Embedded Files
COURSE #1, LESSON #1:
LEARN THE TOP FIFTY BASICS FOR MOVING HELPERS
Read and try to remember the general idea these top 50 basics.
TOP 50 BASICS
___ #1: ANSWER AGMC CALLS, OR CALL BACK QUICKLY. RELIABLE PHONE CONTACT IMPORTANT
___ #2: INFORM AGMC OF YOUR AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE, & UPDATE CHANGES ASAP.
___ #3 CONFIRM JOB OFFER TEXTS QUICKLY
___ #4 IF YOU CAN'T ACCEPT A TEXTED JOB OFFER, CALL AGMC, DON'T JUST TEXT
___ #5: WEAR AN AGMC OR ALL BLACK OUTFIT (UNIFORM)
___ #6: BE USUALLY 5 MINUTES EARLY.
___ #7: CLOCK IN WHEN YOU ARRIVE TO STARTING JOB SITE WITH A "C" TEXTED TO AGMC
___ #8: CALL AGMC IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE, NOT JUST TEXT (AS SOON AS YOU KNOW)
___ #9: DROP EVERYTHING TO HELP BACK UP THE TRUCK
___ #10: KNOW STARTING EQUIPMENT LOCATION SO CAN RETURN AFTER JOB.
___ #11: WHEN POSSIBLE, APPROACH CUSTOMER DOOR TOGETHER. HAVE EYE CONTACT.
___ #12: DO THE WALK-THRU WITHOUT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, LET LEAD DO TALKING.
___ #13: ON WALK-THRU, MEMORIZE FURNITURE LOCATIONS, LOOK FOR HOUSE PRE-DAMAGE.
___ #14: HELP PREP THE HOUSE, PATH, AND TRUCK BEFORE STARTING TO LOAD
___ #15: CHECK WITH LEAD FOR HIS ATTIC LOADING STRATEGY BEFORE JUMPING IN
___ #16: PHOTO-DOCUMENT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE OF HOUSE & ITEMS BEFORE MOVING
___ #17: KNOW THE 4 LEVELS OF A LOAD WALL
___ #18: BE RETURNING TO THE TRUCK OFTEN, KEEP THE LOADER SUPPLIED WITH ITEMS.
___ #19: DO NOT SLIDE THINGS ON THE CUSTOMER'S FLOORS OR CARPETS, WITHOUT SLIDERS
___ #20: BRING WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE NEXT HOLE IN THE LOAD WALL
___ #21: STAGE LIKE ON LIKE, 7 FEET BACK, SINGLE FILE, IN A STABLE POSITION
___ #22: ONLY THE DESIGNATED LOADER LOADS & UNLOADS
___ #23: IF YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU CAN MOVE SOMETHING SAFELY DON'T MOVE IT
___ #24: WHEN YOU NEAR A BUMP HAZARD, GO SLOW AS A SNAIL
___ #25: FABRIC SHOULD ONLY TOUCH CLEAN SURFACES
___ #26: REMOVED HARDWARE MUST BE BAGGED AND PLASTIC WRAPPED TO SOURCE ITEM
___ #27: LET THE LEAD BE THE MAIN CUSTOMER COMMUNICATOR & QUESTION ASKER.
___ #28: BE MINDFUL OF NOT GETTING THE CUSTOMER'S FLOOR DIRTY OR SCRATCHED
___ #29: PUT MATTRESSES IN A MATTRESS BAG BEFORE LEAVING SOURCE ROOM
___ #30: WORK HARD AND KEEP MOVING, NEVER STAND WAITING. THIS IS A RACE.
___ #31: ALWAYS SPEAK PROFESSIONALLY AND NICELY, AND HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE
___ #32: DO NOT TALK BAD ABOUT FELLOW MOVERS, THE CUSTOMER, OR AGMC
___ #33: CLOCK OUT BY TEXT WITH THE LEAD FOR BREAKS, DON'T JUST DISSAPEAR
___ #34: DON'T WALK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOAD EMPTY HANDED
___ #35: DO NOT CARRY ITEMS THRU RAIN WITHOUT A TARP OR BLANKET COVER.
___ #36: DO NOT PICK UP A GLASS OR MARBLE SHEET HORIZONTALLY (EVEN SPLIT SECOND)
___ #37: DO NOT MOVE ANYTHING WORTH ABOVE $2,000 WITHOUT LEAD PRESENT
___ #38: LET THE LEAD MAKE THE FINAL CALL
___ #39: NEVER SMOKE WITHIN SIGHT OR SMELL OF THE CUSTOMER. REMOVE YOUR BUTTS
___ #40: DO NOT LET A FINISHED SURFACE TOUCH METAL OR GRITY SURFACES
___ #41: PICK UP A HAND-TRUCK TO CARRY EMPTY OVER STAIRS.
___ #42: PUT HAND-TRUCK LOADS DOWN SOFTLY, WITHOUT THUD.
___ #43: KEEP MOVING IF CONVERSING WITH CUSTOMER, DON'T TALK TOO MUCH.
___ #44: WHEN UNLOADING, MEMORIZE CUSTOMER INSUCTIONS, PUT ONLY AS INSTRUCTED.
___ #45: HELP PUT EQUIPMENT AWAY PROPERLY, THE WAY IT WAS AT THE START.
___ #46: TEXT YOUR HOURS & PAY TO AGMC AT END OF EACH JOB.
___ #47: TEXT AGMC YOUR EQUIP & GAS PICS WHEN PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF A TRUCK
___ #48: ALWAYS TALK RESPECTFULY TO AND ABOUT AGMC AND FELLOW MOVERS
___ #49: MAKE CONTINUAL PROGRESS ON LEARNING THE COURSE MATERIAL. BECOME EXPERT
___ #50: ALWAYS KNOW & PAY WHAT YOU OWE BY KEEPING A CURRENT TRANSACTION LOG
COURSE #1, LESSON #2:
BECOME AWARE OF HOW WELL YOU'RE DOING THE 50
Become aware of how you think you are doing on the top 50 Basics. Go down the list of 50 Basics and for each of them ask your self if you feel confident you are doing that point correctly. For every point you do not feel confident you do properly (or that you have questions about) write that point number into a text you are going to send to AGMC. When you get your full list together, text that number set to AGMC. i.e. "7,19, 23,38,50". Then have a short phone call discussion with AGMC about those points.
COURSE #1, LESSON #3:
UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET JOBS
THE TOP 50 ARE A BIG PART OF GETTING JOBS
The Basic Top 50 job requirements explained on this web-page are the top 50 most important things you are being hired to do. They are just as important as knowing how to carry furniture or load a truck. Trying to do this work without doing all the Basics is like trying to drive a car without lug nuts on your wheels, without oil in your engine, or without breaks. Sometimes, leaving one of these things out can crash your entire value as a mover, and cause this job to not work out for you beyond a very limited run.
HOWEVER, THE LEAD'S DO THE CHOOSING AND HIRING OF HELPERS
Although AGMC makes recommendations of moving helpers to Lead Moving Companies, it is the Lead moving companies that make the ultimate choice on who they're going to hire for their jobs. This is a bit like the NFL choosing a draft pick from the list of all options. The top 50 basics are a good representation of some of the main things both AGMC and the moving companies are looking for in movers. This is why learning and doing these 50 can have a big influence on the volumn of job offers a helper gets.
THE RANKING SYSTEM
AGMC recommends moving helpers based on a ranking system. Every time you get one of these basics wrong, AGMC deducts points from your Mover Ranking. Every time you get one of these Basics right, AGMC adds points to your Mover Ranking. The length of time you go getting all these Basics right adds to your Mover Ranking, and the length of time you go not correcting something you're doing wrong continues to detract from your Mover Ranking. That means if you are doing something wrong and you don't correct it quick, your mover ranking can continue to suffer from that. Your mover ranking raises or lowers the order that you are listed on AGMC's mover's list. The higher listed movers tend to get the bigger more frequent jobs. The lower you are on that list the smaller an less frequent jobs you will tend to get. This means you greatly effect your job sizes and job frequency by how well you do the basics. There's no favoritism, bargaining, excuses, discussion, opinions or anything else relevant to your ranking order on the HELPER'S LIST, it's just how well you've been doing on these 50 BASICS.
