How to load a moving truck

A well-loaded truck is safer to drive, holds more and unloads faster. A badly loaded one shifts on the first turn. Experienced movers use the method below. It works for any size rental truck, trailer or van.

Before you start

• Park as close to the door as you legally can. Every extra step is multiplied by every item. Check your city's rules for trucks and containers on the street first.
• Stage by weight, not by room. Group the heaviest pieces, then furniture, then boxes, near the exit.
• Have pads, straps and a hand truck ready. Rental companies usually rent pads and dollies by the day.
• Take apart what you can. Bed frames, table legs and desk hutches load better flat.

The loading order

1. Heaviest items against the cab wall. Refrigerators, washers, dressers and other heavy pieces go in first, upright, against the front wall. Weight near the cab keeps the truck stable.
2. Long items along the side walls. Mattresses, sofas on end, headboards and tabletops stand against the sides, padded and strapped.
3. Build tiers, floor to ceiling. Load in sections across the full width of the truck: heavy boxes on the bottom, lighter boxes on top, no gaps. Finish each tier before starting the next.
4. Fill every gap. Cushions, bagged linens and soft items stop boxes from sliding.
5. Strap each tier. Tie a strap across every tier or two using the truck's rails. That way a section that shifts can't push the rest.
6. Last on: what you need first. Essentials, tools, cleaning supplies and the bed you'll sleep on tonight go in last.

Weight and balance

• Keep the load centered left to right. A lopsided truck pulls on the highway.
• Heavy and low beats heavy and high. Never put heavy boxes on top of lighter ones.
• Check the rental's maximum load rating if you're moving a large home with lots of heavy items.

What slows loading down

• Unpacked rooms. Loose items take far longer than sealed boxes. Finish packing first.
• Bags and odd containers. Uniform boxes stack. Bags and bins don't.
• A long carry. Every 50 feet between the door and the ramp adds up across hundreds of trips.
• Stairs and elevators. A reserved freight elevator saves more time than an extra helper.

Items that need a plan of their own

Pianos, safes, slate pool tables, hot tubs and anything over about 300 lb shouldn't be loaded like ordinary furniture. They need the right equipment and crew, and some need a specialist.

When to get help

Loading is the hardest and riskiest part of a do-it-yourself move. A moving-labor crew can load your rental truck for you. You still drive, so you still save money with a rental.