Moving has always been a stressful and complex undertaking. Most people order services from moving companies and rent moving trucks. But there are those, who would rather avoid spending money on specialized services, cannot afford them or they just do not confide others the shipment of their belongings.
Whatever the reason for performing the move by your own, here are some tips on how to stack in a moving truck to ship your belongings safely and undamaged.
Proper planning and following an algorithm minimizes the time spent on stacking and safeguards your possessions during the entire moving process. Knowing how stack your belongings properly prevents you from time- and space-waste and, most importantly, from damaging your household items.
Before starting stacking make sure you have all the necessary supplies you cannot do without. These include:
- Containers and boxes of different shapes and sizes;
- Blankets, carpets, wrapping paper, padding, bubble wrap;
- Furniture covers, cardboard, plastic sheeting;
- Packing tape;
- Different types of tie-downs: ropes, belts, ratchet straps;
- Different types of filling materials: blankets, pillows, plushies, packing peanuts, wadding materials.
Pay special attention to preparation; it is a very important aspect determining success of the delivery. Before starting stacking in the truck make sure you have protected (packed/wrapped) every possession you have. Start placing your belongings into moving boxes and containers. It is better to use specifically designed moving boxes in order to uphold the stability of the load during shipping. Wrap furniture, mirrors and the rest of your heavy items in plastic wrap, moving pads, plastic wrap to prevent them from dust and getting damaged. Furniture, assembled of separable parts, is better shipped when disassembled, take apart tables, bed frames, wardrobes, book shelves etc.
Another useful lifehack is to labeling boxes and wrappings marking their content and destination place. This organizational moment will save you a lot of time and prevent chaos when stacking into the moving truck and when unloading.
How to stack in a truck
Prior to starting loading prepare the box truck, make sure the truck is clean and operable/up to security standards. Cover the floor of the trailer with a plastic wrap or another wrapping material of this kind in order to prevent your belongings from getting dirty.
You may also bring all of your possessions out and place them next to the truck. This will give you a clear idea of the size of your loads and it will also reduce the stacking time
Before loading, divide the box truck into segments and proceed stacking after completing the previous formation. Begin by stacking your heaviest and biggest items in front of the trailer, creating levels of boxes and moving from the bottom to the top. In order to use all the space in the truck use boxes and packages of different shapes and sizes. Cushions and mattresses may also serve as fillers, but previously wrap them in plastic. Stack your items as tight as possible and fix every tier by tying it off with ropes, straps or belts to prevent your loads from shifting. When loading pay special attention to the weight distribution, balance your items throughout the truck but it is better to place pieces of furniture, which cannot be disassembled, at the end. Secure sharp corners, unremovable table legs or sticking out metal pieces by additional wrapping, do not place them against delicate furniture to avoid damage. Safeguard each piece of furniture by filling in the space in between them using cardboard, paper etc. Avoid open space under tables and chairs by filling it with boxes, bags, rolled up carpets which can also be used as “wrapping”.
Keep your household equipment and other home appliances separated with sheeting from the rest of your furniture.
When shipping vehicle fix them with ropes and ratchet straps. Make sure you have drained the fuel or other flammable liquids.
If possible store your fragile items in the cabin of the truck, if there is no such opportunity wrap them carefully and put them into boxes filled with packing peanuts. Place the lightest and breakable packages on top of your loads. Tie them off to prevent from moving.
