Everyone knows the phrase ‘Status quo’—a Latin term that means ‘the existing state of affairs.’ But does anyone remember the last time it felt like there was such a thing as ‘status quo’ in the moving and forwarding industry?

Today’s news is full of stories about new tariffs, shipping lane disruptions, conflicting regulations, the Global Household Goods contract, new technologies, and more. Change is not a new phenomenon in this industry, though; all you have to do is look back at some of our past Annual Meetings. In 2021, our theme was “The Challenge of Change.” Previous to that, we had “Charting a New Course” in 2017. Those are just two examples—I don’t know about you, but it feels to me like those meetings might as well have taken place in 1921 and 1917. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then. Unless it’s the bridge that recently collapsed and shut down the port of Baltimore. See what I mean?

As it seems we always do, the moving industry faces a challenging year in 2025, with heightened pressures on sales, cash flow, and operational efficiency to stay ahead of the game. For this issue, we asked our members how they handle those pressures. What we got was far more than a simple list of tips and tricks. Keep reading to discover practical steps your company can take now, strategies that will inform your next steps, and whole philosophies of corporate identity and operations that can transform your company’s culture.