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Like many other successful ventures, the concept for U-Haul was provoked by need. After World War II the population of the United States became more mobile and migratory. There existed an obvious widespread need for do-it-yourself moving equipment on a one-way, nationwide basis. It was the visionary approach of U-Haul that recognized this need, acted upon it and literally created an industry.
With $5,000, L.S. Shoen, his wife Anna Mary Carty Shoen and their young child moved to the Carty ranch in Ridgefield, Washington. There, with the help of the Carty family, the Shoens built the first U-Haul trailers in the fall of 1945, using the ranch's automobile garage (and milk house) as the first manufacturing plant for the budding U-Haul Co.
An identity was established. First, the trailers were painted bright orange. Secondly, the name U-Haul Co., was established. Third, trailers were imaged on the sides and back with a sales message -- "U-Haul Co.", "Rental Trailers", "$2.00 Per Day" -- always advertising themselves whether on the road or on display. Fourth, trailer rentals were merchandised from service station outlets. A commission structure for dealers was established, and much of the early recruitment was done by a customer who was offered a discount on their trailer rental for establishing a U-Haul Rental Agent at their destination.
By the end of 1949, it was possible to rent a trailer one-way from city-to-city throughout most of the United States. A unique financing plan provided capital for growth during the 1950s. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, with U-Haul International in its 58th year, U-Haul trucks and trailers can be rented from 15,500 independent dealers and over 1,342 company owned moving centers. U-Haul, the undisputed leader in the truck and trailer rental industry, is also one of the largest operators of self-storage facilities, the world's largest installer of permanent trailer hitches and the world's largest single-brand Yellow Pages advertiser.
