U-Haul 2006 Annual Report Download - page 86

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As of March 31, 2006, our rental fleet consisted of approximately 93,000 trucks, 80,675 trailers and 33,500 tow
devices. This equipment and our U-Haul brand of self-moving products and services are available through our
network of managed retail moving centers and independent U-Haul dealers. Independent U-Haul dealers receive
rental equipment from the Company, act as a rental agent and are paid a commission based on gross revenues
generated from their U-Haul rentals.
Our rental truck chassis are manufactured by domestic and foreign truck manufacturers. These chassis are joined
with the U-Haul designed and manufactured van boxes at U-Haul operated manufacturing and assembly facilities
strategically located throughout the United States. U-Haul rental trucks feature our proprietary Lowest DeckSM,
which provides our customers with extra ease of loading. The loading ramps on our trucks are the widest in the
industry, which reduce the time needed to move belongings. Our Gentle Ride SuspensionSM helps our customers
safely move delicate and prized possessions. Also, the engineers at our U-Haul Technical Center determined that the
softest ride in our trucks was at the front of the van box. Consequently, they designed the part of the van box that
hangs over the front cab of the truck to be the location for our customers to place their most fragile items during
their move. We call this area Mom’ s AtticSM.
Our distinctive orange trailers are also manufactured at these same U-Haul operated manufacturing and assembly
facilities. These trailers are well suited to the low profile of many of today’ s newly manufactured automobiles. Our
engineering staff is committed to making our trailers easy to tow, aerodynamic and fuel efficient.
To provide our self-move customers with added value, our rental trucks and trailers are designed for fuel
efficiency. To help make our rental equipment more trouble free, we perform extensive preventive maintenance and
repairs.
We also provide customers with equipment to transport their vehicle. We provide three towing options, including:
auto transport, in which all four wheels are off the ground, tow dolly, in which the front wheels of the towed vehicle
are off the ground, and tow bar, where all four wheels are on the ground.
To help our customers load their boxes and larger household appliances and furniture, we offer several accessory
rental items. Our utility dolly has a lightweight design and is easy to maneuver. Another rental accessory is our four
wheel dolly, which provides a large, flat surface for moving dressers, wall units, pianos and other large household
items. U-Haul appliance dollies provide the leverage needed to move refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers
easily and safely. These utility, furniture and appliance dollies, along with the low decks and the wide loading ramps
on all U-Haul trucks and trailers, are designed for easy loading and unloading of our customers’ belongings.
The total package U-Haul offers the “do-it-yourself” household mover doesn’ t end with trucks, trailers and
accessory rental items. Our moving supplies include a wide array of affordably priced U-Haul brand boxes, tape and
packing materials. We also provide specialty boxes for dishes, computers and sensitive electronic equipment, carton
sealing tape, security locks, and packing supplies, like wrapping paper and cushioning foam. U-Haul brand boxes
are specifically sized to make stacking and tiering easier.
Also, U-Haul is North America’ s largest seller and installer of hitches and towing systems. In addition to towing
U-Haul equipment these hitching and towing systems can tow jet skis, motorcycles, boats, campers and horse
trailers. Our hitches, ball mounts, and balls undergo stringent testing requirements. Each year, more than one
million customers visit our locations for expertise on complete towing systems, trailer rentals and the latest in
towing accessories.
U-Haul is also North America’ s largest retail propane distributor, with more than 980 retail centers offering
propane. We employ trained, certified personnel to refill all propane cylinders, and our network of propane
dispensing locations is the largest automobile alternative refueling network in North America.
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