Congratulations to Michael Tucker! Michael is a Sales/Estimator and was recently honored with the Pyramid Award, a prestigious recognition presented by DFW Movers & Erectors to celebrate excellence and for being one who sets the standard for others to follow. When asked what he attributes his success to, Michael will tell you it’s his pride in the company, pride in his co-workers, and the honor of being a member of the DFW Movers & Erectors family. His journey is a testament to hard work, loyalty, and the value of growing with a company from the ground up.
Michael joined the company in May 1999, at just 24 years old as a rigger apprentice, Michael quickly distinguished himself by eagerly taking on any job that offered overtime pay. While his initial motivation was financial, he unknowingly laid the foundation for a career built on skill, reliability, and deep industry knowledge.
In the early days of the company, Michael played a hands-on role in moving everything from high-value equipment to delicate cargo, like rescued elephants from Africa. These experiences shaped his versatility and professionalism. His close work with customers helped him build lasting relationships that continue to benefit the company today.
After 18 years in the field, Michael transitioned into sales, where he once again proved his adaptability and drive. Today, he remains a top performer, consistently ranking among the top three on the sales team. His hands-on experience with actual machine installation gives him a unique credibility during site visits. Being able to say, “I was there when we brought this in,” instantly builds trust and rapport—especially with plant managers who value practical know-how. Michael Tucker truly exemplifies dedication, growth, and excellence at DFW Movers & Erectors. Congratulations!
Whether you’re relocating a single machine or orchestrating a full plant move, the success of any industrial moving project depends on one critical factor: informative planning.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we’ve spent over four decades refining a rigging process that prioritizes safety, efficiency, and professionalism. We understand that no two moves are the same, and we treat every machine like it’s our own. That’s why we deliver informative, deliberate, and expert-level planning for every rigging service we offer.
In this article, we’ll break down:
It’s common to feel overwhelmed at the beginning of a heavy machinery rigging or millwright project. There are many variables involved and without experience, it can be daunting to try to figure out what is actually needed to complete your move. That’s where we come in as your partner. Machine rigging service experts like DFW Movers & Erectors can guide you through the moving process based on your specific needs, and account for the best possible equipment, technicians, and plan for your project from disassembly, to transport, to reassembly.
The first step in this process is a job walk, which is a pre-project site evaluation where we visit your facility, walk the job area with you, and gather crucial information. It’s our opportunity to assess the environment, collect important data, and prepare for all possible scenarios that could come up during the rigging process. This includes:
If these factors aren’t accounted for beforehand, they could delay your project or cause damage to machinery, property, or worse…injury to workers.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we make sure to perform each job walk at least one week before the machine rigging & millwright service begins. This process can take as little as 30 minutes for a single machine move or several hours for multi-machine or large-scale industrial relocations. We never rush our job walks, as every site and machine is different. Each job walk is performed with due diligence and a keen attention to detail, so we can account for all factors that could influence the plan.
Once the job walk is complete, our team begins the informative planning phase. We leverage our experience and precise approach during this step to match the data we’ve collected to the right equipment, team, and timeline. Our informative planning process focuses on three key pillars:
The type of machine being moved determines everything, from the equipment we use to the people we assign. For example, depending on the size and scope of the project, we may need one standard 5,000 lb capacity forklift, an 80,000 lb capacity forklift, two smaller forklifts, a gantry, or even a crane. Some jobs will also require multiple pieces of specialized equipment working in coordination.
To determine the best path forward, we calculate load distribution, path of travel, and how to best stabilize and protect the machine throughout the move.
The right equipment is only as good as the crew operating it. That’s why we assign our team members based on experience, specialty, and project size. At DFW Movers & Erectors, we take pride in the fact that each team member earns their role based on direct experience and competence. When it comes to your rigging service, everyone assigned will have what they need to complete their tasks with excellence.
Based on your project’s complexity, we will:
Clear communication is a key part of our informative planning process. We will walk through the entire scope of the project with you to ensure full alignment. This will often include sending photos and videos of rigging equipment and reviewing equipment types with you for full transparency. For large-scale industrial projects, it’s common for our team to schedule multiple meetings to discuss and refine the plan.
Once our informative planning is in place, we will determine the exact project start date and time. We will also conduct a hazard analysis and safety review before each project.
