78 Photo Essay: Andrew Harris, Delta Transfer

Words by Terrell Manasco | Image by Al Blanton

Andrew Harris rounds the corner of the building as if launched by a gigantic slingshot—elbows bent, legs pumping, a baseball cap jammed over his blonde, beach boy locks. Inside this building, he’s been helping a Delta Transfer team with a moving job. Warm, affable, he ducks through a side door and slides into a chair. 

“First, tell me about you,” he says, flashing his pearly whites.

Founded in the 1950s by his great-grandfather, Floyd Hill, Delta Transfer was later passed to Andrew’s grandfather, Ronald Harris, then to his dad, Kenny Harris. One day, it will be Andrew’s turn. “At some point, I will be fourth-generation owner,” he says.

A nine-time state track champion at Walker High, Andrew majored in exercise and sports science at the University of Alabama. He’d planned to become a chiropractor but changed his mind after graduating in 2016. He says he felt the Lord leading him in a different direction and began working for the family business.

Then, a funny thing happened—he discovered he liked it. “I like to talk,” Andrew says, grinning. “I like to meet people. We meet somebody new every day.” 

“When I go on any job, I like to hear people's story,” he adds, referring to his earlier request. “Meeting people is my favorite part of the job. It’s a little pressure going into a person's house. You're moving everything they have that they've worked hard for.”

Despite being “literally a peon,” as he jokes, Andrew wanted to carry on the family business. His dad cautioned him about the stress, but Andrew’s passion for the company became his trump card. “He saw that I cared more about the business than money,” Andrew says. 

To that end, Andrew, has endeavored to learn everything about business operations, even acquiring a Class A CDL license to drive a tractor-trailer. Soon, he hopes to train inside the office. “If you’re going to run a business, you need to learn from the ground up,” he says. 

One thing that makes Delta Transfer stand out is their top-notch employees. “Dad tells people, ‘We're not your average moving company,’” Andrew says. “We're extremely blessed with guys who are not going to come into your house and use vulgar language. They'll take care of everything you have, just like it's their own.” 

Reflecting on the company’s sixty-plus years of success, Andrew says the Lord has blessed him and his family. His gratitude, and his passion for the business, are both evident.

“What means more to me than anything else is continuing the tradition of Delta Transfer and the Harris name,” he says. 

If you ever meet Andrew Harris, whether he’s moving furniture or sitting at a desk, be prepared to tell your story. Even if you’re literally a peon. 78