but a good rule<br />

of thumb is lowering a cap rate by 1% increases<br />

facility value by $238,000 for every<br />

$100,000 of annual NOI. The industry<br />

wide, national average for cap rates thus<br />

far in <strong>2021</strong> is an exceptional 5.37%. The<br />

national average has been on a steady decline<br />

since 2009 with the last 5 years have<br />

seen cap rates under 6% consistently. The<br />

higher the cap rate, the lower your return<br />

and higher risk your investment will be.<br />

Low cap rates equate to low risk and a<br />

high reward, which makes our industry so<br />

unique and profitable. Self-storage is incredibly,<br />

a $39.5 billion dollar industry as<br />

of the start of <strong>2021</strong>, for context, global box<br />

office revenue is $23 billion in <strong>2021</strong>.<br />

Plenty of vendors will claim to be experts<br />

or attempt to sell you snake oils to improve<br />

your Net Operating Income or worse, their<br />

knowledge as an instrument to help you<br />

improve your own NOI without any tangible<br />

tools to do so. We pride ourselves on<br />

being different than your average vendor.<br />

On The Move and all of our products have<br />

been born from owner necessity. Our<br />

founder, built his first facility in the 1970s<br />

and founded On The Move in 1992 to<br />

serve his own turnkey truck rental need.<br />

Our insurance agency was founded to provide<br />

owners a product to increase rent rolls<br />

and facility value with a simple upgraded<br />

lease addendum. Our trucks provide many<br />

intangibles like 600 visual impressions per<br />

mile driven and an opportunity to earn<br />

community good will. Our founder noted<br />

the tangible 6% increase in occupancy at<br />

his first facility with the simple addition of<br />

a rental truck. Our industry leading tenant<br />

protection program can add an estimated<br />

$30,000 in annual profit, directly increasing<br />

rent rolls at a 500 unit facility adding<br />

$544,000 in value at a 5.75% cap rate, while<br />

minimizing exposure and ensuring a positive<br />

customer experience.<br />

We are always on the lookout for new<br />

ways to help serve you, the self-storage<br />

owner with three generations of our family<br />

involved in the business, we will continue<br />

to do so and grow with you for generations<br />

to come.<br />

On The Move | 17


5 TIPS FOR PACKING<br />

YOUR MOVING TRUCK<br />

BY CJ STRATTE, ON THE MOVE<br />

Did you know that there is a best way to pack your moving truck? Many people don’t<br />

realize that such “life instructions” exist. Instead, they just try to fit everything in,<br />

which can be time-consuming and frustrating.<br />

When you use a set of best practices, you’ll protect your items and make it easier to<br />

unload the rental truck at its destinations. Make your move more seamless and less<br />

stressful by using these five tips for loading a moving track—straight from our experts!<br />

ENSURE YOU HAVE THE<br />

RIGHT SUPPLIES<br />

Correctly packing your moving truck<br />

requires more than boxes and moving<br />

tape. You’ll need several moving supplies<br />

for packing:<br />

• Moving straps that hold bigger pieces<br />

in place.<br />

• Dollies for moving boxes and furniture,<br />

so it’s faster and reduces the<br />

strain on your body.<br />

• Moving blankets or wrap to cover<br />

furniture, especially those with glass.<br />

These items should prevent damage and<br />

injuries.<br />

KEEP IMPORTANT ITEMS<br />

IN YOUR CAB<br />

If you have very fragile items you want<br />

to protect, you should move them to the<br />

cab. By doing this, you have direct control<br />

over how it rides. When you get to your<br />

destination, be sure to bring those in first<br />

and set them aside.<br />

PLACE HEAVY ITEMS IN<br />

THE TRUCK FIRST<br />

In assessing all the things you’re moving,<br />

the heaviest pieces, usually appliances or<br />

furniture, should load in first. You’ll want<br />

them to be the closest to the cab. The<br />

reason for this is to ensure the support of<br />

their weight. You should also pay attention<br />

to balancing weight on each side.<br />

Continue to go down the line on what’s<br />

heaviest as you pack. That front space<br />

should contain things like couches, dressers,<br />

cabinets, mattresses and box springs.<br />

PUT SOFT OBJECTS BE-<br />

TWEEN FRAGILE ITEMS<br />

This tip makes sense, because the soft<br />

items create a buffer around your most<br />

fragile ones, such as mirrors or glass<br />

pieces. That goes for furniture, as well, so<br />

that it’s not rubbing up against each other,<br />

which can cause damage. Use pillows,<br />

blankets, comforters or bubble wrap.<br />

Doing this will also prevent furniture and<br />

boxes from shifting during transport. Less<br />

movement means an easier unload.<br />

LOAD WHAT YOU’LL NEED<br />

FIRST AT THE END<br />

Consider the things that you’ll need the<br />

most when you get to your new house.<br />

Then, put those in the back of the truck,<br />

so they are quickly accessible. That could<br />

include your dollies or more specific items<br />

like a coffee maker, household supplies or<br />

other personal items.<br />

THESE TIPS CAN MAKE<br />

YOUR MOVE EASIER<br />

By implementing these tips, your move<br />

just got easier. You can worry less about<br />

damage and be confident that your stuff<br />

will survive the ride.<br />

For more information on moving<br />

trucks, self-storage and more, be<br />

sure to check out more content on<br />

our blog.<br />

www.onthemovetrucks.com/about-us/blog/<br />

18 | On The Move


On The Move | 19


ON THE MOVE REPRESENTATION<br />

AT SSA TRADESHOW<br />

On The Move exhibited at the Self-Storage Association Fall Conference in Las Vegas. They showcased their<br />

