IAM’s U.S. DAB effort continues to make strides towards normalizing the DAB within the overall construct of the association. In March, during the DAB Task Force’s monthly meeting, IAM staff put forth a recommendation to transition the Task Force to a more formalized DAB Management Board as outlined in the DAB Organizing Document, which establishes the rules required to govern this newest IAM Affiliate Group. The Task Force concurred with the proposal, and the DAB Mover Group is now governed by the DAB Management Board (DMB). The Task Force, as it was always envisioned, accomplished a specific task—to create the parameters by which the DAB could flourish within IAM—and then dissolved, replaced by something more permanent.

With the acceptance of the DAB Organizing Document, the new DAB Mover Group was established. The DAB Membership Subcommittee set parameters to define what a DAB mover is. Now IAM is working to identify DAB Movers who are already IAM members, with the objective of bringing them into the DAB Mover Group. IAM will also continue to make our DAB value proposition known to non-IAM members.

Over time, within the rules spelled out in the DAB Organizing Document, the DAB Mover Group will elect the Chair, Vice Chair, and other members to the DAB Management Board. As of now, the DAB Task Force members have transitioned from the Task Force to form the first DMB.

A number of the DMB recently made a strong showing at the annual Dispatcher’s Convention in Austin, Texas, hosted by Apple Moving (one of the initial DAB Task Force members). The Dispatchers was the first in-person moving conference in the COVID era, and by all accounts, was a great success. IAM’s DMB sponsored free mimosas and Bloody Marys at the Dispatchers breakfast, and took the opportunity to provide a short update on what DAB is and what they are building with their efforts. 

Later that night, a handful of DAB Movers (Firefighting’s Finest; DN Van Lines; Bekins Moving Solutions; Denali Group; Cornerstone Moving & Storage; and Victory Packaging) hosted an open bar social, and got the chance to interact with the broader Dispatchers crowd over drinks.

Finally, the DAB Events subgroup has begun hosting a monthly DAB-Hour webcast, in which topics relevant to DAB Movers are discussed in depth. You can find copies of those webcasts in IAM Learning Live Events; be sure to join future DAB webcasts (listed on the same page) where you can interact with DAB guests and hear DAB-related content.

If you’re interested in learning more about the DAB Mover Group, read more on the IAM website or contact Dan Bradley on the IAM staff at daniel.bradley@iamovers.org.