With heavy equipment that can weigh thousands of pounds, machine rigging is not the time to cut corners. Even a simple misstep while moving can result in:
We’ve seen DIY jobs go sideways fast. For example, in one instance, we had to intervene on a rigging job after someone was almost crushed. They misplaced the skates under the machine and failed to account for the weight differentials across every area of the machine. Because of this, the skates weren’t at the same angle and the machine consequently flipped over. This person was then thrown against a wall when they tried to grab the machine in a panic. There are countless scenarios like this that we’ve encountered.
The cost of repair, downtime, or replacement for accidents like these often exceeds the original moving quote. That’s why our clients trust us to get it right the first time.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we believe experience isn’t optional. It’s the core of our business model, and it’s what allows us to deliver safe, informed, and strategic rigging planning and services. Our team includes sales reps, riggers, and millwrights who have decades of experience in the field. Everyone knows their role, and everyone understands the high stakes involved in each move.
Because we’ve handled everything from small shop machinery to entire industrial relocations, we bring a level of insight to planning and execution that is difficult to replicate.
When you partner with us, you’re also gaining access to a full suite of industrial moving solutions, including:
Whether you’re moving one piece of equipment or an entire facility, our team is equipped to handle it, and will know exactly what solution is best for you.
Informative planning allows us to approach every machine rigging & millwright service with clarity, avoid risks, and ensure that your machinery arrives safely and on time.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we don’t just move machines: we plan with purpose, rig with precision, and deliver with pride. If your machinery is too heavy, too large, or too complex to move yourself, don’t leave it to chance. Our informative planning process, deep expertise, and dedication to safety ensure that your investment is protected every step of the way.
Contact DFW Movers & Erectors today to schedule your job walk and get your project off to the right start. Let us be your moving partner, so we can show you how informative planning and decades of experience make all the difference.
Janice Hendricks came to DFW Movers after a long career in accounting and finance at State Farm Insurance. Janice joined DFW Movers as a staff accountant and quickly demonstrated her level of knowledge, skills and ability to make a positive impact. With the focus on growth and improvement of accounting processes and systems, Janice has been promoted to Senior Controller to lead accounting and finance initiatives.
Doug Kerns began his career with DFW Movers & Erectors, Inc. as a millwright. His performance as a millwright was rewarded with the role of leadman and then foreman. With almost 21 years with the company, Doug has now taken on the role of training coordinator over rigging and millwright training.
Richard Johnson, formerly Fort Worth Operations Manager, has been promoted to Director of Operations. With close to 30 years in the industrial rigging industry, Richard will utilize his field expertise to evaluate field personnel skills and development and strategic management of company equipment inventory. Richard excels in field employee relationships and will use this strength to further the development of field staff and acquisition of equipment.
Jimmy Day has been promoted to General Manager of the Fort Worth location. Jimmy has had a distinguished career as the business line manager of All Press Services, the machinery repair division of DFW Movers & Erectors, Inc. Jimmy has overseen the founding of All Press Services and continued growth of the business line. With the announced retirement of Mark Saylor, former Fort Worth General Manager, Jimmy has been selected to bring his All Press Services business expertise to the Fort Worth location.
Leigh Knox came to DFW Movers from American Airlines and through her 20 years with the company she has demonstrated leadership and insights that improved company performance. Capitalizing on Leigh’s talent, Leigh has been promoted to Administrative Officer with the purpose of leading corporate infrastructure initiatives, managing company analytics and reporting and facilitating communication and collaboration between locations. COO Clayton Stockdall states, “Leigh is the glue that holds the various components of the company together.”
Steven Bates, an employee with 35 years, began his career in the field and rose through the ranks to General Manager. Neal Ingle, founder of the company, trained Steven, who in turn trained employees who have become leaders within the company. Steven has had, and continues to have, a significant positive impact on the financial performance and growth of the company. He has been promoted to Vice President in recognition of his accomplishments and continued contributions to the company.
Michael Watson has fulfilled all requirements established by the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI) for the Certified Director of Safety (CDS) Certification. NATMI is a prestigious credential for professionals in the transportation industry. It signifies a deep understanding of safety management, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. This certification is essential for individuals responsible for overseeing fleet safety, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, and developing policies that minimize accidents and liabilities.
As the Fleet Safety Manager for DFW Movers & Erectors, Inc., this demonstrates Michael’s and DFW Movers commitment to driver and fleet safety. We congratulate Michael on earning this prestigious certification.
