The Right Way To Load Your Moving Truck

1. Determining Truck Size
2. Start With Heaviest Objects
3. Next Items
4. Final Stages

Moving day is a very hectic time and being sure that you know exactly what to do before the big day arrives will make things go much smoother. In the case of moving yourself, you have probably rented a van or truck that you will load and then drive to your new destination yourself. Here are some tips and tricks to help you properly load your moving truck.

Determining Truck Size

The easiest way to determine the proper size for your truck will be to use an estimate based on the number of rooms you will be moving. This is, however, simply a starting point. If you have rooms with more things than the average person or family, considering adding a bit of extra space into your calculation.

You should also give yourself a bit of breathing room as well. Many moving experts suggest getting a truck that is between 10 to 15 percent larger than what you think will be required. It is certainly better to find your truck is a tad too big than a little too small during your big day.

Start With Heaviest Objects

Most moving experts suggest starting out by loading the biggest and heaviest items such as large appliances. You will almost certainly need extra help moving the refrigerator, washing machine and other appliances. Having a moving dolly or other cart can also be a huge help and time saver when moving such items.

Once these large, heavy items are on the truck, they should positioned carefully. They must go against the far wall of the truck, next to the cab. From there, you need to balance the load in the truck on each side.

Next Items

From here, you should focus on other large items, especially the mattresses, head boards, and table tops. They fit best along the sides of the truck. But fitting them upright, along the sides, this will help to conserve precious space. Secure these items by tying them to the panels along the side.

Now focus on additional, moderately large items, such as:

• Bookcases
• Dressers
• China Cabinets
• Bureaus
• Tables
• Chairs

These items should go in the middle of the truck, against the larger appliances. Be sure to remove the drawers from these items ahead of time to make moving and loading them a bit easier and safer. Once in the truck, put them back in and secure with rope or string to keep them from flying out during the trip. They might also require packing blankets and other protection to keep from getting scratched.

Final Stages

Now start loading up all your boxes. These can really go anywhere there is room, but try putting the smaller boxes under or above the tables and chairs. This helps save space as well as filling in any gaps, keeping everything compact and to help the weight from shifting during the trip.

The rest of the boxes should finish up the loading. Once again, start with the heaviest and try to balance the weight with an equal amount on each side of the truck. Moderate weight boxes can come next on top of the heavier items and then the lightest on top of those.