Get help with the jigsaw puzzle of packing a moving truck
Wondering whether you can hire movers just to load a truck? Yes, you can hire movers just to load and unload a truck before you drive away on your own. Labor-only movers are a moving service that does not provide the vehicle, but offers you their expertise in loading your moving truck. Let’s review the benefits and logistics of hiring pro movers to load your truck.
Hiring a local moving company to load a moving truck lends you their professional skill set. Here are some of the benefits of hiring labor-only movers:
They work fast: Professional movers know the most efficient ways to pack a moving truck, saving you time in the moving process.
They can maximize usable space: It can be hard to determine the best method for packing many odd-shaped items like furniture into a moving truck, so let the pros handle it.
They know how to prevent damage: Movers can recommend the ideal packing strategies for moving with fragile items to prevent accidents en route.
Move quicker: Since professional movers have the skills, tools, and experience to make your move happen quickly, you’ll be able to settle into your new home faster than a DIY move.
It’s important to consider a few different factors when deciding if loading a moving truck on your own is the right choice for you.
As much as the prospect of saving money—or even the satisfaction of saying you moved yourself— can be enticing, you need to ask yourself if you’re physically capable of loading large items into the moving truck before committing to doing it on your own. Your safety should always come first. Consider the physicality required to load heavy furniture and boxes into a moving truck, and opt to hire movers if it doesn’t seem safe for you.
The cost of hiring movers will vary depending on location, home size, moving date, and more.
However, the cost of hiring full-service movers to pack and load a moving truck ranges from $910 and $2,525. Considering the cost-benefit analysis is important when deciding what option is most friendly to your budget.
The size of the moving truck you need can determine whether you need assistance in loading it. You should determine your moving truck size based on necessary cubic feet of space, home size, and amount of belongings. Typically bigger trucks and more belongings mean more physical labor and strategic packing skills, so it’s likely worth it to hire movers to assist with loading a large moving truck.
There aren’t any professional alternatives to moving truck loaders, but if you’re keen on getting some help you could enlist friends and family—perhaps for the price of a few cold sodas and snacks—or find people to help through gig-work apps.
If you opt to take this route, it’s important to note that these people may not be professionally trained and proper safety precautions should be taken, especially if you’re moving large items like a shed, for instance. We recommend hiring professional movers to help with packing and loading a moving truck for best results.
When you hire labor-only movers to load a moving truck, they provide services for off-loading, loading, and doing both, depending on your preferences. Be sure to specify which types of services you require when hiring movers.
As they load the truck, the movers will aim to distribute the weight of items evenly, and place the heaviest items on the bottom as they stack things up. Additionally, they’ll ensure precautions are taken for fragile items to ensure a safe delivery.
The cost to rent a moving truck is $1,000 on average. The average cost for hiring movers ranges from $910 and $2,525 for full-service moving, including loading the moving truck.
However, if you’re seeking to hire movers just to load a truck, you’ll likely be charged by their hourly rates instead of opting for their full package. Local moving companies typically charge $25 to $50 per hour per worker. For a more accurate estimate, contact a few local moving companies to find the best price for this moving service.
It takes professional movers longer to load a moving truck than unload it. However, it depends on the specifics of your move. It takes some time to strategize the most efficient way to load the moving truck with your furniture, boxes, and belongings. That’s why it’s important to rent the right size moving truck to ensure everything fits and makes the loading process move faster.
The key is to load the heaviest and largest items first, including mattresses, bed frames, large couches, dining room tables, chairs, and more. You want to pack the majority of the heavy items into the deepest part of the moving truck to balance the weight of your belongings. Consider loading lighter and smaller objects and boxes last.
Professional movers can disassemble and reassemble your beds, but it's an additional service with its own expense. If you need the movers to help disassemble large furniture pieces, be sure to specify that when scheduling your move to ensure they’re prepared to tackle the task upon arrival. To save money when moving, consider disassembling your bed yourself.
