Hilldrup stands as a reminder that even as businesses grow and industries change, staying grounded in community can carry a company forward for generations.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, it’s a time to reflect on the people, companies, and stories that have shaped communities across the country. While Hilldrup hasn’t been around for quite 250 years, this family-owned business, now in its fourth generation of leadership, began in Fredericksburg more than a century ago and is deeply intertwined with the region’s history and evolution.
Founded in 1903 by Mr. R.G. Hilldrup, the company began as a livery stable, meeting steam boats at the city dock, transporting passengers and freight from train stations, and even operating as a taxi service long before cars dominated the roads. “Fredericksburg was a small Southern town, so you did everything that provided transportation with horses and carriages,” said Charles G. McDaniel, Chairman Emeritus, whose father, Charles B. McDaniel, joined the company in 1932 and took ownership of it in 1940.
In those early decades, Hilldrup was a cornerstone of daily life in Fredericksburg, providing many diverse services. “We had a taxi business, a storage business, a moving business, and a rigging business, and we ran an ambulance service and delivered freight,” said Charles G. McDaniel.
From unloading shipments of Campbell’s soup to delivering trunks for students arriving at Mary Washington College, an all-female college at the time, Hilldrup’s work was integral to the smooth execution of everyday operations in Fredericksburg.
The company was also a driver of positive social change, and had some of the very first women working as taxi drivers, long-distance truck drivers, and packers of customers’ belongings for a move, which was unheard of at the time.
Over the years, as industries shifted and transportation methods changed, Hilldrup redefined its focus. “In the 50s and 60s, we got out of everything except moving and storage,” Charles G. McDaniel said.
Even as the company has grown, embracing change and evolving alongside the country and economy continues to be at the core of how the McDaniel family runs Hilldrup. Today, the company has expanded far beyond its Fredericksburg roots, operating 11 branches across the Mid-Atlantic and serving customers nationwide and globally. “You can fight change, or you can embrace it,” said Charles W. McDaniel, the son of Charles G. McDaniel and the current president and CEO of Hilldrup. He went on to say that the companies who embrace change are the ones who thrive rather than merely survive.
That philosophy has helped Hilldrup evolve into a large, diversified company while still preserving the strengths that come from family. Today, the company’s services extend well beyond residential moving and storage, and include employee relocation, logistics, final-mile delivery, and workplace solutions.
When it comes to household goods moving, Hilldrup’s services range from local residential moves to large corporate relocations anywhere in the world.
“Moving is one of the top three stressors in life, and we want to make the process smooth and as stress-free as possible.”
– Jordan McDaniel Hinkebein, senior director of internal communications and special projects
Beyond moving and storage, the company is growing its workplace and logistics services. “We’re continuing to focus on some of our newer business lines, like workplace services, where we’re helping companies expand or downsize,” said Charlie McDaniel, vice president of growth and strategy, workplace and logistics.
Hilldrup’s logistics division focuses on final-mile delivery and furniture, fixtures, and equipment installation, bringing items from warehouses directly into businesses, hospitality, and restaurant spaces. Their work has included projects with local businesses like The Publisher Hotel, Mary Washington Hospital, and Kalahari Resort.
In recent years, the company has also focused on unifying its growing workforce. “We realized that there was really this need to focus on culture and have a unifying mission, vision, and values that everyone could rally behind,” explained Jordan McDaniel Hinkebein, senior director
of internal communications and special projects.
Among those values is Unwavering Commitment, reflecting the company’s dedication to customers, partners, and employees. “We want to be an employer of choice and bring on the best talent to serve our customers,” Jordan McDaniel Hinkebein said. Through the company’s Moved to Action initiative, Hilldrup also encourages employees to give back
through volunteer work, with a focus on supporting causes and organizations related to health, hunger, and housing.
Hilldrup’s focus on investing in people extends beyond the workplace and into the community.
“Our business is no longer a small business,” Charles W. McDaniel said, adding that much of Hilldrup’s work now takes place far beyond Fredericksburg.
Still, the company hasn’t lost sight of its origins. “We are so loyal and love this area,” Charles W. McDaniel continued, citing the many Hilldrup employees and leaders who come from the Fredericksburg region.
This local connection is reflected in Hilldrup’s commitment to community involvement, whether it’s in the form of sponsoring the Stafford Hospital’s 2026 Spring Fever 5K or providing the mobile viewing stand for the judges at the annual Fredericksburg Christmas Parade.
As the country marks its 250th anniversary, Hilldrup stands as a reminder that even as businesses grow and industries change, staying grounded in community can carry a company forward for generations.
Charles W. McDaniel remarked, “Our focus will never go too far from Fredericksburg. We’re really proud of this area and the leadership here. Home is here.”
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