Would you like to spend the day moving a 90-ton submarine that once belonged
to Jacques Cousteau? How about moving a castle complete with drawbridge, windmills
and other unusual items?
These are just some of the challenges that house and structural movers
are likely to encounter.
Murray Nickel owns a house moving company. He learned the moving trade
from his father and from other movers.
"I'm second generation," he says. "My father and uncle started the company.
There are no courses to take. You learn on the job."
Nickel has seen it all. He finds that no two days are alike. "This morning,
one crew started at 4 a.m. They traveled to Vancouver to move a submarine
that had formerly belonged to Jacques Cousteau. The sub has been stored here
for a number of years, and now it is being set up for display at the marine
museum," explains Nickel.
"First, the workers had to jack the submarine up six feet so they could
put dollies, or wheels, under the framework. Then it was transported to the
barge by truck. Next, the crew moved the vessel a kilometer [0.6 miles] to
the maritime museum and the rest of the day will be spent moving the vessel
over a concrete foundation."
Nickel's company has done many different types of moves. "We moved Trader
Vic's restaurant this summer. A few years ago, we relocated a European-style
castle. Within the next few months, we will be moving bridge panels for the
Lion's Gate Bridge, and we will be moving modules for the catamaran ferries,"
he says.
"We also move houses. Sometimes developers come into an area and buy up
property. Then they re-zone the area for new homes. The existing homes are
advertised for sale, but the buyers must move them to a different location.
"Or in other cases, if a developer is putting in a highway or a shopping
mall, they are required by law to maintain the heritage homes in the area.
So they often have us pick up those homes and relocate them to other spots."
Many buildings require anywhere from three days to several weeks to prepare,
move and relocate. "There are always new challenges, and I like that," says
Nickel.
"But it can be stressful because we have to coordinate the move with many
different authorities -- such as the hydro company, the telephone company,
environmentalists, engineers. It can be stressful trying to satisfy all the
requirements."
John Sweetnam first became interested in the moving business as a young
boy when he watched the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. His family
was involved with pre-engineered housing and repairing engineered homes, so
Sweetnam joined his family business when he finished school.
In 1986, the family bought out another family-owned business that was becoming
active in moving buildings and structures.
"I had never moved anything before, but I understood the technology and
I had a broad base of experience. One of the previous owners stayed in a mentoring
or advisory capacity for 10 years," Sweetnam says.
Sweetnam's moving company has worked on a half-dozen major projects. "We
move about 34 houses or cottages a year. Once in a while, we get a particularly
interesting project. In 1991, we moved seven homes a short distance to free
up space for a new library at Queen's University. The choker was the time
factor -- we had to complete the project in 67 days," he says.
"What's more, some of the buildings were fragile, and at that time, no
one else had moved that many buildings that quickly, so there was no example
to study."
Sweetnam believes his company was awarded this and several other major
projects based on their reputation for doing things on time and keeping to
budget.
One of the challenges Sweetnam faces is arranging moves in locations as
far as 500 miles from home.
"Nowadays, in addition to the move, we are often asked to do excavation,
lay the cement work and arrange for the permits. When you are away, you don't
have every tool. You don't have contacts in place. We have built a relationship
with family-owned businesses in other communities, and we cooperate with one
another."
Since winters are often severe in Sweetnam's location, there is a seasonal
nature to the work. "We try to keep our workers on for most of the winter.
It is too difficult to find qualified workers, so you do what you can to keep
the ones you have."
Sweetnam's employees often work long days that may start as early at 4
a.m. and continue until 10 p.m. at night, including driving time to and back
from job sites. "I try to arrange for them to have weekends off so they can
spend family time," says Sweetnam.
When Sweetnam hires workers, he looks for people with a good attitude.
"You can train skills, but you can't train attitude. I look for people who
have a natural aptitude for equipment. They may not have the class A driver's
license they need, but they are so trainable that it is second nature," he
explains.
"You need a good head on your shoulders to use hydraulic equipment. Because
of government regulations, we want Grade 12 graduates so we can be sure that
they can read the safety manuals."
Sweetnam believes it takes three to six years of experience before a worker
becomes good. "I am looking for innovative people. They have to have the flexibility,
the creativity to find solutions to moving challenges that are different for
every project."
It's also important, in Sweetnam's opinion, that a mover love the outdoors,
motors and working with structures.
In Fort Worth, Texas, Donna Landers refers to herself as a third-generation
house mover. "My grandfather was a mover, my father was a mover, and now my
brother, sister and I are involved in the business, " she says. "It is all
I ever wanted to do. I never considered pursuing any other career."
While Landers was in high school, she loved spending her weekends working
on the crews with her dad. After completing high school, Landers began working
full time for the family business.
"I graduated with high business honors, but that type of work did not interest
me. I looked around for a college course where I could study moving, but I
found the local college was contacting my dad to give lectures on structural
moving to engineering students. So I decided that I could learn what I needed
to know from him."
For the first two years, Landers worked with the moving crew. "Since I
grew up in the business, I already had some knowledge, so this gave me some
hands-on experience. The work is physically demanding, but I knew my limitations.
"You learn to devise methods so you don't always have to ask others for
help. I could drive trucks at a very early age, so I could drive if I wasn't
always able to move the heavy blocks like the men did."
Now Landers works in the office full time, although she sometimes still
works with the crews when the need arises. On a typical day, Landers meets
her dad and her brother at 7 a.m. to discuss the day's work. "Maybe a storm
came through, maybe we have to regroup or move from one job site to another,"
she says.
Around 8 a.m., Landers arrives at the office where she spends her time
working on the huge amount of paperwork that must be done to comply with state
and local regulations.
"It takes longer now to get the paperwork in order than it takes to do
the actual move," she says. "There are contracts, permits, doing payroll,
answering the telephone or tracking down information."
Landers loves her occupation, which she describes as the world's largest
recycling industry.
"When you move a house, you save a tree. You save the landfills. You might
end up with a house that is built with lumber that can't be bought anymore
and you are creating instant equity in a home. And another thing, if a reputable
mover moves your home, you end up with a house that can be paid off in a reasonable
amount of time."
Lander's enthusiasm for the occupation has attracted recognition from her
peers. One year, the Texas Association of Structural Movers presented
her with its highest honor -- the Casey Jones Award. The award is reserved
for someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in contributing
to the moving industry.
If you are considering a career as a mover, Landers suggests you be sure
to get your high school education and to pay attention to office management
courses. Then, try to arrange some work experience through a work program
or a summer program with a reputable mover.
"Learn all you can. The biggest part is common sense and a willingness
to work. It's also very important that you observe safety practices and that
you are able to fit in with a crew. With a well-oiled crew, there is nothing
you can't do. As big as you can dream, you can do it!"
Landers has one last piece of advice. "One thing I have learned is that
you only fail when you quit trying. If it's your dream, don't let anybody
steal it from you."