After working in the moving industry for almost 30 years, Ernesto Chapa decided it was time to open his own business. In 1995, he established Chapa’s Moving Express LLC with his son Raul Guerrero, running one moving van which they parked in the backyard.
Today, Chapa’s has grown to 11 moving trucks and three trailers. They operate from a new building on South Ware Road that also serves as the office for their 200-unit storage facility, which opened two years ago. In an industry dominated by national names – Mayflower, Bekins, etc., Chapa’s Moving has carved out a high volume service, providing local, regional and pan-Texas packing and moving of household goods and business offices.
“People love that we are here in the Valley,” said Guerrero. “We can work around their schedule. They prefer to go with a local mover rather than a national. It’s cheaper.” Surprisingly, as much as 40 percent of Chapa’s business is same day service. “I wonder why people do that,” Guerrero said. “It’s like they wake up that morning and they decide to move that day. They call and get upset if we don’t have space in our schedule to move them the same day.”
The balance of customers call one to two weeks ahead to book their moving date, particularly around the first and last weeks of a month. “We prefer they call ahead,” he said. Nevertheless, during traditional moving months, Chapa’s has started a few moves at 6 p.m. at night and not finishing up until midnight.
The father and son duo has divided the responsibilities, each going with their strength. Ernesto Chapa is the company’s dispatcher and oversees all the employees. He manages up to 12 crews who have no set schedules. Some employees are notified the night before that they will be working, while others are called in the morning after the same-day service orders come in. During the off-season, between October and February, Chapa draws on a pool of 15 to 25 employees. During the busy moving season, the moving men number between 25 and 35.
Guerrero is the one who deals with customers, booking moves. Chapa’s charges hourly for local moves, paid on delivery. Out of town contract require payment before the truck is unloaded.
“Most of the work is here in the Valley,” said Guerrero, after confirming that a Chapa’s truck would be transporting a customer’s household goods to Dallas that night. “We move pianos, pool tables, safes and Jacuzzis, but mostly household goods. We move at least two to five grand pianos a week. We’re moving one in Brownsville right now, from one house to another.” Expensive statues and huge fountains, Rainbow play sets and box springs that have to be disassembled to be moved are among the more unusual items that Chapa has handled.
To read more of this story by Eileen Mattei, pick up a copy of the March edition of Valley Business Report, on news stands now, or visit the “Current & Past Issues” tab on this Web site.