EXTREME SCORING EXCEPTIONS
All violatons are not equal. Some things you do wrong can count for enough to drop you off the Helper list entirely. Like stealing, fighting, or threats of violence. Or enough to make you worth less than a new mover who knows nothing, like smelling strongly of alcohol on the job or walking off a job, not showing up for a job, or causing careless damage. Some other more minor things can turn into a biger deal if they are repeated ongoingly without ever being improved.
ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE FEE YOU CHARGE
The Lead moving companies are also trying to make a profit. Besides the skill level of a Helper, the Leads are also shopping for a good deal on price, relative to the skill they are getting. You, as an independent contractor moving helper can set your own fee for your services. You can say "no" to any offered hourly rate number. If you accpet too little pay you are cheating yourself. If you ask too much, a Lead will decline to hire you. You offering a better deal on your required hourly fee can raise the frequency of Leads choosing your services. You asking too much can lower the frequency of Leads choosing your services. Just be aware of this factor when negotiating your required hourly rate fee with the different Lead companies.
OTHER FACTORS
Other factors that might cause a mover to be skipped over on this Ranking list (disqualified for a particular job offer) are things such as the mover charging more than the Lead wants to pay for that position; the mover having stated that they won't work with certain people who are already going to be on that job; the particular job position requiring a driver's license the mover doesn't have; the job requiring certain skills or equipment the mover doesn't have; or the Lead and other crew that are already on the job not wanting to work with a particular mover. But other than the disqualifying factors for a particular job, this Mover Ranking order list is used to determine the order in which moving Helpers are offered to moving companies.
THE LEAD COMPANY INFLUENCES YOUR WORK VOLUME
It is also advantageous for moving helpers to keep in mind that the higher ranked Moving Companies get many more job offers and for bigger jobs, compared to the lower ranked moving companies. This is why it can get a helper much more work to work for the Higher Ranked moving companies than it does for the lower ranked moving companies. For this reason, it also makes you more money to help the moving company you are working for to do better work and increase its AGMC ranking, or to not mess up and so lower its ranking. Just keep that in mind.
AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFYING FACTOR
There is an agreement in the contract that says once a Lead moving company does a job with a customer, if that customer was happy with the job, as long as that Lead moving company is still working with AGMC and has the needed qualifications for the job, that Lead moving company automatically gets first choice of any future job offers that come in from that customer. So this exception trumps the normal Ranking Order, and flows more jobs towards moving companies who have been around for longer.
HELPERS ADVERTISING TO AGMC
AGMC is trying to sell your (as a helper) services to multiple different moving companies. The less AGMC knows about you, the less AGMC has to convey to the companies as your selling points. The more you convey to AGMC about your selling points, the better your services can be sold. That means, if you can show AGMC pictures or videos of you pad-wrapping a sofa, your uniform, your tool set, that's all good selling point stuff AGMC can use on your behalf. If you respond to texts & phone calls quickly, AGMC will make note of that, and that's a big selling point. If you clock in early to most all your jobs that a big selling point. And of course, the feedback AGMC gets from the Lead moving companies is a big one too. Following the top 50 Basics is a great selling point. Be aware that all these things can improve the sales of your services and possibly make you worth a higher hourly fee.
DON'T BLAME AGMC FOR YOUR JOBS
Keep in mind that AGMC'spart in this is to recommend available moving helper options to the Lead Moving Companies, recommending the higher ranked Helpers more than the lower ranked helpers. But it's the Lead Moving Companies that do the actual choosing and hiring. That means it's not AGMC's right to actually hire you or any helpers, so don't ever get "snippy" with AGMC about who gets put on which jobs, because AGMC does not have ultimate control over that, and if you get "snippy" with AGMC anyway, your "snippiness" is seen as unprofessional and so can result in a further drop of your AGMC Helper Ranking, which can only further decrease your job offers.
SUMMARY
The bottom line; if you want more jobs, actually do all the Basics, don't ask too high of a rate for your services, try to work for the better Lead Moving Companies, and make yourself a better shopping choice than your compeditor helpers.
FEEDBACK SPIRAL
A "thing" that often happens with movers is that they think they're not getting enough work or pay, or there's something they're disgruntled about, so they decrease their efforts on trying to a great job. This causes their mover Ranking to lower, which gives them even less work, which makes them try less or care less, which further lowers their mover Ranking, which makes them get even less work or less pay, etc. This causes a downward feedback spiral that often ends up with less and less jobs, and no one wanting to work that that moving helper.
However, a POSITIVE FEEDBACK SPIRAL can be chosen instead. A mover who does increasingly better work, doing more of the BASICS right, gets their Ranking increasing, which gives them even more work and more pay, which is motivation to do even better work, which gets them even more jobs, etc. , creating an upward feedback spiral. This improvement could get them ready to become a successful Lead and run their own moving company and make even more money. You are the one who sends yourself into either a downward income spiral or an upward income spiral. You choose.
PROS & CONS OF THIS SYSTEM
This AGMC Ranking and Lead Choice system of moving helpers getting jobs causes the work volume offered to moving helpers to be in close relation to the quality of work that they do. That means, get a Drivers License, be the mover everybody else wants to work with, have a good attitude, don't disappear on jobs, learn the skills, don't charge too much for your services, don't steal things, don't threaten people, and help the moving company you normally work for to increase its AGMC RANKING.
This system makes mover's accountable for their all their choices in ALL the Basic things and qualifications, not just their choices about carrying furniture.
This system has the advantage of funneling more jobs to the movers who do a better job, while "weeding out" the movers who don't do things right and bring problems to the jobs (by giving them less much work). This tends to create more compatible crews, doing a better job, and so making work more enjoyable, with more tips. Traditional job assignment methods with other moving companies leave you stuck with bad fellow movers that are little accountable for the problems they bring to the job, allowing much less immediately correctable team selection for crews.
This system of getting jobs is a trade off of benefits and drawbacks. This system tends to steer towards there be happier more compatible crews, but much less job stability and job volume for movers who have certain "problems" they are not correcting. You should only be working with AGMC if this is the trade-off you want to make. If you think other less-accountable systems with other companies are better, that's where you should be working, not complaining about the system you've chosen as the best choice for you.
If you want a higher standard for the whole crew doing things right, then this system promotes that, at the cost of destabilizing job stability for movers who refuse to correct their problems. That makes movers who think they can learn to do the whole picture correctly appreciate and prefer this system, while making movers won't fix their own problems feel disgruntled and cheated out of jobs. You can tell a mover is this "lack of taking responsibility" type of person by their complaints about which jobs other people are getting instead of them. The jobs go to who best earns them.
New unskilled movers should not be too intimidated by the competition with long-time movers, because there's plenty of Top Skilled long time movers that rack up the points in Mover Skills and longevity, but then deduct that many points right back off their Mover Ranking by getting very wrong some of the BASICS so badly that they make them self "barely worth it", sometimes Ranked less than "a new guy" who is at least reliable and learning. So the competition might be more beatable than you'd guess.
If you want to get the bigger more frequent jobs, you just need to earn more Ranking Points by actually doing the Basics, and NOT loose massive ranking points by choosing to NOT do some of the Basics. You make your own bed of job size and frequency by your choice of how well you do or don't do the Basic job requirements. This means the only place you should look for blame or for credit for what jobs you do or don't get is yourself.
But remember, the jobs tend to go to who earns them by doing more of the Basics correctly compared to other movers, not to who just carries furniture or loads a truck better without doing all the other critical job requirements, and DEFINITELY NOT to who just sits around waiting for jobs.
COMPLAINTS ARE NO SECRET, JUST ASK
A mover's biggest problems (complaints) that are holding down that mover's Ranking and job frequency are the exact areas that if improved would most readily crank up that movers Ranking, job frequency, and income. That means, the most important thing a mover should become aware of in order to make more money is the biggest "complaints" about that mover's services. A complaint is a mover's "gold", if that information is used by the mover to improve the problem.
Yes, you can and should ask fellow movers and Leads for feedback, but the reality is that feedback from these sources might be limited in the degree of openness you might get. AGMC can give you a perspective of feedback on a broader scale than from individual movers. If you want feedback from AGMC, all you have to do is ask. This way a mover can always know exactly what they could do to most quickly improve their Ranking at any time. Just ask AGMC. And ask semi regularly if you want to keep on top of it.
