When you need something moved — from art and books to large medical equipment — the TR&S team is the trusted source for the Yale community’s needs.
Synchronized teamwork
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From left to right: Marcus Bland, Jason Avery, Rickey Traynham, Tsering Wangchuk, and Sean McKelvey.
Within the span of an hour, the cozy student lounge on the first floor of the Humanities Quadrangle transformed into an event space. Couches, cushy chairs, and coffee tables vanished and were replaced by round tables and wooden chairs strategically placed for an upcoming seminar.
Who was the staff behind this smooth transformation?
Yale’s Transport, Receiving, and Storage (TR&S) team, whose big box trucks can be spotted almost daily lumbering down New Haven streets or parked in front of Yale buildings. Dressed in Yale-logoed blue uniforms and baseball caps, they arrive with a plan, their tools of the trade — sharp eyes, dollies, and hand trucks — and spring into motion with choreographed precision. Each member knew their role and took their cues perfectly timed with the movements of their colleagues.
The TR&S team’s most reliable tool, besides the hand truck, the dolly.
Transport, Receiving and Storage provides intra-campus people, office, and equipment moves. Whether your department is moving to a new building or just down the hall, TR&S can handle the logistics. Learn more about their rates and moving guide.
The group’s rhythm was impressive: one teammate loaded items onto a dolly and rolled it toward the elevator, while another popped out of the elevator with a full hand truck. In the basement, these jovial colleagues executed uninterrupted handoffs — one unloading the descending dolly while another packed an empty one with tables and chairs. The space outside the elevator buzzed with team members swiftly passing each other in perfectly timed entrances and exits.
This intricate sequence continued until every piece of furniture found its place — the lounge items temporarily tucked away in the basement storage room, as the new table arrangements took shape upstairs. Not one movement was wasted; every gesture had purpose. The team moved with the quiet confidence of a seasoned troupe, exuding collegiality and calm even in their swift efficiency.
TR&S’s Tsering Wangchuk getting it done.
After the final pieces were arranged, they gathered their hand trucks and dollies, checked in with each other about the next stop, and drove away, leaving behind a completely transformed space.
Trust and team dynamics
This level of coordination doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of experience and carefully developed teamwork. The TR&S team of seven truck drivers and rounds-people has been working together for a while, and one of its senior members, Sean McKelvey, talked about their efficiency and comradery. McKelvey, a truck driver, is a 20-year Yale veteran who began his career in Yale Hospitality.
Bland and Avery keep things moving.
“What we do involves teamwork and prioritizes safety. You are relying on the person next to you to ensure that, by working safely in sync, nothing gets damaged. Our group has a wonderful bond, which makes the job fun and a lot easier,” said McKelvey.
Their day starts early at 7 a.m. with an average of 5 to 6 assignments. Depending on the needs of the move, between two and six staff members will head out from their West Campus hub for each location. Most requests are for jobs in or between campus buildings, but they often travel out of state to pick up research equipment and bring it back to New Haven.
“Ultimately, our most important task is ensuring the customer is happy,” said McKelvey, who gets a little help from teammate Avery.
TR&S has built a strong reputation throughout campus. “We have many repeat customers, who trust us to be there on time, get the job done efficiently and courteously,” McKelvey said. “Many of the research labs will order huge pieces of equipment like centrifuges or safety cabinets, not realizing the size limitations of an elevator or stairwell. But we’ve found they really rely on us to figure that out and are very appreciative once we get it placed.”
Challenges and logistics
The team sometimes encounters space challenges, particularly in former private homes, that don’t have elevators and, in some cases, only spiral staircases to move items up and down. Additionally, while weather can sometimes delay moves that involve delicate items, the team works in all types of weather conditions.
Traynham and Bland show some muscle.
Elliott Taylor, assistant director for TR&S, explains that logistics are a major part of the job. “We move a variety of large and small items such as books, artwork, computer equipment, and furniture. I build driving time and parking into jobs, which can be a challenge on city streets.”
Bland and Traynham pose for quick photo before heading to their next job.
Each day, a different person is assigned as the team lead, so everyone gets a chance at managing. “That individual is responsible for coordinating with the customer, facilitating tasks and providing our group direction. Ultimately, our most important task is ensuring the customer is happy,” said McKelvey.
