On June 1, 2026, we begin our 47th year in business.
When Neal and Joanne Ingle started DFW Movers & Erectors in 1980, they had two employees and operated out of their home in Irving, Texas. Like many small businesses, growth came one job at a time. As new opportunities came along, so did early equipment purchases, including a tilt-bed truck, a forklift, a trailer, and a tractor.
By the end of the second year, we had grown to 20 employees.
In those early days, Neal and Joanne would drive around after church on Sundays looking for new businesses moving into the area. Joanne would write down company names, and Neal would call them on Monday mornings to introduce the company and set appointments to see their equipment.
“It was amazing to see how we were blessed with new customers,” Joanne said.
One of the moments Joanne remembers most clearly came during the economic slowdown at the end of 1982, when oilfield equipment purchasing nearly stopped.
At a time of uncertainty, they decided to host a Customer Appreciation Party. They brought in barbecue catering, hired a band that played from a trailer in the warehouse, and cleaned and displayed our equipment throughout the building. We invited customers, bankers, and vendors.
Most importantly, they listened to customers.
Those conversations opened the door to new opportunities and services, including warehousing, cleaning and painting equipment, and eventually crating services.
“We got more work from our party than we ever imagined,” Joanne said.
As the company continued to grow, so did the relationships built along the way. Some of those customer relationships are still part of the company today. Joanne says one thing has remained consistent through every season of growth and change: the integrity of the company and the people behind it.
“We now have written down our Core Values, and they have not changed since we began in 1980,” she said.
That core commitment extends to the way employees are valued and recognized today. Team members celebrating milestone anniversaries receive a special ring beginning at five years, with additional diamonds added at years 10, 15, and 20. For 25 years, a diamond is added to the center of the ring. There are additional rewards for those reaching 30 and 35 years of service.
With decades of memories about DFW’s history, one has stayed with Joanne over the years. She remembers one of the company’s earliest Christmas parties where employees and their families were invited to celebrate together, with bonuses, gifts, and Santa Claus handing out presents to the children.
“It was a party to remember,” Joanne said.
“We have always had a great team of employees who were dedicated and worked very hard no matter what the circumstances were,” she said.
Faith has also remained an important foundation throughout the company’s history. One scripture has stayed with Neal and Joanne since the beginning of the business: Matthew 6:34 and the reminder to not worry about tomorrow because God is already there.
“Both Neal and I have lived by this quote,” Joanne said. “We know that God is always with us no matter what we face.”
As we begin our 47th year, we are grateful for the employees, customers, vendors, and relationships that have been part of this journey. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with the same hard work, integrity, and commitment that have guided us from the very beginning.