However, if feedback is given from AGMC and a mover receiving this feedback does not make good use of the feedback, responds negatively, defensively, or only diverts the topic to other subjects, then AGMC will stop being willing to provide feedback to that mover.
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More specifically, AGMC ranks movers on a list in order of how well they do THE BASICS. Helpers are assigned/offered/recommended to independent moving companies in order of the movers' Ranking order on this list, provided that the Helper has the qualifications needed for the position that's open.
This means, as long as the mover qualifies for the position (has the skills & equipment needed for the job), the top Ranked Helper gets the first recommendation for the biggest jobs available (or the first choice of any jobs available) on any particular day, while the 2nd Ranked moving Helper is the second helper to get recommended for the next best job, etc. If there's only one job on a particular day, the top Ranked moving Helper is the first to be recommended. In general, this results in the bigger jobs and more frequent work going to the higher ranked Helpers.
However, AGMC only recommends moving Helpers to independent moving companies who are asking AGMC for help in finding additional moving help for their crews on particular jobs. It is the many individual independent moving company owners who make the actual decision of who they are going to hire on their jobs, so having a high AGMC mover ranking does not necessarily get you hired for certain jobs if the moving company owner has had a bad previous experience with you, and just doesn't want to work with you. So although AGMC will try to get the higher ranked moving helpers more work in proportion to their AGMC HELPER RANKING, AGMC does not have the ultimate control over which Moving Helpers are going to be hired for jobs presided over by other moving companies. This means that in addition to doing all the basics, you also need to not "piss off" the owners of the moving companies that might decide to hire you in the future.
Not coincidentally, doing the Basics are the same things that would make you NOT piss off the moving companies that might decide to hire you. For example, the Basics say that you're supposed to be early to your jobs, and that you should ALWAYS speak professionally. If you violated these two Basics by being late and threatened violence on your jobs, that would "piss off" the moving company that you worked for, and would likely make that moving company not want to hire you again, regardless of your Helper Ranking and AGMC's recommendations.
DIVISION OF THINGS TO LEARN
All the things to learn and do that are explained in this training course are divided into three categories; 1) the TOP TEN BASICS; 2) the OTHER BASICS on this page; and 3) ALL THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS WEBSITE. The Top Ten Basics are the most important things to learn and do immediately, being worth many more Ranking credit or demerit points than all the other things covered by this course. These Top Ten are the things that can sink you quick if you don't learn and do (or correct) them right off the bat. The OTHER BASICS on this website page are explained on this same page as the TOP TEN, and are just as important to learn eventually, but are not as immediately important to learn and do as quick as compared to the TOP TEN. You have a little time (weeks or a month) to learn THE OTHER TWENTY BASICS, before the points will stack up against you for not knowing them. ALL THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS WEBSITE are also important to learn, but now we're talking that you have a number of months to learn this other material before the points will stack up against you for not knowing it. The only way to stay on top of this is for you to be making continual progress on converging this course material. If you are ever just sitting waiting for jobs while not making progress on covering this course material, the lack of progress itself counts as deducting from your Mover Ranking.
So you do need to eventually learn all the other stuff this course teaches, but not as quickly as the OTHER BASICS on this page, and not as immediately as the TOP TEN.
This division of material is so that you can first concentrate on the TOP TEN most important things, to see if you can even get those right, before bothering with all the rest. If you mess up any one of these TOP TEN, and don't at least correct it very quickly, there's little point in putting effort into the rest of this course because you won't be working with AGMC for long, or you'll only be getting calls as an emergency last-minute "back-up" replacement helper, at best.
COURSE #1, LESSON #3:
THE FIRST THREE OF THE
TOP TEN MORE FULLY EXPLAINED
#1) ANSWER YOUR PHONE
Respond to AGMC phone calls and texts quickly. There is no single greater aspect that will effect your job frequency more quickly and easily than the reliability of AGMC being able to reach you by phone.
If you miss a call from AGMC call back quick. Even during non work hours, don't go for periods where you can't be reached, unless you pre-inform AGMC of your needed black-out times. During your jobs, stay off your phone for personal calls during jobs. Keep AGMC informed about problems like damages or a customer or crewman not being at an appointment. When communication with AGMC is important to be quick, like when you are going to be late or can't make it to a job, call AGMC, don't just text.
When you get a job offer text, reply quickly with a confirmation of some kind, like "copy", "confirmed" or "thanks". If you don't reply quick the offer might go away, and a slow response time counts as a lesser reliability of quick phone contact, and so lowers your mover ranking every time you are slow about it. If you are turning down a job offer, call AGMC to turn down that offer, don't just text. Quick communication is a big factor in your ranking.
Job appointment instructions and corrections (such as appointment location and arrival time) must come through AGMC. If you are receiving an appointment instruction or correction from any other source without having at least also received them through AGMC (541 636-7386), you should double check with AGMC, because if AGMC isn't sending you the job appointment instructions or corrections directly then something is wrong, and you should find out what that is before proceeding down a problem path.
AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE
Text your Availability Schedule to AGMC each Sunday, and update that schedule as soon as you become aware of a needed update. The Terms And Conditions section under the Helper Listing page give detailed instructions on how to do that. But basically, it says that you should indicate your available days over the next month out, and if you only might be available or are not available on certain days you need to specify that. You should also include any restrictions and preferences, such as that you can't start before a certain time, and that you'd prefer to start at such-and-such time, and who you would prefer to work with, in order of preference.
#2 OF THE TOP TEN MORE FULLY EXPLAINED:
AIM EARLY, CLOCK IN, CALL IF GOING TO BE LATE
If you aim at being 5 to 10 minutes early to job appointments, this will make you rarely be late, because most things that delay you only delay you by 5 to ten minutes. But if you are going to be late, call AGMC to let AGMC know you're going to be late before you're actually late (that's call not text). The reason for being late does not alter or diminish the absolute necessity for the pre-late phone call. Clock in when you arrive to your starting job site, by texting a "C" to AGMC (meaning at customer's appointment site).
If you are late, you are costing your fellow crewman and the customer their wasted time while they are waiting for you. In fact, on two man jobs, your fellow crewman can't start to charge the customer for his time until you get there, so you should compensate him for his lost wages and tips at $1 per 2 minutes late, or if there's a larger crew then spread that same amount among them.
An exception is that if your lateness is due to last minute extra work needed for AGMC or the job, that you didn't know about beforehand, like you need to take a customer phone call, then this doesn't count as late. If you don't like it, then actually aim at being 5 or ten minutes early like you're agreeing to do. If you are actually aiming at being ten minutes early, there's no reason for being late, except on very rare occasion.
#3 OF THE TOP TEN, MORE FULLY EXPLAINED:
PAY AND DOCUMENT WHAT YOU OWE
Pay what you owe by deadline times explained in your service contract. If you owe a lot and you don't have it, then you are agreeing to pay at least $5/hr. out of every job you do. If you don't, expect to not work again or have your ranking and work frequency drop drastically compared to what it would otherwise be, for a long time down the road. The longer it takes you catch up on what you owe, the worse it will be job-frequency wise.
When you accept a job thru AGMC's booking help, you are agreeing to inform AGMC of the hours you worked on a job, and the pay you received for that job. That means, at the end of a job, moving helpers are supposed to text to AGMC that mover's hours and amount paid or owed to them. This allows AGMC to make sure AGMC is getting the right payment amount for that worker's hours worked. For example: "8 hrs, $200 paid by Grant, + 20 tip." or "4 hrs, $100 owed by Grant, 0 tip". This also allows AGMC to make sure you got the tip amount that the customer says they tipped.
If there was a money amount transacted between you and AGMC, you need to immediately text to AGMC a picture of your Transaction Log entry that records it, or at least a text that records that transaction (the Transaction Log is better). If you don't bother to keep a record of the transactions of what you owe, there's no way you can pay what you owe, which means you're not even making the slight attempt to pay what you owe, and so clearly flipping the finger to the person you owe. If you aren't keeping and texting this record, it's the same as stealing money, and so you should expect nothing but a quick end to our working relationship. What would you do if someone didn't pay you what they owe you for your work, said they weren't going to pay you, and instead flipped you the finger and said, don't bother me about it? That's what NOT keeping a Transaction Log is doing. Expect others to do what you would do if someone stole from you and flipped you the finger, which at the very least would be to not send you further jobs.
