What items will movers not load on the truck?
Movers generally will not load hazardous materials. That includes propane tanks, gasoline, paint, aerosol cans, ammunition, pool chemicals and cleaning chemicals. Cash, jewelry, important documents and perishable food are usually better kept with you. Check your list before moving day so you have time to use, give away or safely dispose of the rest.
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Hazardous items stay off the truck
The common list is propane tanks, gasoline, paint, aerosol cans, ammunition, pool chemicals and cleaning chemicals. These can leak, ignite or build pressure inside a closed truck, so movers cannot carry them.
Start with the garage, shed and under the kitchen sink. Use up what you can. Give sealed items to a neighbor or friend. For the rest, your local waste service can tell you where to take household chemicals.
Things that should ride with you
Some items are not banned so much as too important or too delicate to put on a truck. Cash, jewelry and important documents belong in your own bag or car. So do medications and anything you would need on the first night.
Perishable food and plants are the other group. On a short local move they may be fine in your vehicle. On a long trip, food spoils and plants suffer, so plan to use up the food and carry the plants yourself.
Heavy and awkward items can go, with prep
Pianos, gun safes, hot tubs and pool tables are all things a crew can handle with the right equipment, such as skids, straps and dollies. They just need advance notice. Tell the movers the size, the weight and the route through the house, including steps and doorways.
Prep matters too. A hot tub must be drained and disconnected. A gun safe should be emptied first, and that includes ammunition, which has to travel separately from the move.
How leftover items change your move
Every item you clear out before moving day is one less thing to wrap, carry and load. Local moves are billed by the hour, so a lighter load can shorten the job. Stairs, long carries, packing help and specialty items also affect time and cost.
When you ask for an estimate, list the towns, the size of the home, any stairs, specialty items and your preferred date. Mention anything you are unsure about, so it can be sorted out before the crew arrives.
Related questions
Can I move a gas grill or lawn mower?
The propane tank has to come off the grill, because movers cannot carry propane. Gasoline is also on the no-load list, so equipment that holds fuel needs attention. Ask the movers how to prep each piece before moving day, and keep the tank or fuel out of the load.
Can ammunition stay in a gun safe during the move?
No. Ammunition is on the list of items movers cannot carry, and safes should be emptied before the move. Take the ammunition with you in your own vehicle, stored separately from the safe. Tell the movers the safe's size, weight and route through the house.
Do these rules change for a long-distance move?
The hazardous materials rule stays the same. What changes is the trip length. Perishable food and plants have a harder time over many miles, so most people use up the food and carry plants in their own vehicle. Keep valuables and documents with you as well.
What if I'm not sure whether an item is allowed?
Ask before you pack it. Name the item, what it is made of and what is inside it. Chemicals, pressurized cans and fuel are the usual trouble spots. Settling it early gives you time to use, give away or dispose of the item instead of finding out on moving day.
Should I pack the items movers won't take in a box anyway?
No. Keep banned items out of your packed boxes entirely. A mislabeled box can hide something that leaks or ignites in a closed truck. Sort those items into a separate spot, such as a bin by the door, and deal with them yourself before the crew arrives.
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Services
- Local MovingMoving a house, apartment, condo or storage unit within the area, loaded, driven and unloaded by one crew.
- Long-Distance MovingMoves out of the area or across state lines, planned around an inventory, a pickup date and a delivery window.
- Commercial MovingOffice and business relocations planned around your operating hours, with furniture, files and equipment wrapped and labeled.
- Military MovesPCS and orders-driven moves for service members and their families, scheduled around report dates that can change.
- Labor-Only Moving HelpMovers without a truck: loading or unloading your rental truck, container or storage unit, or rearranging heavy furniture.
- Packing ServicesFull, partial or fragile-only packing with boxes and wrapping supplied, plus unpacking at the new place.
- Specialty Item MovingHeavy or awkward items such as pianos, gun safes, hot tubs and pool tables, moved with skids, straps and dollies.
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