Robert McGowan (right) seen with his banker in the early years

Q: What does Roadrunner do? Describe the current services you offer:

A: Roadrunner Moving & Storage is a highly diversified relocation and storage company. We offer residential and commercial moving and storage, commercial installation, dedicated services / logistics, international packing, wrapping, and forwarding, and record storage solutions.

Q: What makes this company special or unique?

A: That’s easy – the people. From the movers, packers, and drivers to the administrative and sales staff, we have a great appreciation for each and every person that makes the Roadrunner experience unique and a cut above. It’s what keeps our customers coming back to us for their every relocation need.

Q: Take us back to the time you started your company and describe the series of events or circumstances which led you to start the business.

Original Move Team, 1976

Robert's Mom seen painting the fleet

Q: Did you have a vision for the company when you started?

A: Truthfully, my only vision was making a living for myself and my family. While that vision really hasn’t changed much over the years, I still feel good about helping our customers as they reach new milestones in their lives and businesses.

Q: Tell us some of the greatest successes for the business over the years.

A: Well, quadrupling our business that first year was a great success. The company has never grown quite that quickly since then. Other memorable successes include getting our first account, numerous expansions, building our current location, and later remodeling to expand it to its current size.

Q: What are some of the major challenges in your business growth over the years?

A: Over the years, we have and continue to face two major challenges. Trying to keep up with the regulatory climate and the constant changes in regulations is a huge hurdle. We spend a lot of time and effort trying to stay ahead of the curve and exceed expectations in that area. The other challenge is finding and retaining good quality people. As a service business, we realize that our people are our best asset. Making sure we have the right person in the right position at all levels of the organization is the key to serving our customers well.

Q: When you face (faced) set-backs and challenges, give us some insight as to how you were able to draw inspiration and refocus to meet challenges.

A: I never really focus on the “set-back” aspect of a new challenge. I view it as more of a decision that needs to be made. So, meeting challenges becomes more a matter of looking for the right skill set to meet a need.

Q: What are some of the most interesting and unique moments?

A: One that really stands out was having a prominent local business person hire Roadrunner to purchase a large amount of various items for his new business venture, order an aircraft, and ship a fully loaded plane to a Caribbean island. That was a fun, once in a lifetime project!

Q: Give insights as to milestones throughout the growth of the company.

The Early Years - Van Lines Agent

Q: Where do you see Roadrunner 10 years from now?

Roadrunner Dispatch Office

A: I see us bigger, better, and stronger than ever – still exceeding our customers’ expectations!

Roadrunner Historical

As we visit the past, Roadrunner is excited about our future!

Check out our buddy icon from the early days.

Moving Checklist: Moving Tips & Moving Schedule | Atlas Van Lines.

"The Best of the Best"

With a trove of Industry Awards, this Moving Professional has racked up the equivalent of 58 trips around planet Earth with over 1,450,000 safe miles during his 38 year journey in the Relocation industry. To put it in another perspective, since Vega and Roadrunner are Houston based; this is the equivalent of driving to the Moon and back over three times!

In 2010, Atlas Van Lines, Inc. awarded Richard Top Driver Honors, and he was also honored as Industry Runner-up for the Super Van Operator Award at the American Moving and Storage Association’s Annual Conference.

If that weren’t enough to convince someone that Richard is “The Best of the Best”, how about this statistic: During 2010, Richard Vega loaded, transported, and delivered over ½ million pounds (592,602 lbs. to be exact) of household goods incurring 1 claim amounting to a miniscule $54 Fifty-Four Dollars in cargo loss or damages. Along with his Safe Mileage, this was enough to earn Richard the coveted “Superior Achievement Award” from Atlas Van Lines. To give some perspective on how amazing a feat this is, consider: on average, movers can expect to see claims on approximately 20% of all household good shipments they perform .

Richard, originally from San Antonio, Texas, began his career in 1972, fresh off his second combat tour of Vietnam where he proudly served his country as a United States Marine. He credits much of his success as a Professional Van Operator to his experiences in the Marine Corp., which he admits prepared him for any of the myriad of challenges his unique profession has presented over the years. Richard’s fearless, ready-to-roll attitude comes in handy when he is met with a challenging job. For instance, during the recent harsh winter, he was forced to dig a several foot deep by over one-hundred foot length trench in the snow just to enable access to his customer’s home.
Though Richard is modest about his achievements, he clearly provides insights as to what makes him unique and of great value to his clients, many of whom have relocated with Richard numerous times and through multiple generations. The list of his customers reads like a “who’s who” of Americans: Celebrities, Fortune 500 CEO’s, Government dignitaries, Movie Stars, Top Athletes, the list continues. Please check out Roadrunner Moving and Storage customer reviews.

Richard Vega did not earn his multiple awards by moving only celebrities. He believes any paying customer is deserving of his award winning “best of the best” service. If you want an opportunity to experience this level of service and commitment, check out Roadrunner’s offer for a Free Moving Quote.

Richard now calls Houston, Texas his home and has worked for Roadrunner Moving & Storage, one of the most recognized moving companies in the United States, for over 20 years. Richard is quick to point to Roadrunner as a vital component to his successful operation. A quick tour of his truck, moving boxes and other on-board equipment will provide the observer with a distinct impression of a clean, maintained, well-organized operation.

Richard has no current plans to retire as another generation is readied to take to the road. He is very confident the next generation of, Professional Van Operators are quite capable of, and willing to provide, the relocating public with the same high level of quality and caring he has provided Roadrunner Moving and Storage customers for the past 38 years.