Packing Up Your Moving Truck As If You Have 30 Years of Experience

Packing a moving truck is the best and most efficient way, can help maximize space and minimize costs for a bigger truck, protect your belongings better, and ensure a smoother move overall including for the unpacking.

Here’s iMoving’s classic step-by-step guide to packing a moving truck like a pro mover from day 1. Let’s get the job done!

• Moving Supplies: Get together and buy all the moving boxes, packing tape, furniture blankets, scissors, bubble wrap, and other packing materials you will need so that when you have bursts of energy pack and load everything you need on-site.
• Prep That Furniture Disassembly: Disassemble large furniture items ahead of the mover’s arrival if possible to save space and make them easier to transport. If you don’t feel competent doing so then wait and allow them to do the job professionally but this is a great way to save.
• Truck Size: Book the right size truck based on the volume of items you need to move. Once you know the approximate number of boxes and furniture pieces, iMoving’s experts can help you determine the size needed. Costs vary by size.

• Heavy to Light: Load heavy items first and get it done, placing them towards the front of the truck for balance and added stability. Make sure to leave room to get around them to load your boxes.
• Stacking: Stack boxes and furniture in a smart way, placing heavier and sturdier items on the bottom and lighter items on top. Boxes of the same size should be stacked on top of each other in a safe area of the truck.
• Fragile Items: Pack fragile items securely in loads of bubble wrap and place them in a specific area where they won’t shift during the drive. Mark them very clearly as Fragile and let it be known where they are located.

• Use Furniture Pads: Place furniture pads or simply old blankets between items to prevent scratches and damage. If you run out then buy extra bubble wrap.
• Secure Furniture: Use tie-down straps and ropes to secure furniture to the truck walls. This is important because if they shift legs and other parts could break off and cause damage to your other items. 
• Vertical Space: Stack boxes and lighter items vertically to maximize floor space. The higher you go safely, the more space you save and ultimately money.

• Organize by Rooms: Keep boxes and items from each room together as much as you possibly can to simplify unpacking at your new home. Movers will likely unload areas of the truck together and you simplify their lives if they can carry multiple items at once.
• Label Boxes: Clearly label boxes with their items and the room they belong to for easy unloading.

• Fill Gaps: This reminds me of the song “Mind the Gap.” Fill up all those gaps and empty spaces with soft items like pillows, couch cushions, blankets, and whatever other soft items you own to prevent items from shifting in the drive.
• Even Weight Distribution: Distribute weight evenly throughout the truck to keep things balanced and make sure to avoid overloading any certain part of the truck.

• Use Straps or Ropes: Use tie-down straps, ropes, or even bungee cords to secure items keeping them in place and preventing them from flying around.
• Anchor Heavy Items: Anchor heavier items or furniture to truck walls or anchor points in the truck to ensure they remain in place. Make sure your truck offers this option if needed. 
• Bubble Wrap or Packing Paper: Wrap fragile items each on their own with bubble wrap or packing paper to protect them from bumps. Don’t go light on the bubble wrap make it your best friend.
• Positioning is Everything: Place fragile items in a specific area and ensure they are well-locked down.

• Walkthrough: Before closing the truck, walk around and inside to check everything is actually securely packed and nothing is left behind or not tied down.
• Secure Doors: Close and secure truck doors.

• Slow and Steady is the Name of the Game: Drive slow, especially around corners and over bumps, to minimize movement and shifting of the load’s center of gravity.
• Check-In: Periodically check in on the items during the drive to make sure they are good to go.

• Plan Unloading: Have a plan for unloading, starting with heavier items first and organizing by rooms to make the process go smoothly. Since you loaded your boxes by room it will be easy to know how and where to unpack them. 
• Use Moving Equipment: For heavier items to reduce strain on the back use professional moving tools.

Optimize space in your already expensive moving truck, protect your belongings, and ensure a more organized and efficient move to your new home! Now that you have he basic knowledge all that is left to do is pack up and load up that truck!