Ford Transit 14’ Box Truck right on the trade show floor. Their Marketing Director, CJ Stratte, was chosen to<br />

speak on the topic of, “Word of Mouth isn’t Free.” Look to download the presentation at www.selfstorage.org.<br />

20 | On The Move


On The Move | 21


Catalytic Converter Thefts are on the<br />

Rise – How do we Prevent Them?<br />

BY LEXIE ROSE, ON THE MOVE<br />

During the year 2020, the On The Move community has incurred<br />

over $32,000 in costs related to catalytic converter theft.<br />

Why are catalytic converter thefts so common?<br />

Catalytic converters can be very valuable to scrap metal dealers<br />

as they contain precious metals such as rhodium, platinum,<br />

and palladium. While the thief will only make around $200 for<br />

the part, it can take less than 60 seconds to remove making it a<br />

profitable endeavor. The metal dealers who purchase the stolen<br />

parts and melt them down can make thousands depending on<br />

current metal prices and size/type of converter.<br />

What makes someone susceptible to catalytic<br />

converter theft?<br />

Sedans and coupes are certainly not exempt from this heinous<br />

crime, but larger vehicles such as SUV’s, Pick-up Trucks, and Box<br />

Trucks are much more likely to be targeted. Why? The higher<br />

up the vehicle is – the easier it is to get underneath with power<br />

tools to remove parts. Additionally, as is the case with a lot of<br />

our licensees, box trucks may have more than one catalytic<br />

converter which can be an easy way for a thief to double their<br />

profits.<br />

How does it affect you when your catalytic<br />

converter is stolen?<br />

If the truck sounds like a fleet of motorcycles when you start<br />

it – there’s a good chance that your catalytic converter has been<br />

stolen. Depending on the scope of damage, type of vehicle, and<br />

market labor rates, it can cost anywhere from $750 - $3,500 to<br />

repair any damage and replace a stolen catalytic converter. If<br />

you are insured with us, you will only have to incur your $1,000<br />

deductible, but increased claim payouts can have a negative<br />

effect on premiums for everyone. You will also be met with the<br />

inconvenience of finding a trusted repair facility and the truck<br />

being out of commission for a short period of time while repairs<br />

take place.<br />

How do we prevent catalytic converter theft?<br />

Upon noticing the increase in catalytic converter thefts affecting<br />

our customers and even some of our very own vehicles here in<br />

Boerne, TX, I did some research into prevention. Some of the<br />

most common deterrents are:<br />

- Parking in a well-lit area, especially if there is one with<br />

video surveillance<br />

- Parking in a garage or fenced-in area with an alarm<br />

- Refrain from keeping the vehicle in the same public space<br />

for prolonged periods of time<br />

- Having the VIN etched into the converter for easy<br />

identification after theft<br />

These are solid tips, but I was looking for something a little<br />

more “Heavy Duty” when it came to solutions. In my research I<br />

came across a product called CatClamp® – a patented converter<br />

lock. Designed in coordination with professional metalworkers,<br />

engineers, and fleet managers, the lock creates a cage around<br />

the converter by way of the exhaust using aircraft grade wire<br />

rope that is even difficult to cut with power tools.<br />

The CatClamp®:<br />

Starting at $169.95, the clamp can potentially save a lot of<br />

time and money. Installation can be done professionally but<br />

does not need to be – as long as you are able to get under the<br />

vehicle you should be able to install the clamp yourself. Theft<br />

is most often a crime of opportunity – the more difficult and<br />

time consuming you make it for the catalytic converter thieves,<br />

the higher the chance the thief will abandon the attempt. Also,<br />

these aren’t just for box-trucks, the universal clamp is likely<br />

to fit any vehicle with an exhaust that is 3” or less in diameter<br />

and model-specific clamps are available for other heavy duty<br />

commercial vehicles.<br />

If you would like one for your own truck, you can purchase one<br />

from us. Please call us at 800-645-9949 to order.<br />

22 | On The Move


RECIPES<br />

CARAMEL APPLES<br />

Ingredients<br />

2 cups sugar<br />

1/4 cup light corn syrup<br />

1/2 cup heavy cream<br />

2 tablespoons unsalted butter<br />

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract<br />

Kosher salt<br />

6 medium very crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp, Red<br />

