Why we created the Removalist Census

The removals industry keeps Australia moving, yet reliable information about the businesses doing that work is surprisingly patchy. We hear plenty about rising costs, fierce competition and quieter phones. What’s harder to find is a clear picture of how widespread those pressures are and what they mean for the sector.

That’s why we’ve created the Removalist Census, and why we’re inviting moving companies across Australia to take part.

For the past six years, Muval has been actively involved in advancing research and understanding in the removals industry. We publish our annual Muval Index as part of that work, exploring where Australians are moving and the reasons behind their decisions.

The Removalist Census builds on that work by turning our attention to the businesses making those moves happen. We want to help develop a broader understanding of how removalists operate, the challenges they face and what would make a meaningful difference.

If we don’t help build a better understanding of our own industry, who will?

For many operators, it has never felt harder to run a moving company. Intense price competition makes it difficult to pass on rising costs. Rising and volatile diesel prices squeeze margins and make job costs harder to predict. Compliance requirements add time and expense. Low barriers to entry keep competition fierce, while the cost of winning customers continues to climb.

At the same time, housing affordability, limited availability and changing property market conditions have made moving harder for many Australians, putting further pressure on demand. For a removalist trying to keep trucks busy, retain good staff and protect a margin, these pressures quickly add up.

We hear about these challenges regularly. Collecting data can help us understand their scale, how they vary between businesses and which issues deserve the most attention. Individual experiences matter. Bringing them together gives the industry something more useful than hearsay to work with.

Better information can help business owners put their own experience into context, support more informed industry discussions and give the people developing services for removalists a clearer understanding of what is needed.

That includes us.

We also want to understand how our technology can help address the industry’s real pain points. Yes, Muval is a commercial business, and we make money from the services and technology we provide. That only works when we create real value for the people using them. Removalists need a reason to pay: less administration, better visibility over their business, smoother operations or a stronger return on their time and effort.

That thinking drove us to create Movepro. It also means we need to keep listening. The people running moving companies every day are best placed to tell us where the friction is, what is costing them time and money, and where better tools could help.

The Census reports will be public, with findings presented in de-identified form. We want the knowledge gained through this initiative to be useful across the industry, so removalists can access the findings and learn from the combined experience of others.

We’re also giving back through fuel card prizes as a thank you to the industry for taking part. Prize details and entry terms are available on the Census website.

We want to hear from businesses of different sizes, in different locations and with different ways of operating, including those that don’t use Muval or Movepro. A wider range of responses will help us build a fuller picture of the sector.

The Removalist Census is a practical step towards a better-informed industry. Your experience can help shape that understanding and the tools and services built to support it.

Be part of it. Complete the Removalist Census at removalistcensus.org.

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