Think of this job as a slot machine that is broken in a way that is guaranteed to pay you three times as much as you put into the machine. Not paying what you owe is like NOT putting money into the guaranteed-pay-out slot machine, in that if don't put the required money into the machine it will for sure not pay out three times more than you put in. Don't put no money into the machine and then stand there wondering why it's not paying out.
COURSE #1, LESSON #4:
#4 OF TOP TEN MORE FULLY EXPLAINED
PUT THE EQUIPMENT AWAY PROPERLY AFTER EACH JOB, AS SHOWN ON THE TRAINING PAGE "#6 TRUCK EQUIPMENT".
At end of each job, all of the equipment needs to go back in its designated spot. It should look like the pictures on the website training course page titled "#6 TRUCK EQUIPMENT. These truck pictures are sectioned off there by themselves so you can locate them quickly. The TRUCK EQUIPMENT page should be referred to fairly often, so it's recommended you put link on your phone to that web-page. Please take a look at that web-page before you continue. But following is a little preview.
BIG TRUCK
SMALL TRUCK
PUT THE EQUIPMENT AWAY AFTER EACH JOB
Right at the end of each job, help put the equipment away in its known designated spot (as shown) properly. The deal you made in your Moving-Helper Contract was to help gather up and put away the moving equipment after each job, but to clock out when the customer's last item has been moved, plus any drive-time back to Eugene for out of town jobs. That means, part of the time to pick up and put away equipment after a job is off the clock. That's the SPECIAL deal that is being advertised and offered to sell our services to the customers, which has the result of getting us more, bigger, and more frequent jobs, WITH BIGGER TIPS, which puts more money in your pocket than charging extra for just the few minutes of picking up our equipment. You are an adult that has the right to many any deal you want, and this is the deal you made in your Mover's Contract, which is actually a more profitable deal for you when you count the extra jobs and tips you get as a result of this special offer. If you want a different deal than this, you can decline this deal, or you can certainly propose a different deal before you accept a job. But after you accept this deal in your Mover's Contract, honor the deal you made, and give good value for the deal you made.
You are also making the deal that if you borrow someone else's property to use it to make money for yourself (the borrowed moving truck & equipment), you are agreeing to take care of that equipment like it was your own, treat it carefully, and make sure it gets put away nicely, the way you found it, so it doesn't get lost, broken or left behind. If things aren't put back the way you found them, in their exact spot that they are supposed to go, then it's hard to tell what all might have been left behind, and risks loss of that equipment. If someone else borrowed your equipment, lost it or broke it and said, "can I borrow it again?", what would you say? You wouldn't lend that person your equipment again, so if you don't take very good care of the borrowed truck and equipment, don't expect this borrowed equipment to be lent to you again, which means, don't expect to be given future job offers, or at least expect a big decrease in the frequency of your job offers.
Also, if equipment is lost on your job because you don't make sure its all put away properly, you must be willing to share in the replacement cost for it, so you are responsible for keeping an eye on the equipment and making sure you actually look to make sure its all back in its place before leaving at the end of the job.
If you don't know what all equipment is supposed to be there, and where all the equipment is supposed to go in the truck, look at the truck pictures provided above. If you walk off a job at the end before helping to put all the equipment back away properly, there is a $10 penalty fee that you owe, that is to be divided among the other movers who are helping to put the equipment away properly.
PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF A BORROWED TRUCK
If for your job that day you are picking up a borrowed moving truck that was used by someone else before you, you are required to check to see if all the equipment that's supposed to be in the truck is still in the truck and put away properly as shown in the pictures above. You should also document the condition of the truck at PICK UP TIME by either texting to AGMC a confirmation that all the equipment is present and put away properly as shown in these above provided pictures, by simply texting "E" to AGMC when you pick up the truck, or if you find it's not all in place properly you are to text to AGMC a photo record of the placement, condition and items of equipment in the truck, to prove what equipment is and isn't in the truck and its condition when you picked it up. This way you pass the blame for the missing items or poor condition of the truck onto the previous person who dropped of the truck. If you don't photo-document (and text to AGMC) pictures of what's in the truck when you pick it up, you are agreeing to pay for any of the above pictured things that are not in the truck when you return it. Don't let the last guy make you pay for his missing items by YOU not doing your required job of checking and photo-documenting the Equipment status upon pick-up of the truck.
TRUCK DROP OFF
If you are dropping off a truck, with possibly someone else picking up the truck the next time the truck is used, then you MUST Photo-document the Equipment condition upon drop-off and text those pictures to AGMC to prove how you are leaving the truck upon drop-off.
The first mover that picks up a truck that gets caught with the NEXT mover's pictures showing missing Equipment or a messy truck upon the next pick up (that can't be countered with the contrary proof of their drop off pics), gets charged for both the missing items and for the time it takes to replace the missing items and clean up the truck (& refold the blankets properly). This is why the Lead should be making the crew help with fully putting everything back in its place properly BEFORE PAY THE CREW AT THE END OF THE JOB. The Lead should not need to be doing this on his own unless he wants to. A mover or Lead who loses equipment or leaves a mess will receive no further job offers using that truck until the ball-dropping mover replaces or pays for the missing items, and pays to have the truck cleaned and straightened back out, besides getting a big deduction to their Mover Ranking. Maintaining the truck's equipment is a big deal.
A LEAD REGULARLY USING THE SAME BORROWED TRUCK
Also, if you are a lead and you are regularly holding onto the same borrowed truck, then you must at least once each week (preferably on Sundays), or within the previous week of any job you do as Lead, text to AGMC another photo-record of the truck equipment placement, to shows what's there. This keeps track of the equipment over time, and lets AGMC know when something might have come up missing, and stay on top of knowing the extent of the current preparedness and cleanliness of the truck and equipment. If you fail to do this, you are in violation of your Lead contract, and your booking fee goes up by $2/mhr. It only takes all of 30 seconds to take and text these pictures, so you should not feel put out about this requirement.
We need to keep tabs on the equipment
SUPPLIES AND GAS
Also, if you are Lead of the job, you need to be replacing the supplies and gas (diesel) used on your job. You should be charging the customer for the gas and supplies used on your job. The money you collected is to be either spent by you on replacing that gas and supplies, or given to AGMC or the party who will take responsibility for replacing the gas and supplies. If you collect the money for gas and supplies and then don't replace the gas and supplies (or pay someone else to do it), that's stealing from someone, and must be corrected immediately.
Just like the truck equipment, you need to be photo-documenting the supplies and gas level upon pick up and drop off to and from some other third party. U-Haul requires it when you rent a U-Haul, or you pay for any missing equipment and gas, and these borrowed trucks are the same. Don't make a verbal statement otherwise unless you have TEXTED AGMC the required pictures that prove what's there. This is the required truck check-out and turn in process.
COURSE #1, LESSON #5:
#5, #6, & #7 OF TOP TEN
MORE FULLY EXPLAINED
#5) ALWAYS SPEAK PROFESSIONALLY AND NICELY,
AND HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE
Always speak professionally, respectfully, calmly and nicely, without aggression, upsetness or threats. Even one single very disrespectful or threatening encounter can end any further work through AGMC. Also, no swearing or "concerning" subject discussions around the customer. If you say something it should be positive, helpful, and politically safe. No controversial subject discussions within hearing of the customer. We're here to make money, not loose money and tips for needless casual things being talked about that are not liked by the customer.
If you carry a disgruntled attitude around with you, that also drags down the attitude of all the other people working around you, and AGMC knows this greatly increases the chances of various problems arising both on the present job and down the road. A disgruntled attitude in itself counts for a big loss of Mover Ranking points, besides causing other movers to be much less wanting to work with you.
If you speak to other movers with an upset, angry or hostile voice, that has the cost of making that other person less want to work with you. The truth is that there is no need to do this, and it is only your lack of self control that lets you speak this way, because doing so only loses you jobs and money, and does not help to solve any problems.