Delicious, Pink Lady or Granny Smith), well washed<br />

and dried<br />

Nonstick cooking spray, for the parch<br />

Directions<br />

Special equipment:<br />

A candy thermometer; 6 candy apple sticks, large<br />

lollipop sticks or dowel rods, cut to 5-inch lengths<br />

with one end sharpened<br />

1. Add the sugar, corn syrup and 1/2 cup water<br />

to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir a<br />

few times before the sugar begins to boil to combine<br />

the ingredients. Attach a candy thermometer to the<br />

inside of the pan and bring the syrup to a boil. Cook<br />

until the syrup begins to turn an amber color, then<br />

swirl the syrup to even out the color. Continue to<br />

cook until the syrup is a deep amber and the thermometer<br />

reads between 375 and 380 degrees F, then<br />

remove from the heat. Carefully pour in the cream<br />

and gently whisk to combine. Stir in the butter,<br />

vanilla and a pinch of salt until smooth. Keep off the<br />

heat but keep the thermometer attached to the pan.<br />

2. Pierce the apples through the stem ends about halfway<br />

through with candy apple sticks. Line a baking<br />

sheet with parchment and lightly spray with nonstick<br />

cooking spray.<br />

3. When the temperature of the caramel reads around<br />

190 degrees F, dip an apple, using the stick as a<br />

handle and swirling to coat completely. Allow excess<br />

caramel to drip off the bottom and use a spatula<br />

to help remove any large amount of caramel, as it<br />

will pool around the apple when you set it down<br />

to cool on the lined baking sheet. Repeat with the<br />

remaining apples, gently heating the caramel on<br />

the stovetop over low heat, stirring, if it gets too<br />

thick for dipping. Allow the caramel to set and cool<br />

completely before serving or wrapping apples, about<br />

1 hour. (See Cook’s Note.)<br />

Cook’s Note<br />

To add toppings, dip apples in mini chocolate candies,<br />

shredded coconut, crushed cookies or chopped nuts<br />

immediately after coating with caramel.


TRUCK OF<br />

THE QUARTER<br />

GUARDIAN STORAGE<br />

SOLUTION<br />

26 | On The Move


We asked Guardian Storage Solutions<br />

a few questions about their business.<br />

1. When and how did you get<br />

into the self-storage or real<br />

estate industry?<br />

Steven Cohen opened the<br />

first Guardian Storage in the<br />

East Liberty/Shadyside area<br />

nearly 35 years ago in 1987.<br />

He discovered real estate<br />

development and establishing<br />

a brand as the ideal outlet for<br />

his high energy and creative<br />

spirit. Within the broad space<br />

of development, self-storage<br />

provided an opportunity to<br />

take what had been viewed<br />

as a low-quality category<br />

and create something different<br />

that would dramatically<br />

improve the perceptions and<br />

value of storage.<br />

2. Where is your facility or<br />

business located?<br />

Guardian currently has 20 storage<br />

properties in the Greater<br />

Pittsburgh area and 11 in Colorado<br />

in the cities surrounding<br />

Denver.<br />

3. How do you use your truck<br />

rental program?<br />

We offer free use (except for<br />

a $20 insurance waiver fee) of<br />

our trucks to tenants to facilitate<br />

the move in process.<br />

On The Move | 27


5. Any truck rental tips you’d like to share?<br />

Just the basics – inspect the truck before and<br />

after rental, have a clear, structured program<br />

with regard to what is included in the rental<br />

versus what will cost extra, and make sure the<br />

customer understands it. Keep a reservation<br />

calendar and require proof of a valid driver’s<br />

license.<br />

6. What is your favorite feature of the truck?<br />

The brand exposure and capacity for transporting<br />

large items and a large volume of<br />

items.<br />

7. Any special stories that you would like to<br />

share about your facility or truck?<br />

The free use of our truck is one of our most<br />

popular amenities. It helps differentiate us<br />

from our competitors.<br />

28 | On The Move


8. Where do you park your<br />

truck?<br />

In the parking lots of our properties<br />

where they will be visible<br />

to a passerby.<br />

9. How do you market your<br />

truck?<br />

On our website, in social media<br />

content, organic search listings<br />

and in stores.<br />

10. Do you offer your truck to<br />

any charities?<br />

Yes, The Education Partnership<br />

has used our trucks several<br />

times, among many other organizations.<br />

We also use our truck<br />

each year to deliver school<br />

supplies we’ve collected to The<br />

Education Partnership as well<br />

as items to local shelters after<br />

our annual coat and sock drive.<br />

On The Move | 29


RESOURCE GUIDE<br />

For truck claims ...................................... 855-923-2088<br />

For truck liability claims........................... 800-987-3373<br />

SecureLease claims.................................. 212-269-8220<br />

Windshield/Glass Repair.......................... 800-645-9949<br />

On The Move Roadside Assistance.......... 888-242-9044<br />

Order supplies.......................................... 800-645-9949<br />

Request cert/ID card................................ 800-645-9949<br />

ACTION!2.0.............................................. 800-645-9949<br />

Submit address change<br />

Email: admin@onthemovetrucks.com<br />

Important Websites:<br />

www.onthemovetrucks.com<br />

www.onthemovevehicles.com<br />

www.onthemoveinsurance.com<br />

www.otmrentals.com<br />

On The Move | 31

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