By MovingQuotes.com Staff
So you're moving yourself -- all set to load up that moving truck?
No? We can help.
The first key to loading your own truck is having help. Whether you hire people
or are counting on friends and family for a helping hand, have enough assistance
so you don't damage your items – or damage yourself. And remember that heavier
items like sofas and dressers require a certain number of people to lift and
move -- you probably won't have access to the professional moving supplies that
a moving company crew uses.
Step 1
Ensure your boxes are completely packed -- top to bottom and side to side. If
there's empty space in a box, fill it with paper so the boxes don't get crushed
if other items are stacked on them.
To save time and increase efficiency, have everything you need to load your
truck before you begin the actual loading.
Stretch-wrap sofas to protect them from getting dirty or punctured. The same
would apply for mattresses and other soft pieces.
Have enough padded materials on hand to protect your furniture. Wrapping
furniture makes it easier to load tightly in the truck without hurting it. Load
stuff tightly to prevent items jostling against one another during the move.
Loading
Start at the front of the truck or van and work your way toward the back. Pack
items from floor to ceiling as if you're putting together a jigsaw puzzle --
every space should be filled so no items shift during transportation. Boxes
should be used as filler for open spaces.
It may be necessary to disassemble some things to ensure safe transport, such as
removing legs from tables, in order to load the shipment tightly. Place heavier
stuff lower on the truck, with lighter items on top of the heavier ones.
Sofas and some other pieces may be placed on their ends to get your truck packed
tightly, but be sure to place them next to items that will not cause damage.
If for some reason you do not use the entire truck, secure the back of your
shipment with loading straps or other materials to keep loads from sliding
backward.
You will want to be careful not to drag items in the truck because you may
damage sofa and table legs, or dresser bottoms.