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October 4, 2000 10:18 AM, EDT

Five giants of the household goods moving industry hope a new joint Internet site that will give consumers the power to get automatic estimates and reserve trucks will be the answer to industry fears about online competitors.

The iMove.com site was announced in late September by Allied Van Lines, Bekins Van Lines, Mayflower Transit (), North American Van Lines, United Van Lines and an established real-estate Internet company called °®¶¹´«Ã½store.com (9-25, p. 71).

Trucking has already seen the Internet make partners of competitors with ventures such as Transplace.com, an online logistics company formed by six major truckload carriers ally in March, but iMove.com is the first time movers have taken the plunge together.

By becoming partners in the new Web site, the movers hope to address concerns raised at an industry meeting earlier in the year about online companies inserting themselves between van lines and their customers.

For the full story, see the Oct. 2 print edition of Transport Topics. .