6) WORK HARD & KEEP MOVING
Keep moving something, never just wait not moving, ask what to do if you don't know. Always be getting something done. This is a race to be efficient with the customer's time.
7) CLOCK OUT FOR BREAKS
Don't disappear on a job without letting the Lead know, clock out & back in by text for breaks, no personal calls while on the clock (call back at breaks), & deduct breaks off time.
COURSE #1, LESSON #6:
#8 & 9, OF THE TOP TEN
MORE FULLY EXPLAINED
#8 of the top ten: DOCUMENT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE
Look for and properly photo-document pre-existing damage of both furniture items & house, showing surroundings to prove when the pre-existing damage pics were taken.
#9 OF THE TOP TEN MORE FULLY EXPLAINED:
MAKE PROGREESS ON LEARNING THE OTHER MATERIAL
Learn the content of your Mover contract. Continue to address issues and make progress on learning the course material thru conference call training sessions, getting AGMC feed back, reading this course, and getting AGMC certified. Getting AGMC certified means having AGMC test you on your knowledge and performance of the points of this course, and then check you off on the points that you passed, until you pass the whole course.
CONFRENCE CALL TRAINING SESSIONS
Do the group-conference-call training sessions at the end of two-hour-minimum jobs. You get paid an extra $10 for that ten minutes. This is our chance to address problems and learn the things you need to learn. Without course corrections, you're headed for a crash.
LEARN YOUR CONTRACT AND COURSE MATERIAL
Right away, from before your very first day working with AGMC, read your entire Moving Helper contract, and this BASICS page. Then read a bit more of this course each week, making continual progress on reading this training course material to learn the agreements and procedures you are agreeing to abide by. Every time it becomes apparent that you don't know your contract or course material drops your ranking, so you learning this stuff in on a limited time clock.
Since it's the moving company and AGMC that are gambling the possibility of a big loss when they take on a moving job, it's the moving company and AGMC that get to decide what gamble they are willing to take or not, and the exact gamble that is being agreed to take and not take is specified in THE PROCEEDURES THAT ARE SPECIFIED IN THIS TRAINING COURSE.
If you do something in a way that is not consistent with the procedures outlined in this course, then you are gambling someone else's money in a way that you have agreed to NOT do. Doing it "your way" is not your choice of a gamble to make. That's why AGMC wants to only do business with movers who will agree to follow, and follow, only the procedures and gambles that AGMC is willing to take. That's why AGMC is so fixated on only sending jobs to movers who are actively learning and following the dictates of this course.
Every week that goes by where you don't cover more course material with AGMC needlessly risks big losses, and so AGMC drops your ranking. This is a skilled job requiring your continual serious progress on learning this course material in order for you to continue to get jobs thru AGMC. If you don't show AGMC that you are at least making progress on learning this course, and instead you just wait for more jobs, the jobs will likely dry up, because AGMC is waiting for you to show you're learning this course material.
PUT A LINK TO THIS COURSE ON YOUR PHONE
You can't study this course properly without making a home-page link to the course on your phone. If you don't have a link to this website on your phone, you're not really trying to learn this material, and AGMC can tell right away just by this alone that this is the case.
10) DON'T TAKE BAD RISKS
Don't take bad risks that could cost a lot of money, drive a truck w no DL, take risks that damage things, steal, smell like alcohol, threaten people, allow truck backing without you helping spot, or smoke or spit within sight of the customer, etc. Non leads (regular helpers) should never try to move an item worth over $2,000 without the Lead present.
One bad risk taken could make it not worth working with you any further, and possibly cost you and others a big loss of money, tips, or future jobs. For example, a single instance of the crew not being at the back of the truck when the truck is being backed up to help warn of danger could result in a $80,000
COURSE #1, LESSON #7
THE FIRST FIVE OF THE "OTHER TWENTY BASICS"
(BASICS #11 THRU 15)
BASICS #11: GET AND WEAR AN ALL BLACK OUTFIT
Get your uniform together. Getting an AGMC shirt and hat is best, but at least get all black shirts and pants. Any newer shoes will work, but it's better to get "police-type" newer looking (& clean) boots or boot-looking shoes. Your presentation makes a HUGE difference in the perception of your services. You have the option to purchase shirts and hats with "A Great Moving Crew" printed on them from AGMC or possibly from your moving company. Shirts up to Large are $21 each, XXL shirts are $25 each, and 3XL shirts are $27 each. Hats are $25 each. To place your order just call AGMC and give your shirt size and the number of shirts and hats you want to buy.
You can also win shirts and hats in AGMC Mover-Skill competitions, and for completion of stages of the training course.
BASICS #12: CLOCK IN WHEN YOU ARRIVE WITH A "C" TEXTED TO AGMC
BASICS #13: EVERYONE HELPS BACK UP THE TRUCK
If there's a truck being backed up, all helpers should immediately drop everything and rush to key spots around the truck to help be a warning spotter. This is a moment where many thousands of dollars of potential damage could happen in five seconds, and so should be a priority over all other activities for the whole crew. If you're the driver, roll your window down so you can hear if someone yells to stop. Also, use a cell phone call to the main spotter if it's hard to hear and see. If you're a spotter, yell or scream if necessary before a collision. Remember, if you can't see the driver in the rear-view mirror, the driver can't see you. If you're going to accept a job thru AGMC as an independent contractor, you need to accept partial liability for a truck backing into something, because YOU are agreeing that you are supposed to be there STOPPING THE DRIVER FROM RUNNING INTO SOMETHING. This will NOT be just the other guys fault.
LOOK FOR PARKING DANGER SPOTS
You're not only looking for things behind the truck, you should also be looking for things on all sides, on the ground and up in the air. When the truck turns, the front and back ends swing wide, and can be a dangerous blind spot for the driver. This also applies to when the truck is driving away (pulling back out) in close proximity to objects. It is not your or the driver's choice to decide to be a warning spotter or not when the truck is coming close to collision hazards, IT MUST BE DONE. This gutter picture is what a crew did due to ignoring this prime mover rule. Don't ignore this rule.
BASICS #14: THE WALK-THRU
A The whole crew should approach the customer's front door together, with only a couple rugs and a clip board to start. After introductions, the start of a job should be a "walk-through" with the customer to get directions. The non-leads should let the Lead be the only person asking questions to the customer, and not be holding any side conversations. The most the non-leads should be saying during this time is possibly a few complimentary words to the customer.
Helpers should be completely busy putting sticky notes on items of special instruction; gathering the easy to move items of special instruction into islands of like instruction; looking for and documenting pre-damage to the house; remembering the customer's instructions, and looking at and remembering every item the customer is giving instructions about.
Keep in mind that we (and YOU) pay for damage we cause, and equally pay for damage WE DIDN'T CAUSE if it was pre-existing damage that YOU FAILED TO DOCUMENT AND REPORT.
ON A WALK-THRU, HELPERS SHOULD LET THE LEAD DO THE TALKING
During the walk-through the non-Lead helpers should NOT be asking the customer questions about the job. That's for the Lead to do, and the Lead may have already asked the customer questions that YOU don't know about, or the Lead might be purposefully NOT asking about something yet, waiting for a different timing. Either way, the question-asking about job instructions during a walk-through is a strategy for the LEAD to be making, not the helpers. If the helpers have a question about the job during this time, they should wait until the end of the walk-through and ASK THE LEAD, NOT THE CUSTOMER. This is one of the most common mover rules that movers get wrong.
BASICS #15:
ON A WALK-THRU, BE BUISY MEMORIZING FURNITUE SIZES AND LOCATIONS, AND LOOKING FOR PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE
On a walk-thru, you should be memorizing which furniture items are in which rooms, and the sizes of those things, so that you can know right where to go to get the next needed item for loading the truck, and so you can know where these things go in the unload house, as things usually go into an "equivalent" room, in an equivalent arrangement. If you or others don't memorize these items and locations this means you have to walk through the house to look for things every time you need something of a particular type and size, and you need to keep asking "where does this go" at the unload house. All this wasted and needless walking around looking and asking is a huge needless waste of time and turns what could be a good job into an rank amateur performance. On a walk-thru, you also need to be looking for and reporting pre-existing damage to the house and floors so that we won't be blamed for this pre-existing damage later.
