Which moving option to select: Full Service, Labor Only, or Do It Yourself?

The full service move is the most convenient and worry-free type of move a reputable company will offer, but it will also be the most expensive. With the full service move, the moving crew shows up at your house in a standard 26 foot moving truck stocked with all the equipment, tools, and packaging supplies needed for your move. These will always include two-wheel dollies, furniture dollies, and tools for disassembling an reassembling furniture, as well as stretch wrap, boxes, and tape, but could also include a stairwalker, piano board, pallet jack, and other such equipment.

The movers will wrap, pack, and load your goods onto the truck according to industry standards, then transport them to your new residence. Then they will unload the truck and arrange the items in your new home according to your wishes.

Then they will present you with a bill, which might be hefty, but they probably saved you a lot of time and trouble because they are experienced professionals. And that’s why this most expensive of all services is probably the most popular, too. And speaking of expenses, always get an estimate for your move and make certain that you know any add-on charges that might apply. Some companies will just charge for drive/labor time plus boxes and tape that they use, while others will charge for these services plus at the end of the move they will add junk fees such as equipment fees, fuel surcharges, and taxes. This can inflate your estimate by as much as 50% in some cases, perhaps even more. So make sure that you know everything you will be charged for in advance.

The Labor Only move can save hundreds of dollars. With the labor only service, you provide the truck and the driver, and the moving company provides the muscle and loading expertise. The will expertly wrap, pack, and load your rented truck in accordance with moving industry standards. But you will drive the truck to your new destination and unload it there yourselves. This is probably not a good option for someone with a grand piano or a gun safe or other such heavy, large object. But it does work well for someone with some muscle (for unloading) and some confidence in their driving skills.

Some things to remember when renting a truck:

First of all, get a big enough truck. The largest truck you can legally drive without a commercial driver’s license is a 26 foot truck. Check on the rental company’s website (or call your local rental company) to get a better idea as to whether a 26 foot truck will hold all your household goods.

Second, get a truck that has the loading system that you are more comfortable with. There are basically two types: the loading ramp, and the lift gate. With the ramp, you will have to carry or wheel items up a ramp onto the truck. With the lift gate, you just lower the gate to the ground by operating a lever, then wheel or lift the item(s) onto the lift gate, then send the gate up until it’s level with the truck floor, and then move the item onto the truck. This can be tricky with tall items, as they might start to tip while being raised or lowered, and if you’re standing on the lift while raising or lowering it, you could severely injure yourself or someone else. On the other hand, ramps tend to be rather narrow and you could severely injure yourself or someone else while trying to wrestle a heavy object up or down the ramp. Maybe this is one major reason why the full service move remains the most popular option.

Third, make certain that the truck has cargo tie rails and use them. Cargo tie rails are smooth boards that are riveted to the interior wall of the moving truck’s cargo area several inches from the wall. This allows the moving crew of you to strap items to the wall, preventing them from falling or even shifting. Be certain to purchase and use professional grade cargo straps available at truck rental stores, as merely lashing the goods with twine or rope will permit the rope to stretch and sag, with damage to the finish and even structure of those goods or neighboring items being a likely possibility.

Fourth, check whatever insurance you’re going to rely on to find out what it covers and what the deductibles are. Does it cover “overhead” accidents, accidents in which you try to drive under an overpass or tree limb that you think is high enough, but in fact smashes into the area over the cab of your truck (a very popular truck rental company’s insurance does NOT cover such accidents). You can see a lot of such accidents on the internet.

Fifth, and pursuant to the above paragraph, find out for sure just how high your truck is and always be aware of it. If the truck you are driving is 12 feet high and you approach an overpass that says it has an 11’6” clearance, you need to stop before you crash into the overpass. And never try to pull into a covered parking lot, and be very careful when driving on tree lined streets, especially when pulling into a parking spot. Low limbs can ruin your day.

Sixth, be aware that if you’re going to cross state lines, you will have to pull into weigh stations that are usually just inside the border of the state you’re going into. Sometimes these are closed and they will have large signs saying so, usually well ahead of the station. But if they are open, you will have to stop and have your truck weighed and possibly inspected. Hazardous goods and prohibited goods will be confiscated and you stand the possibility of being fined. Gasoline, even in lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc., is strictly prohibited by federal law. So get rid of all gasoline and other such combustibles, including paint, before loading your truck. Check your local laws to find out how to do this. Even liquid detergents, though not flammable or explosive, can be prohibited. And of course, ammunition, gunpowder and black powder are prohibited, also. Guns might be acceptable for transport, but check with each state you will go into for its laws and abide by them. Also, all these items are not only prohibited for interstate transport, but they are also prohibited for in-state transport. Some states also prohibit the transport of certain fruits, vegetables, and plants, so be careful and be legal.

The Do-It-Yourself option completely excludes the moving company. It’s just like the labor only option, except that you do all the wrapping and loading onto the truck, as well as the unloading, etc. Please see the “Labor Only move” above for important tips on doing this.