Moving and Storage Business News

Moving companies often offer services that are less involved and expensive than full service moving. Companies like Penske Truck Rental and others derive most of their income from truck and equipment services. Others provide drivers and delivery service, simply letting the customer perform the actual packing. Many full service moving companies require a minimum hour to guarantee their return on investment, while other prefer to use a fabled one-hour minimum charge or a deposit for the same purpose. The use of truck rental services, or simply borrowing similar hardware, is referred to as DIY moving in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The parties moving borrow or rent a truck or trailer large enough to carry the load of household goods to be relocated and, if necessary, obtaining moving equipment such as dollies, furniture pads and cargo belts to protect the furniture and make things easier to move. It also involves finding or buying materials such as boxes, paper, tape and bubble wrap with which to pack boxable and/or fragile household goods for their protection and for compact carrying and stacking on moving day. Self service moving companies such as Movex, Helpumove and Portable On Demand Storage offer another viable option: The person moving buys space on one or more trailers or shipping containers. These large containers, often up to 53′ feet in length, are driver by professionals to the new location. The renters of the trailer or truck often sell or lease accessories such as furniture blankets, tie down straps, packing material, dollies and ramps.

These moving company services are often considerably less expensive than full service moving. The key difference is that much of the liability for damage falls on the customer when they utilize these services. The carrier is generally only liable for damage resulting from traffic accidents or other damage that occurs to the trailer after they recover it. Damage from improper loading and packing falls on the customer, much like with a rental truck.