ON A WALK-THRU, HAVE NO SIDE CONVERSATIONS
During a walk-thruough, the crew should let the Lead do the talking and question asking with the customer. It is insulting to both the customer and the Lead for other crewmen to be holding side conversations during this "order taking" time, like your waitress talking to her boyfriend on her phone while taking your order at a restaurant. This is the customer's few moments to receive all focus, and for you to not miss an instruction. A good rule for a moving crew to have is if any crewman side-converses during the walk-through they owe 20 pushups to the Lead right when the walk-thru is done.
COURSE #1, LESSON #8
BASICS 16 THRU 20 OF THE OTHER BASICS
BASICS #16: AFTER THE WALK THRU, HELP PREP THE HOUSE AND TRUCK
After the walk-through but before starting to load, is when the house and truck should be further prepped, such as putting up door and floor protection, clearing out the isle-ways, bringing in pad-wrap blankets, cleaning the path from the truck to the house, and possibly help to reposition the truck.
BASICS #17) PHOTO-DOCUMENT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE TO FURNITURE ITEMS BEFORE MOVING THE ITEMS
Use your phone to take pictures of pre-existing damage before you move the damaged item, showing also the room surroundings to prove the picture was taken before you moved the item.
#18: KNOW THE 4 LEVELS OF A LOAD-WALL
After the mom's attic is loaded, switch to loading the truck wall by wall (also called a tier). A "standard" (most common) load wall is composed of four height layers. 1) "BASE" on the bottom, which is weight bearing furniture such as dressers and night stands, 2) "BOXES" on that, (2nd layer up), with heavier boxes lower, lighter higher, 3) SEMI-STACKABLE above the boxes (3rd layer up), like pad wrapped dining chairs, open top boxes, and "squarish" things that you could put a few lighter things on; 4th) "TOP-LOADER"(poorly-stackable) like baskets, guitars, fans, backpacks, and kids toys that you don't want to put anything else on top of.
If you're a Lead, you should be texting pictures of each of your load-walls to AGMC right as each picture is taken.
BASICS #19: KEEP THE LOADER SUPPLIED
Keep the load wall builder busy by continuously bringing enough of the right items into the truck to keep the load wall builder busy for at least five minutes BEFORE you branch off onto other longer projects, such as pad wrapping things you don't need right away, or taking apart a bed or treadmill. That means don't be away from the truck for long, keep showing up regularly.
This also means you need to keep coming back to the truck fairly often, at least every five minutes or so (preferably every couple minutes), to make sure the load wall builder remains sufficiently supplied with the right items to keep the load-wall builder busy loading the wall, and not having to go get things himself, as much as possible.
BASICS #20: BRING WHAT'S NEEDED FOR NEXT HOLE IN THE LOAD WALL
While regular load-walls are being built, the "right" next thing needs to be the best thing that would fill the next hole to build the "four height layer wall" (described in the last point), meaning base, boxes, semi stackable, and top loader, or what would fit along side to tighten that wall. For example if there's enough things staged in the truck to make a whole load wall except top-loader, then movers should be bringing top-loader next. Or if there's a hole where a base piece needs to be filled, first bring the best base piece to fit that hole BEFORE spending time bringing other things. This order of events is important because the load wall builder can't proceed to stack on the base piece hole until the base piece hole is filled, and waiting for a needed piece wastes time.
YOU CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE LOAD WALL BEFORE EXITING TRUCK
Every time a mover comes up into the truck, he should be looking for the next hole (missing thing) in the load-wall that does not already have the right piece staged for it in the truck, and that next needed thing is what is the priority to bring to the truck next. If you don't know what to bring, ask. Don't just "bring things".
COURSE #1, LESSON #9
BASICS 21 THRU 26 OF THE OTHER BASICS
BASICS #21: STAGE LIKE ON LIKE, 7 FEET BACK
The process of things being set aside in the truck, and not directly into the load-wall, is called "Staging". When things are staged, they should be placed at least seven feet back from the load wall, "like on like", and not leaning on other things, so that one thing does not need to be moved to get to another item type, as much as possible.
BASICS#22: ONLY THE LOADER LOADS
When a helper is bringing something into the truck, if the load-wall builder wants the thing brought right to the load wall, instead of staging it back and to the sides, the loader will say so specifically "Would you bring that right up", or "Please put that right into the hole over there". Otherwise, the non-designated load-wall-builders should not be placing things into the load-wall. The loader is taking responsibility for the load.
RECAP OF BASICS #6 even more fully explained:
ALWAYS KEEP MOVING, DON'T EVER STAND & WAIT,
On a job site, always keep moving something, at a good pace, and never stand around waiting (or talking on your phone on a personal call). If you're standing waiting, that means you don't know what you're doing and you should ask what to do. Keep getting something done while on the clock. We are trying to give the customer a truly good value for the time we are charging them for, and that means we are in a race against time. You should feel like you are in a hurry, and helping the TEAM to get a shorter time on the clock, like a runner running a relay race.
RECAP OF BASICS #7 EVEN MORE FULLY EXPLAINED:
DON'T DISSAPEAR WITHOUT CHECKING OUT
If you need to make or take a personal call, use the bathroom or otherwise take a break, clock out with both a verbal and texted note to the Lead, and clock back in when you're ready to work again. Never just disappear to the bathroom or your car without letting the Lead know.
BASICS #23: If you're not sure you can move something safely, don't move it.
Check with your Lead, another mover or your moving company to evaluate alternative methods. If your Lead still doesn't feel he can move the item safely, the Lead should get a liability disclaimer before moving the item. And even if you are sure, helper should not try to move an item worth over $2,000 without the Lead present.
BASICS #24: When you near a bump hazard area, go as slow as a snail. That way even if you bump no damage happens. Also, if there is an equal damage danger on both sides, spilt the clearance difference. If one side of the item you are carrying is so soft that it's not a danger to bump, while the other side could cause damage, let the soft side gently slide along it's bump side so you gain additional clearance on the danger side.
#25: Fabric should only touch clean surfaces. It shouldn't touch anything but clean carpet, cardboard, plastic wrap, other clean furniture, or the "clean" side of moving blankets, which is either the lighter side, or the side with the U-Haul writing on it. That means fabric should not touch the pavement, a truck floor, a wood floor, or grass. "Fabric" includes everything fabric, including sofas, mattresses, rugs, rug ends, etc. and our equipment fabric, like the fabric of ratchet straps, black straps, and orange straps, doorway covers, and clothing. White or light furniture fabrics should be stretch-wrapped.
#26: Removed hardware of furniture must be put in a baggie (or something similar), and stretch-wrapped to the source item, or placed in a parts box and well labeled as to what it goes to. Removed hardware should never be lost or need to be searched for, or the person who took it apart pays for the missing parts.
COURSE #1, LESSON #10
BASICS 27 THRU 34 OF THE OTHER BASICS
(almost done)
BASICS #27:
LET THE LEAD BE THE CUSTOMER COMMUNICATOR
Let the Lead be the main communicator with the customer about directions and questions. Non-leads should run questions thru the Lead (and fellow movers) when possible, unless the mover is sure the Lead wouldn't know or it would have to waste a lot of time going to the Lead. That's because the customer may have already answered that question to the Lead, and the customer re-answering the same question again and again to different movers is not good. Also, it's a higher quality service if the customer knows which single person they should be talking to for directions, and if multiple movers keep asking the customer for directions this confuses the customer as to who the central mover communicator is supposed to be and confuses the web of communicating. All customer instructions that risk large damage claims must be run through the Lead, and not acted upon without the Lead being informed.
If a non-lead gets an instruction from the customer that is not carried out immediately, the non-lead should inform the Lead of the instruction so the instruction can be disseminated throughout the rest of the crew. In general, this means the helpers should be having only very limited short communications with the customer, and not be holding "conversations", unless it's at break time. In general, non-leads need to let the Lead do the talking and asking questions to the customer. If a helper is seeing that HUGE mistakes are being made by the Lead not communicating what needs to be communicated with the customer, this should be discussed in private with the Lead and/or with AGMC, but don't just hop in and take over with the customer.
