UHaul Logo PNG
The UHaul logo creates a sense of joy and ease. The atmosphere it supports is related to the company’s truck rental concept: people are happy to move their personal belongings from one point to another easily, quickly, and without worry.
U-Haul: Brand overview
U-Haul is a diverse American company that provides a wide range of moving-related services. It rents trailers, trucks, storage units, and containers, sells moving boxes and packing materials, installs towing devices, and sets up its electrical wiring for safe road travel. In some places, the company also refills vehicles with liquefied gas. The founders of the franchise – Leonard Samuel Shoen and Anna Mary Carty Shoen – opened their first location in Ridgefield, Washington, in 1945. Now, the headquarters is located in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1945, after struggling to rent a trailer for their move from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, Sam Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty Shoen, founded U-Haul. They started with a few trailers, offering customers the then-novel option to pick up a trailer in one city and drop it off in another. This idea quickly caught on, and by the 1950s, U-Haul had expanded across the U.S., boasting over 10,000 dealers by the decade’s end. The company grew in the ’60s and ’70s, adding moving supplies and bigger trucks to its fleet.
However, in 1974, U-Haul faced a significant challenge when Sam Shoen survived an assassination attempt by one of his sons, sparking a lengthy battle for control of the company. Despite this turmoil, U-Haul continued to expand in the 1980s and 90s, adding self-storage to its offerings and further growing its fleet.
Entering the digital era in the 2000s and 2010s, U-Haul introduced online booking and self-service rental technologies. It also emphasizes environmental sustainability by investing in renewable energy and fuel-efficient vehicles.
Today, U-Haul is North America’s largest self-moving truck rental company, with a vast network of over 22,000 rental locations and a fleet comprising 176,000 trucks and 126,000 trailers. Still family-led, U-Haul meets the needs of millions of customers annually, maintaining its status as a pioneering and trusted brand in the self-moving industry. With a history spanning over 75 years, U-Haul has continually adapted and innovated, securing its place as a symbol of American ingenuity and resilience.
Meaning and History
Before becoming a popular franchise, U-Haul was a small family business that started in a garage. It all began when the young married couple, the Shoens, couldn’t find transportation for their belongings during a move. They left most of their things behind and only took what could fit in their car. With such a serious problem, Leonard Samuel Shoen and Anna Mary Carty Shoen started a business renting transportation equipment for moving furniture and household items.
This event happened after World War II, so movable equipment was often needed when changing residences. As a result, the covered wagons of this industry’s pioneers transformed into the brand’s signature orange trailers with the U-Haul logo on the side. The brand gained immense popularity, and its services became so in demand that the company’s name turned into a term for all rental transportation used in moving – “Uhaul.”
What is UHaul?
UHaul (U-Haul) is an American service that rents out cargo transportation and trailers for moving belongings. It also offers containers and storage facilities for property storage and sells boxes and various packing materials needed for moving. The company’s head office is located in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in Ridgefield (Washington). Its inception was in 1945, and the founders were Leonard Samuel Shoen and Anna Mary Carty Shoen.
1945 – 1953
The UHaul logo consisted of the “U-HAUL CO” inscribed and executed in uppercase font. It was applied to the sides of the trailers and the sides and doors of trucks. Its role was incredibly valuable: the sign served as an advertising tool, popularized the rental service for moving equipment, and familiarized the public with the company, making it widely recognizable. The name was typed in a bold stencil sans-serif font.
1953 – 1966
After expanding services and increasing demand for trucks and passenger vehicles for moving, the company decided to rebrand. It used its longtime mascot in its visual identity – the drawn character Sammy U, named after the company’s founder. The U-Haul emblem of that period featured a smiling mover in uniform, holding a ribbon overhead with the word “Nationwide.” The company’s name was indicated on the pants. Moreover, the raised arms were stylized as a monolithic letter “U.” The cheerful, moving assistant ran and winked with his left eye.
1957 – 1966
This version of the logo consisted of a figure in the shape of an inverted triangle with rounded corners. Inside were three inscriptions:
- The company’s name (in the top row)
- The word “Rental” (in the middle)
- “Trailers” (in the bottom line)
The mascot was peeking out from the extra-bold “U”: a cheerful and carefree mover rushing to help clients. His arms were hidden behind the large letter, making it seem like he was carrying it. The rest of the inscription was executed in small, bold font. There were no serifs.
1966 – today
The basis of this U-Haul logo is the company name. It has been radically reorganized and updated, as the last two lines have disappeared from the emblem. Only a large inscription, painted in black, remains. The letters are massive, uppercase, extra bold, blocky, and geometric. The first “U” is much wider than the second, signaling its high importance compared to other glyphs. Below, the text is underscored by a wide orange stripe created from a triangular frame. There is no hyphen between “U” and “H”; it is attached to the crossbar of the second character.
Symbol
The debut version of the friendly moving assistant appeared two years after the company’s opening – in 1947, and a full-fledged character in the U-Haul logo emerged in 1953. Later, designer Steve King “hid” him on the sides of trucks when he painted them and applied the company inscription: from 1997 to 2013, he decorated vehicles and drew mini-images of a smiling person. Where to “hide” the cheerful loader with raised hands was suggested by his little daughter. The artist carried out the work as part of the Supergraphics project, which U-Haul commissioned. The mascot became so popular that the franchise still uses it. In its modern format, it is made to look as much like a human as possible: with neatly styled hair, in black boots, and an orange jumpsuit.
Font and Colors
The font chosen for the logo’s text resembles Square721 Bold Extended: the outer side of “U” is rounded, while the inner side is square. It also resembles the geometric font Orbitron without serifs. Three colors represent the brand’s signature palette: black (Hex #000000), Orioles orange (Hex #FF5314), and white (Hex #FFFFFF).
FAQ
What do the letters on U-Haul trucks mean?
The letters and numbers on U-Haul trucks are detailed codes that tell you about the truck’s model, unique serial numbers, and special characteristics. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Model Indicator: The first two letters indicate the truck’s model. This helps U-Haul and customers identify the type of truck, which is useful for managing the fleet and people looking to rent a truck for their move.
- Serial Number: After the model indicator, there are four numbers. This is the truck’s serial number, making each truck identifiable and trackable by U-Haul. Tracking the truck for inventory, maintenance, and service needs is crucial.
- Suffix: The last letter gives extra details about the truck, like when it was made or specific features that set it apart from other trucks of the same model. This might be things like design adjustments or added equipment based on feedback or climate needs.
This coding system helps U-Haul keep its operations smooth, making sure each truck is where it should be, in good condition, and ready for customers. It’s a sign of U-Haul’s focus on being organized and providing great service, ensuring truck renting is hassle-free and efficient.
What is the meaning of U-Haul?
U-Haul is a well-known brand offering rental trucks and trailers for moving belongings from one home to another. U-Haul has become so popular from the US to Canada that its name is often used to describe any moving truck or trailer rental, no matter the company. This situation, where a brand name turns into a general term, shows U-Haul’s big impact on the moving industry. It’s a testament to U-Haul’s dominance in the market and how common it is for people to rent a truck or trailer for their move, often referred to as “U-hauling.”
What are the yellow things on top of U-Haul?
The yellow or orange tabs on top of U-Haul cargo vans help maintain and manage the vehicles. They’re roof indicators. When a van comes back, U-Haul employees check these tabs. If any are damaged, it’s a sign they need to inspect the roof closely for any harm. This quick check helps spot if something might have damaged the roof. If they find damage after looking more closely, they’ll charge for the repairs. This system keeps the U-Haul fleet in good shape, protecting its vehicles and ensuring customers have a reliable van for their move.
