U-Haul 2008 Annual Report Download - page 9

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4
Our eMove web site, www.eMove.com, is the largest network of customers and independent businesses in the
self-moving and self-storage industry. The eMove network consists of channels where customers, businesses and
service providers transact business. The eMove Moving Help marketplace connects “do-it-yourself” movers with
independent service providers to assist movers pack, load, unload, clean, drive and other services. Thousands of
independent service providers already participate in the eMove network.
Through the eMove Storage Affiliate Program, independent storage businesses can join the world’ s largest storage
reservation system. Self-storage customers making a reservation through eMove can access all of the U-Haul self-
storage centers and all of our independent storage affiliate partners for even greater convenience to meet their self-
storage needs.
Description of Operating Segments
AMERCO has four reportable segments. They are Moving and Storage (AMERCO, U-Haul and Amerco Real
Estate Company (“Real Estate”)), Property and Casualty Insurance, Life Insurance and SAC Holding II Corporation
and its subsidiaries (“SAC Holding II”). Refer to Note 2 Principles of Consolidation of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Financial information for each of our Operating Segments is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements as part of “Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report.
Moving and Storage Operating Segment
Our “do-it-yourself” moving business consists of U-Haul truck and trailer rentals and U-Haul moving supply and
service sales. Our Moving and Storage Operating Segment consists of the rental of trucks, trailers, specialty rental
items and self-storage spaces primarily to the household mover as well as sales of moving supplies, towing
accessories and propane. Operations are conducted under the registered trade name U-Haul® throughout the United
States and Canada.
Net revenue from our Moving and Storage operating segment was approximately 90.6%, 89.9% and 90.3% of
consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
During fiscal 2008, the Company placed over 21,000 new trucks in service. These replacements were a
combination of U-Haul manufactured vehicles and purchases. As new trucks were added to the fleet, the Company
rotated out of the fleet older trucks. The size of the total rental truck fleet decreased from the end of fiscal 2007
primarily due to an increased focus on sales of older trucks.
Within our truck and trailer rental operation we are focused on expanding our independent dealer network to
provide added convenience for our customers. U-Haul has approximately 14,200 dealers which are independent
businesses, and are exclusive to U-Haul International, Inc. U-Haul maximizes vehicle utilization by effective
distribution of the truck and trailer fleets among the nearly 1,450 Company operated centers and approximately
14,200 independent dealers. Utilizing its sophisticated reservations management system, the Company’ s centers and
dealers electronically report their inventory in real-time, which facilitates matching equipment to customer demand.
Approximately 55% of all U-Move rental revenue originates from the Company operated centers.
At our owned and operated retail centers we have implemented several customer service initiatives. These
initiatives include improving management of our rental equipment to provide our retail centers with the right type of
rental equipment, at the right time and at the most convenient location for our customers, effective marketing of our
broad line of self-moving related products and services, maintaining longer hours of operation to provide more
convenience to our customers, and increasing staff by attracting and retaining “moonlighters” (part-time U-Haul
employees with full-time jobs elsewhere) during our peak hours of operation.
Effective marketing of our self-moving related products and services, such as boxes, pads and insurance, helps our
customers have a better moving experience and helps them protect their belongings from potential damage during
the moving process. We are committed to providing a complete line of products selected with the “do-it-yourself”
moving and storage customer in mind.