BASICS #28: BE MINDFUL OF NOT GETTING THE CUSTOMER'S FLOORS DIRTY OR SCRATCHED
That means wipe your feet when you come in, if its wet or dirty outside, and don't slide things on the customer's floors, unless it's on something else that acts as a glide. When picking up rugs and runners, fold them inwards before picking them up so that the dirt they captured won't dump onto the customer's floor.
BASICS #29: Put mattresses in a mattress bag before carrying them out of their source room. But before you touch a mattress, not only wash your hands, make a show of you asking the customer if they mind you using their sink to wash your hands adding that you're going to handle their mattress (if another mover has not already asked). This not only keeps their mattress clean (and avoids a customer's disgruntlement), it also serves the main purpose of putting on a show demonstrating to the customer how much care you are taking to keep their mattress clean. Usually, lady customers in particular appreciate this, and earns you lots of easy "points".
#30: Do not talk "bad" about fellow movers, the Lead, AGMC, or the moving customer; "We could have been done an hour ago". If around only fellow movers, it's OK to talk about the pro's & con's of other movers actions and skills for purposes of discussing techniques and making business decisions, but it's not OK to speak disrespectfully about them or "name call". It's also not OK to tell one mover what another mover said about them, unless it's a compliment. That just causes trouble, sometimes big trouble, all needless. What is said always comes around and costs you, so just stay out of that loosing game.
#31: DON'T WALK IN THE DIRECTON OF THE LOAD EMPTYHANDED WITHOUT CARRYING SOMETHING.
You should be in a hurry to get this job done as efficiently as you can, while not rushing to the point of exhausting yourself or risking damage.
#32: LET THE LEAD MAKE THE FINAL CALL
When the Lead directs for something to be done a certain way, it's good to bring up alternative suggestions and concerns, and you should, but when the Lead makes the final call, it needs to be done the way the Lead is directing. It's the Lead that pays for what goes wrong if something goes wrong, and that means in the current job it's the Lead that is making a bet with his money that he won't have to pay a damage claim or need to give the customer a satisfaction discount .
#33) TEXT YOUR HOURS AND PAY TO AGMC AT THE END OF YOUR JOB
For example, text
"3.5 hrs, paid $100 by Grant, +0 tip".
This way, pay and tips can be cross referenced to make sure you get paid correctly, and that you get the tip if the customer confirms there was one. It also helps keep everything straight in other ways.
#34) YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY MUST BE TO REMAIN PROFESSIOAL, ALWAYS TALK NICELY AND CALMLY, AND AVOID A NEEDLES PROBLEM WITH THE CUSTOMER.
If you make us look bad to the customer needlessly, no one will want to work with you again because that can cost us all a major loss of work in the future. That means you sometimes need to hold your tongue and think twice about what you're saying and doing.
#35 DO NOT CARRY ITEMS THROUGH THE RAIN WITHOUT A TARP OR BLANKET COVER.
This especially applies to leather and antiques. If any rain does get on something, wipe it off as soon as possible.
#36 DO NOT PICK UP A GLASS OR MARBLE SHEET HORIZONTALLY
Glass or Marble sheets must be only slid sideways until their halfway center along the length lines up with the edge of the supporting furniture item, then tilted into a vertical alignment before lifting.
#37 DO NOT MOVE ANYTHING WORTH MORE THAN $2000 WITHOUT THE LEAD PRESENT.
#38: LET THE LEAD MAKE THE FINAL CALL
#39: NEVER SMOKE WITHIN SIGHT OR SMELL OF THE CUSTOMER. REMOVE YOUR BUTTS
#40: DO NOT LET A FINISHED SURFACE TOUCH METAL OR GRITY SURFACES
#41: PICK UP A HAND-TRUCK TO CARRY EMPTY OVER STAIRS.
#42: PUT HAND-TRUCK LOADS DOWN SOFTLY, WITHOUT THUD.
#43: KEEP MOVING IF CONVERSING WITH CUSTOMER, DON'T TALK TOO MUCH.
#44: WHEN UNLOADING, MEMORIZE CUSTOMER INSUCTIONS, PUT ONLY AS INSTRUCTED.
#45: HELP PUT EQUIPMENT AWAY PROPERLY, THE WAY IT WAS AT THE START.
#46: TEXT YOUR HOURS & PAY TO AGMC AT END OF EACH JOB.
#47: TEXT AGMC YOUR EQUIP & GAS PICS WHEN PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF A TRUCK
#48: ALWAYS TALK RESPECTFULY TO AND ABOUT AGMC AND FELLOW MOVERS
#49: MAKE CONTINUAL PROGRESS ON LEARNING THE COURSE MATERIAL
#50: ALWAYS KNOW & PAY WHAT YOU OWE BY KEEPING A CURRENT TRANSACTION LOG
COURSE #1, LESSON 11
CALCULATE & KNOW YOUR BASICS SCORE
There are FIFTY basic points to know and do that are explained in this BASICS course #1. These 50 points are summarized in the summary check list provided below. Count how many of these points you are not doing correctly, by putting a check mark by the points you do correctly, and an X in the ones you admit to yourself you haven't consistently been doing correctly. You are supposed to be getting all fifty of these points right, so 100% (50 points) is a passing score. Even one of these things being done wrong can be a big enough deal to make others not want to work with you. Every point less than 50 is a reason that you might not be being chosen for jobs. But if there's more than one you're getting wrong and you're also not correcting them over time, expect that future jobs will at least tend to be going to other people and you have no right to ever complain about it. This would disqualify you from being eligible for jobs. Don't be oblivious to what you are doing wrong, and then blame AGMC or others for choosing to work with others instead of you. At least be aware of your self-evaluated Basics score, and even better, ask AGMC how it scores your Basics. You might even use a copy of the below check list to help yourself learn and do these 50 BASICS. You might even just print of this check list onto a hard paper copy, and use it as a self check list.
