When most people plan to move on their own without a moving company, they often get so consumed with the packing, they forget to plan the loading of the truck and the actual move! If you’re ambitious enough to take-on the move yourself, it’s important to get to know the lay of the land when it comes to loading a moving truck before moving day. With proper planning, you can make moving day easy, quick, organized, and fun!
One Room at a Time
Knowing how to load a moving truck before you start is what will help you speed up the process. Go through each room in your home and figure out which larger or bulky items and furniture will need to be loaded into the truck first. Make a list and consider how you can maximize the space these pieces will take up in the truck. For example, wardrobes, cabinets and chairs will take up a lot of room in your moving truck, but there’s lots of empty space and voids left inside these pieces. Boxes, bins, and other smaller items will fit in here easily, maximizing the space on your truck. You’ll want to get it all on the truck so you don’t have to make a second unnecessary trip, costing you extra time, gas, and mileage!
The Starting Point
Plan what you want to put in first. Big and bulky items like bedroom furniture and beds are ideally loaded first at the back of the truck. These items will easily fit across the back, and can be filled or stacked with smaller lighter boxes, bedding, and other items.
The Small Stuff
Large furniture may take priority, but you also have to consider where to fit the smaller stuff. Usually the kitchen chairs will be stacked upside-down on the kitchen table (restaurant style). That leaves a lot of room for other items on top of the table, such as boxes and cushions. Plan to pack non-fragile things like a box of hand towels, clothing or bedding in these areas. Avoid stacking anything fragile that high up on top of furniture or in a way that isn’t secure.
Fragile Boxes
Every big move comes with a number of boxes of fragile items from glasses and plates, to decorations, to flat screen TV’s. The big question is, “Where do the fragile things go?” The answer depends on the type of truck you are using to move. If you have a moving truck that has a “Mom’s attic” above the driver’s cabin, plan to place all of your fragile items here. If in the back of the truck, protect the boxes marked “Fragile” with cushions, pillows, and blankets to make sure are secure and protect them from falling boxes. If you are still concerned about your fragile items, consider moving these possessions in a different vehicle. Remember, you don’t have to pack everything into the moving truck. Flat screen TV’s especially should go in your back seat, as a cracked LCD or Plasma screen can unnecessarily set you back $500-$1,000! Packing a moving truck can be intimidating because there are so many things you have to consider before you can even start. Know what you want to go in first, and what you want to get set up within the first few hours of arriving at your new home. If you need help choosing the right moving truck for your upcoming move, or just need advice on how best to load your moving truck, reach out to the team at Discount Car and Truck Rentals today!