Interstate Van Lines
Encyclopedia
Interstate Van Lines is a moving van company that was founded by Arthur E. Morrissette in 1943, and is still led by members of the Morissette family. It is based in Springfield, Virginia
and handles storage and shipping for corporate and government clients, including AOL
, Hewlett Packard and the US military. It is a subsidiary of Interstate Worldwide, a group company consisting of several other divisions which by 2009 was, amongst other things, responsible for the carriage of US$1 billion of computer equipment annually.
; the present name was used from 1967, when the company also introduced its "Top Hat" logo. For 29 years he fronted the company's radio and television commercials. He died on 24 April 1996, having resigned from his role in the company in 1993.
Subsequent members of the Morrissette family who have been involved with the company include at least two who have been its president, Arthur E. Morrissette Jr. and John D. Morrissette.
As at 2010 the company has a labor turnover figure of around 50%: with a total workforce of over 200, this equates to 100 job vacancies at any time due to workers leaving.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
data shows that at February 2011 the company had 74 power units and 99 drivers. Previously, in 1999, it had 225 power units, and in 2004 the number had been 126.
on December 22, 2010 in a deal which involved ICE offering free training. The accreditation recognizes that the company maintains systems to deter the employment of illegal workers. As at December 2010 there were already more than 100 companies accredited under this new scheme, known as IMAGE. Interstate had introduced mandatory urine testing for drugs in 1984.
A press release issued by the company in 2009 announced that it was one of the winners of a National Defense Transportation Quality Award and that this was the eighth time it had been so recognised, The award was for implementing systems for dealing with Department of Defense commissions for the relocation of personnel based around Puget Sound
, of which around 500 had been dealt with in the year 2008.
The company was also awarded the American Moving and Storage Organization's first Independent Mover of the Year Award, for the 2007 year.
Springfield is a frequent campaign stop for Republican election candidates.Interstate hosted a rally held by John McCain
, Republican
Presidential candidate, and Sarah Palin
in 2008. In 1996 it had hosted a similar event for Bob Dole
.
jury ruled against Interstate Van Lines for wrongful allegations of theft that put a former Interstate driver in jail for 34 days, awarding the ex-employee $50,000 for malicious prosecution
, $200,000 for false imprisonment
and $340,000 in punitive damages
.
Springfield, Virginia
Springfield is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States and a suburb of Washington, D.C. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 30,484 as of the 2010 census. Homes and businesses in bordering CDPs including North Springfield,...
and handles storage and shipping for corporate and government clients, including AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
, Hewlett Packard and the US military. It is a subsidiary of Interstate Worldwide, a group company consisting of several other divisions which by 2009 was, amongst other things, responsible for the carriage of US$1 billion of computer equipment annually.
Origins
Arthur E. Morrissette started the business at a cost of US$450 when he left the Navy Department in 1943. The original name was Ace Van & Storage, based in south-east Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; the present name was used from 1967, when the company also introduced its "Top Hat" logo. For 29 years he fronted the company's radio and television commercials. He died on 24 April 1996, having resigned from his role in the company in 1993.
Subsequent members of the Morrissette family who have been involved with the company include at least two who have been its president, Arthur E. Morrissette Jr. and John D. Morrissette.
Size
In 1998 the company had been awarded a US$40.7 million contract from Military Traffic Management Command for transport services.As at 2010 the company has a labor turnover figure of around 50%: with a total workforce of over 200, this equates to 100 job vacancies at any time due to workers leaving.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration , established January 1, 2000, regulates the trucking industry in the United States. FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, DC and employs more than 1,000 people in all 50 States and the District of Columbia...
data shows that at February 2011 the company had 74 power units and 99 drivers. Previously, in 1999, it had 225 power units, and in 2004 the number had been 126.
Recognition
Interstate was accredited by U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
on December 22, 2010 in a deal which involved ICE offering free training. The accreditation recognizes that the company maintains systems to deter the employment of illegal workers. As at December 2010 there were already more than 100 companies accredited under this new scheme, known as IMAGE. Interstate had introduced mandatory urine testing for drugs in 1984.
A press release issued by the company in 2009 announced that it was one of the winners of a National Defense Transportation Quality Award and that this was the eighth time it had been so recognised, The award was for implementing systems for dealing with Department of Defense commissions for the relocation of personnel based around Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
, of which around 500 had been dealt with in the year 2008.
The company was also awarded the American Moving and Storage Organization's first Independent Mover of the Year Award, for the 2007 year.
Springfield is a frequent campaign stop for Republican election candidates.Interstate hosted a rally held by John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Presidential candidate, and Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
in 2008. In 1996 it had hosted a similar event for Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
.
Court case
In March 2010, a Fairfax, VirginiaFairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
jury ruled against Interstate Van Lines for wrongful allegations of theft that put a former Interstate driver in jail for 34 days, awarding the ex-employee $50,000 for malicious prosecution
Malicious prosecution
Malicious prosecution is a common law intentional tort, while like the tort of abuse of process, its elements include intentionally instituting and pursuing a legal action that is brought without probable cause and dismissed in favor of the victim of the malicious prosecution...
, $200,000 for false imprisonment
False imprisonment
False imprisonment is a restraint of a person in a bounded area without justification or consent. False imprisonment is a common-law felony and a tort. It applies to private as well as governmental detention...
and $340,000 in punitive damages
Punitive damages
Punitive damages or exemplary damages are damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit...
.