BASICS CHECK LIST
___ #1: ALWAYS ANSWER AGMC CALLS, OR CALL BACK QUICKLY
___ #2: TEXT YOUR AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE TO AGMC EACH SUNDAY, OR CALL IT IN
___ #3 CONFIRM JOB OFFER TEXTS QUICKLY
___ #4 IF YOU CAN'T ACCEPT A TEXTED JOB OFFER, CALL AGMC, DON'T JUST TEXT
___ #5: WEAR AN AGMC OR ALL BLACK OUTFIT (UNIFORM)
___ #6: BE USUALLY 5 MINUTES EARLY.
___ #7: CLOCK IN WHEN YOU ARRIVE TO STARTING JOB SITE WITH A "C" TEXTED TO AGMC
___ #8: CALL AGMC IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE, NOT JUST TEXT (AS SOON AS YOU KNOW)
___ #9: DROP EVERYTHING TO HELP BACK UP THE TRUCK
___ #10: KNOW STARTING EQUIPMENT LOCATION SO CAN RETURN AFTER JOB.
___ #11: WHEN POSSIBLE, APPROACH CUSTOMER DOOR TOGETHER. HAVE EYE CONTACT.
___ #12: DO THE WALK-THRU WITHOUT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, LET LEAD DO TALKING.
___ #13: ON WALK-THRU, MEMORIZE FURNITURE LOCATIONS, LOOK FOR HOUSE PRE-DAMAGE.
___ #14: HELP PREP THE HOUSE, PATH, AND TRUCK BEFORE STARTING TO LOAD
___ #15: CHECK WITH LEAD FOR HIS ATTIC LOADING STRATEGY BEFORE JUMPING IN
___ #16: PHOTO-DOCUMENT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE OF HOUSE & ITEMS BEFORE MOVING
___ #17: KNOW THE 4 LEVELS OF A LOAD WALL
___ #18: BE RETURNING TO THE TRUCK OFTEN, KEEP THE LOADER SUPPLIED WITH ITEMS.
___ #19: DO NOT SLIDE THINGS ON THE CUSTOMER'S FLOORS OR CARPETS, WITHOUT SLIDERS
___ #20: BRING WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE NEXT HOLE IN THE LOAD WALL
___ #21: STAGE LIKE ON LIKE, 7 FEET BACK, SINGLE FILE, IN A STABLE POSITION
___ #22: ONLY THE DESIGNATED LOADER LOADS & UNLOADS
___ #23: IF YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU CAN MOVE SOMETHING SAFELY DON'T MOVE IT
___ #24: WHEN YOU NEAR A BUMP HAZARD, GO SLOW AS A SNAIL
___ #25: FABRIC SHOULD ONLY TOUCH CLEAN SURFACES
___ #26: REMOVED HARDWARE MUST BE BAGGED AND PLASTIC WRAPPED TO SOURCE ITEM
___ #27: LET THE LEAD BE THE MAIN CUSTOMER COMMUNICATOR & QUESTION ASKER.
___ #28: BE MINDFUL OF NOT GETTING THE CUSTOMER'S FLOOR DIRTY OR SCRATCHED
___ #29: PUT MATTRESSES IN A MATTRESS BAG BEFORE LEAVING SOURCE ROOM
___ #30: WORK HARD AND KEEP MOVING, NEVER STAND WAITING.
___ #31: ALWAYS SPEAK PROFESSIONALLY AND NICELY, AND HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE
___ #32: DO NOT TALK BAD ABOUT FELLOW MOVERS, THE CUSTOMER, OR AGMC
___ #33: CLOCK OUT BY TEXT WITH THE LEAD FOR BREAKS, DON'T JUST DISSAPEAR
___ #34: DON'T WALK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOAD EMPTY HANDED
___ #35: DO NOT CARRY ITEMS THRU RAIN WITHOUT A TARP OR BLANKET COVER.
___ #36: DO NOT PICK UP A GLASS OR MARBLE SHEET HORIZONTALLY (EVEN SPLIT SECOND)
___ #37: DO NOT MOVE ANYTHING WORTH ABOVE $2000 WITHOUT LEAD PRESENT
___ #38: LET THE LEAD MAKE THE FINAL CALL
___ #39: NEVER SMOKE WITHIN SIGHT OR SMELL OF THE CUSTOMER. REMOVE YOUR BUTTS
___ #40: DO NOT LET A FINISHED SURFACE TOUCH METAL OR GRITY SURFACES
___ #41: PICK UP A HAND-TRUCK TO CARRY EMPTY OVER STAIRS.
___ #42: PUT HAND-TRUCK LOADS DOWN SOFTLY, WITHOUT THUD.
___ #43: KEEP MOVING IF CONVERSING WITH CUSTOMER, DON'T TALK TOO MUCH.
___ #44: WHEN UNLOADING, MEMORIZE CUSTOMER INSUCTIONS, PUT ONLY AS INSTRUCTED.
___ #45: HELP PUT EQUIPMENT AWAY PROPERLY, THE WAY IT WAS AT THE START.
___ #46: TEXT YOUR HOURS & PAY TO AGMC AT END OF EACH JOB.
___ #47: TEXT AGMC YOUR EQUIP & GAS PICS WHEN PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF A TRUCK
___ #48: ALWAYS TALK RESPECTFULY TO AND ABOUT AGMC AND FELLOW MOVERS
___ #49: MAKE CONTINUAL PROGRESS ON LEARNING THE COURSE MATERIAL
___ #50: ALWAYS KNOW & PAY WHAT YOU OWE BY KEEPING A CURRENT TRANSACTION LOG
___ YOUR OWN SELF-EVALUATED BASICS SCORE
BONUS BASICS
A LITTLE MORE ON HOW YOU GET MORE JOBS
How much does it matter if you don't do these BASIC things that you have been hired to do?
That depends on who is doing the judging on how much a problem matters. The guy who shows up to the job late and with alcohol on his breath that you can smell from across the room, judges his alcohol consumption as "not a big deal", because he says it's his own business what he does on his own personal time, and he was only ten minutes late because his google maps led him down a wrong turn, so it wasn't his fault, and in his opinion ten minutes late doesn't matter that much. The moving company that hired him and the fellow mover who waited for him judges very differently, that the late mover didn't truly aim at being five or ten minutes early (as he agreed in his contract) which would have made him on time even with the delay, making his being late definitely his fault, while he doesn't even see that it's his fault, meaning he's also unlikely to correct the cause in the future. The moving company and fellow mover also judge that the fact of him being late caused him to miss the walk-thru instructions which hurt the quality of his work and made the customer assess the whole moving crew more poorly, risking lost tips and hurt review quality (& thus lost jobs) for everyone. The lateness would also risk him not being there to help back up the truck, risking thousands of dollars of truck collision damage to the Lead and company. The lateness on a two man job means the other crewman and customer have to just stand there waiting, with the other crewman not being paid for his time until the second mover gets there. This and more means that the moving company and fellow movers assesse that the late mover is ten times "less worth it" than the late mover would otherwise be, making a "great" mover worth less than a new but reliable mover. A completely different assessment than the late mover has of himself. The BASIC things on this web page are like that, important to everyone else except the mover not doing the BASIC thing.
An interesting phenomena that applies to most all movers, is that each mover CAN NOT SEE how bad it is for the particular things that mover does wrong, while the moving company and fellow movers see these not-done BASIC things as obviously VERY not-OK. You not knowing how much a problem can cost a moving company and other movers a loss of time, money and future jobs doesn't stop the moving company and other movers from not being ok with their loss, and consequently not wanting to work with the "bad" mover any more. This is to say that each mover has his own blind spots, that makes him oblivious to the degree of effects of his own problems. That can make him seem more valuable and OK to himself, while the moving company and other movers see him as "much less worth it" than he would otherwise be, or just "not worth it" at all in many cases. The blind spot phenomena causes the problem where the mover looks everywhere except at the things he could fix in his own actions to blame for the resulting decrease or absence of job frequency. Not seeing how big of a problem something really is results in the mover not taking the action necessary to correct his own problems. A blind-spot problem just gets looked at and shrugged off.
The real problem is that most movers think it's their own assessment of a risk, problem or policy direction that matters when it comes to getting jobs. That couldn't be more wrong. The primary point of you working is to make money and get more jobs. That doesn't come from you hiring yourself. It comes from someone else deciding to hire you. And in order to you to cause someone else to decide to hire you more often, the only way to make that happen is FOR YOU TO DO THE THINGS THAT MATTERS to the person who's shopping for someone to hire.
It's the purchaser of a thing that gets to decide what he purchases, using his own assessment of risks of loss. When you choose a restaurant to eat at or car to buy, it's your choice and you have the right to use your judgment and assessment of value and risk to decide what you want to buy. No one else has the right to tell you where to eat or what you have to purchase. The car salesman's assessment of what you should buy or not doesn't really get to force you to choose or assess things his way. That makes the purchaser's choice and assessment the only thing that matters in the end resulting sale. And you are trying to sell your services.
Guess what? When a moving company chooses to hire an independent contractor moving helper, that's the moving company's purchase choice, and so it's only the moving company's assessment of risk and loss that matters. When AGMC recommends and sends a moving customer to a Lead Moving Company, that's AGMC's choice of who to recommend, and so it's only AGMC's assessment of risk of loss that matters.
That's the way business works.
So it doesn't matter that you might think a thing on the TOP TEN list "shouldn't be such a big deal". When the hiring party chooses who to hire, it's not your purchase choice, and so not your assessment that causes that purchase. So if you want to have your services purchased more often, AND PUT MONEY IN YOUR POCKET, then you have to respect and provide what matters most to the party doing the hiring. And what is critical to the hiring party is the things on this TOP THIRTY page, and especially the TOP TEN things. Do them all and make much more money, or don't do them all and you're choosing to make much less money or no money at all. That's the choice that exists. If you are understanding this correctly, you should realize that in order for you to succeed at this, you shouldn't assess whether you need to do the TOP TEN things, you need to just do them all, period. You can know your car engine is on fire if you read one of these top ten directions and think "well, that one I can skip, or let slip sometimes because .....". If you think there's a "because" that means your engine is out of oil and you don't even know it.
If you're not wanting to agree to always do all of these TOP TEN things, and not miss doing any of them, then we do not have a "deal" about you working with AGMC, and you should look for work elsewhere. So, first, you need to answer to yourself and to AGMC if you are choosing to make that deal. If you do make this deal, to do these Basic Requirements, the control and fault are really in your hands. It can transform your success level at this if you understand this.
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