The benefit of working with the moving company is not having to worry about transporting your items. However, from liability, convenience, and peace of mind standpoint, there are several items that you should transport to your new home in your own vehicle. While you’re packing, place these items and boxes in a separate part of your house to ensure the movers don’t load them into the truck by accident. You can even ask your movers to load these items into your own car or vehicle for you.
The essentials for your first night
After a long day of moving, there is nothing worse than opening all your boxes to find your bed sheets, phone charger, and toilet paper. We highly recommend packing a first night box, full of things you will need to during the first few days in your new home. These items might include:
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Linens
- Electronics & chargers
- Keys
Click here to read our blog on the first night box and download and handy checklist to help you pack it.
Hazardous items that are illegal to ship on a moving truck
For the safety of your shipment, there are several items that are illegal to move on our moving trucks. These items are flammable or combustible, so they cannot be moved on the truck as a safety precaution to prevent fires. Other items, such as cleaning agents and bleach, are both flammable and if they leak they could potentially ruin your furniture on the shipment. Be sure to discard these items before your move or move them in your own vehicle.- Aerosol cans regardless of content
- Heating agents such as Sterno
- Nail polish/remover
- Fire extinguisher
- Any type of gas in bottles or tanks including propane or oxygen (we can move lawnmowers etc. if the gas tank is empty)
- Paints, varnishes, solvents, thinners and oils
- Ammonia, bleach and other household cleaning agents
- Chlorine granules or powder
- Muriatic acid (also called hydrochloric acid)
- Auto batteries
- Charcoal/lighter fluid
- Matches and lighters
- Ammunition
- Fireworks & flares
- Fertilizer
- Any other combustible product
Valuables, medication, and important documents
Although the crew is trustworthy and careful, we recommend transporting your small valuables and irreplaceable items as well as items that contain personal information in your own vehicle. Also remember to pack items that you may need during the course of your move, such as medication, closing documents, and laptops, to take on your own. Items that should not be moved on the truck include:- Valuable Jewelry
- Cash, gift cards, and checkbooks
- Guns and firearms
- Valuable furs
- Hard-to-replace documents such as birth & death certificates, marriage certificates, deeds and other important documents
- Documents you may need for your closing
- Laptops or computer hard drives
- Social security cards
- Insurance policies
- Ashes
- Passports
- Stocks, bonds, and securities
- Valuable collections such as wine or stamps or coins
- Family photos and videos
- Small heirlooms
Also, don’t forget, any items that are moved on the truck that exceed a value of $5,000 should be noted on a Declaration of Extraordinary Value form.
Perishable items
If you are doing a multi-day or long-distance move, there are many items that should not be moved on the truck because they may be ruined in transit due to temperature changes on the truck. These items include:- Frozen/refrigerated food
- Plants and potted trees
- Open non-perishable food items
- Wine (click here for our blog on wine transport alternatives)
Transporting these items on your own will go a long way in preventing issues and ensuring you have a smooth relocation. If you ever have any questions about what can or cannot be moved, you can ask your relocation coordinator.
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Moving locally means moving from one place to another within the city without crossing state borders.
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