How to load and organise a moving truck?

IN SHORT

Load your moving truck like a pro:

• Prepare the load in advance: scout out loading locations, take large items apart, package everything, ask for help and organise it

• Load the heaviest and bulkiest items first

• Stack the boxes from the heaviest on the floor to the lightest at the top

• Finish up with miscellaneous items and plants.

Being handy, handling logistics, organisational skills... moving house does require many talents.

Today, we’re going to focus on a key aspect of the whole process: loading the moving truck.

And it’s hard to overstate the importance of doing so efficiently.

It allows you to:

• Save space and therefore money by choosing the right-size vehicle

• Save time by limiting trips back and forth

• Reduce the risk of breakage, as your belongings will be tightly loaded together.

This level of organisation can’t be improvised!

In this guide, you’ll learn how to load your moving truck like a pro, thanks to four simple yet highly effective tips.

Just as you wouldn’t choose a moving company at the last minute, loading a moving truck requires meticulous planning beforehand.

The size and type of vehicle you select will determine how your load is organised.

To choose the truck that’s right for you, list all the furniture, appliances and objects you wish to take with you.

Calculate the volume in cubic metres, and add one or two extra cubic metres for safety, especially if you have plants or oddly shaped objects.

Do you currently live in building without a lift?

Is your future home located on a small dead-end street or on a major boulevard?

Make sure you find parking spots for the moving truck ahead of time.

Depending on how much time you have, the type of furniture and your motivation, try to take apart the furniture whenever possible, unless you fear putting them back together might damage them.

This applies especially to tables and chairs, whose legs, once removed, save a considerable amount of space and make stacking much easier.

It’s no secret: the more carefully you pack your belongings, the more protected they will be against any risk of breakage.

So wrap your crockery in bubble wrap and slip your mattresses into special covers. And don’t forget to use blankets to cover your slatted bed bases and pieces of furniture.

Special boxes for books, bottles, glasses, clothes: there are endless types of moving boxes.

So we recommend you choose yours with great care, because they’ll protect what’s most dear to you, while saving you a lot of time on packing and taping.

If you can, use boxes of similar size to make stacking easier.

Finally, make sure you label boxes containing fragile items. You might know which ones are which, but that’s not the case for those who will be lending you a hand!

If you’ve decided to handle moving completely on your own, you will need help from friends and family and to be truly effective, you should define their roles like a coach would do.

Set up a chain with:

• At least two people who will place your belongings in front of your door

• At least two people who will transport them to the moving truck

• Two other people to arrange and organise them inside the truck

Depending on the type of furniture you own, you will probably need to buy or hire specific equipment to make things easier, such as:

• Tie-down straps

• A stair climbing trolley

• Blankets

• A moving trolley

• A moving truck fitted with a tailgate

For the more detail-oriented, we recommend drawing up a loading plan.

It’s actually easier than it sounds, as you just need to draft a diagram of how your furniture and boxes will be organised inside the truck. You can do that on a piece of paper or using sketching software.

If you’re planning to put some of your furniture in a storage unit, it’s worth it to plan ahead so that you can load them together in the truck and unload them last.

On the big day, all you’ll need to do is brief your team on the details!

Let’s first deal with large appliances and bulky furniture.

The fridge, washing machine and dishwasher should be placed in the back of the truck, making sure to balance out the loads.

The aim is twofold:

• Make sure from the outset that there will be enough room to transport them

• Make driving easier by not weighing down the rear of the vehicle

Bonus tip: don’t forget to defrost your freezer and drain your washing machine at least 24 hours in advance to avoid any nasty surprises.

The second step is to load the sides of the truck.

This leaves the centre of the truck accessible for longer and helps distribute the loads evenly.

Tall and narrow furniture, tables, bed bases and headboards should all be placed against the sides.

If you can, load in your sofa and mattresses vertically. This will save you considerable amount of space and protect other belongings by absorbing knocks and vibrations during transport.

Finally, don’t forget to secure everything to the load lock bars to ensure nothing moves. We highly recommend using cotton straps, which are known for their incredible strength.

Bonus tip: if you can’t get your hands on cotton straps, you can also use rope, with a strong double knot.

Keeping weight distribution in mind, place the heaviest boxes at the bottom of your piles, and in the middle of the cargo bed .

Then stack all other boxes from the heaviest to the lightest, making the most out of the truck’s height.

To save space, remember to slide boxes into empty spaces, like under furniture or on top of your washing machine or dishwasher.

It’s worth noting that some products are prohibited during a move. Learn more if you have any doubts!

One more thing: if your boxes are similar in size, organise their loading according to the rooms they will be used for to save time on arrival.

Use small boxes or duvets to fill the empty spaces and provide additional stability.

Load your oddly-shaped items and plants last so they don’t slow you down on arrival.

One more thing: using the back of the truck as a “holdall” will deter thieves, who will find it harder to access valuables.