07/29/2026
A Thread of Success
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla.—Throughout his time as a U-Haul Dealer at Highway 19 Tire Company and U-Haul Dealership (052248), Dave Brindley has successfully used the dealer message boards to connect with, teach and learn from people throughout Team U-Haul. This has helped Brindley build strong and lasting relationships with other dealers and customers alike.
The message boards provide information for U-Haul Dealers and self-storage affiliates about all aspects of their day-to-day work, as well as potential solutions to any problems that may come up. The boards also have moderators from U-Haul headquarters in Phoenix who assist with concerns and can forward them to local area field managers (AFMs) or marketing company offices (MCOs) with dealers’ permission.
The message boards are especially valuable for new dealers looking to better understand their resources. The support from more experienced dealers can help them effectively navigate any challenges that arise.
“The boards can really help dealers who want to grow. They can help you build a dealership and work through the problems that dealer-focused software and platforms occasionally have,” Brindley emphasized.
Gaining knowledge quickly
Brindley’s willingness to offer suggestions is rooted in the experiences he had when starting out. When Brindley began working at Highway 19 in 2006 before buying the dealership in 2013, the message boards served as an essential learning tool, providing tips and tricks that helped him navigate the ins and outs of his new role.
“When I first started working here, I learned that you could get help and information quickly from the message boards, since other dealers are likely to have experienced similar problems,” Brindley recalled.
The message boards come in especially handy when unforeseen challenges occur.
“If a glitch happens or a system crashes, you can usually find the answer about what to do on the boards. Chances are that someone has experienced the same thing you did,” Brindley noted.
Brindley strives to pay forward the help that he received on the message boards in his early days by offering the same guidance to others.
“When I worked with new dealers, I always mentioned Dave Brindley as the go-to-guy for prompt, accurate answers to questions,” former Co. 731 AFM and longtime team member at Sandy and Daughter Self-Storage and U-Haul Dealership (018176) Tim McDermott remarked. “Dave’s willingness to help other dealers has helped many of us get back on track and stay the course.”
Offering suggestions
Brindley’s activity on the message boards has been prominent, with more than 28,000 posts logged in his 20 years of U-Haul service (so far!). His activity has not only helped dealers; it has also offered ways for leaders at U-Haul headquarters to make their systems better and more effective for everyone.
“Dave cares ... not only about his own success as a dealer, but about customers and U-Haul Company as a whole,” UHC of Clearwater (Co. 753) Marketing Company President (MCP) Mike Wise declared. “He is always in communication with U-Haul leadership to see how he can help make tools and systems better for dealers and team members.”
“Dave is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to U-Haul, and with his input on the message boards, a lot of new ideas have been implemented to make our jobs easier,” Co. 753-003 Area Field Manager (AFM) Mark Cooper commented. “He is always available to help both customers and dealers alike.”
“Dave is an integral part of our dealer message-boards community. In my time at U-Haul headquarters, I've had the distinction of being able to work with him on many different issues and projects," Dealer and AFM Operations Vice President Erik Regan praised. "Many people will mention that Dave is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to U-Haul and being a dealer. His willingness to learn and provide feedback on the changes and improvements we have in our systems has helped shape and improve the tools that our 23,000-plus dealers use today. And, him consistently going the extra step to help other dealers via the message boards is appreciated by many. Dave has my sincerest gratitude and appreciation for what he contributes to the team at U-Haul International (UHI) and the help he provides to dealers across the country.”
To help take the message boards to the next level of service, Brindley encourages U-Haul Dealers throughout the Company to be even more collaborative when using them.
“Thinking like a network of services that we provide, instead of individuals fighting for customers, would raise the level of service that customers receive across the board. This in turn would benefit every dealer in the long run by increased revenues from a more positively imaged Company,” Brindley wrote in a 2015 U-Haul News story that he authored.
Customer retention
Through Brindley’s participation on the message boards and the know-how (KH) that he has gained there, he has been able to skillfully Make Moving Easier for customers regardless of their individual circumstances.
“Dave has always been able to give top-notch service to the customer by making sure that they have everything they need,” Wise remarked. “This looks different from person to person, but it starts with sincere and active listening. Once he fully understands where they’re coming from, he can refer to the message board posts that he’s read and draw on that experience to provide the customer with service that checks all their boxes ... and then some!”
Whether online or in-store, Brindley’s customer service remains exceptional. This has led to several customers continuing to go to Highway 19 for U-Haul products and services over the years, even as more moving and self-storage-related options have become available in the area.
“Dave is as straightforward with customers on the message boards as he is face-to-face,” Wise proclaimed. “This has led to most of them becoming loyal regulars, which helps when you’re on a main road in an area that is growing. Not only do they keep coming back ... they bring family and friends!”
As Brindley continues his service at Highway 19, his dedication to both U-Haul and his customers will remain top tier.
“Dave bleeds orange and truly cares about what we do as a Company, as well as how he does business. Throughout my time with U-Haul, Dave has been a great dealer and friend,” Wise praised.
