How to Pack & Load a Moving Truck the Right Way

Moving is like a jigsaw puzzle; it requires patience, planning, and sometimes a little help. For DIY enthusiasts, knowing how to pack and load a moving truck the right way is one of the pieces that should fall in place for seamless relocation.

Whether you are moving locally or to another state, we have curated a list of tips and tricks to help you load and pack a moving truck like a pro. Read through before you start the relocation.

Table of Content

• Packing a Moving Truck Like a Pro
  • Choose the Right Truck Size
  • Prepare the Necessary Supplies
  • Have a Packing Plan
  • Get Assistance from Friends and Family
  • Disassemble the Furniture
  • Pad the Truck’s Floor and Attic
• Loading a Moving Truck Like a Pro
  • Load Heavy Items First
  • Use Bungee Cords to Keep Things in Place
  • Final Check

Packing a Moving Truck Like a Pro

1. Choose the Right Truck Size

The last thing you want during relocation is to make multiple trips. So, choosing a moving truck is a priority for hassle-free moving. But how do you know whether you need a cargo van or a 26-foot truck?

Several factors determine the size of the truck you need for relocation. These include:

• Property size and volume
• Heavy furniture and appliances
• Number of packing boxes
• Distance between old and new house
• Specialty boxes

Through our years of experience, we have come up with the appropriate truck sizes for different houses. However, there might be slight differences due to the factors we’ve highlighted above.

House Size	Capacity (Cubic Ft)	Truck Size
Studio Apartments	400	Cargo vans (10-foot truck)
One-bedroom	500	12-foot truck
Two-bedroom	850	16-foot truck
Three-bedroom	1,200	20-foot truck
Four-bedroom	1,400	26-foot truck
Five-bedroom	1,700	26-foot truck

Before renting the truck, use online truck size estimators or consult local movers for a more accurate estimate. It’s better to have a truck that’s slightly bigger than one that’s too small to fit everything in one trip.

2. Prepare the Necessary Supplies

Having the necessary supplies is as important as packing a moving truck the right way. A checklist can help you avoid making several trips to the local store to buy the items. The list also comes in handy to ensure you have the often-forgotten supplies like quality markers or labels.

Here are the supplies you should buy days before the relocation day:

• Sturdy boxes in varied sizes
• Packing tape and tape gun
• Permanent markers for labeling
• Bubble wrap
• Wrapping paper
• Moving blankets
• Furniture covers
• Furniture pads and corner protectors
• Mattress bags
• Plastic wrap
• Dolly for heavy items
• Lifting straps
• Bungee cords/rope
• Cleaning supplies like trash bags, paper towels, cleaners
• Packing peanuts

It would help if you got enough protection supplies to ensure your belongings are securely packed. Additionally, it would help if you had speciality boxes for items like pianos and mirrors. Although these items come at a higher cost, buying new ones if they are damaged is even more costly.

3. Have a Packing Plan

The game plan is as important as the game when it comes to moving. The most efficient way to pack a moving truck starts with a good strategy. Here are some tips to help you plan well:

• Start packing early (several days before the relocation day)
• Set aside decluttering time
• Create a detailed inventory of your belongings
• Visit the new house before relocation
• Change your address and alert utility providers

Understanding the season is part of this process because it informs you of the clothes to pack first and last. For example, you will need warm jackets if you are moving during winter.

When packing, you should consider what you will use last and first. These items include essential toiletries, bedding, kitchenware, phone chargers, first aid supplies, and medication. It is advisable to put these items in your car for easy access, especially when moving long distances.

Finally, a transparent labelling system prevents confusion during unloading. For efficiency, use different-coloured labels, each marker representing a room, type of item, or fragility.

4. Get Assistance from Friends and Family

There is a reason movers provide at least two personnel when moving. The risk of injury in lifting heavy objects is usually high. That is why you need the help of friends and family members to ease the packing, loading, and unloading.

Informing them early enough so that they can mark their calendars is a good gesture. Also, provide some incentives to keep your team motivated. With help from others, you not only reduce the tiredness but also lower the cost of truck and container renting.

Remember, the right way to lift heavy moving boxes is by standing close to the box, bending one knee to the floor, and grabbing it. Trying to lift heavy objects while standing can lead to back injuries.

5. Disassemble the Furniture

If loaded intact, your sofas, beds, dining tables, chairs, and office desks can fill a whole truck. Disassembling these items increases compactness when packing the truck and ensures uniform weight distribution.

Some of the ideas to break down heavy items include:

• Detaching legs from dining tables and sofas
• Removing pillows and cushions from sofas and chairs
• Unscrewing beds and sideboards (put the bolts and stoppers in a bag and attach them to the furniture using masking tape)
• Disassembling TV stands
• Taking out drawers from office tables and dressers
• Breaking down any heavy item that has different detachable parts

If you have heavy items that cannot be disassembled, put moving boxes on top of them to prevent damage. Use bubble wrap, blankets, and stretch wrap to protect your floor against scratches.

6. Pad the Truck’s Floor and Attic

To protect your valuables from damage caused by bumps and vibrations on the road, pad the truck’s floor. Adding moving blankets, furniture pads or cardboard layers creates a cushioned surface that reduces the direct impact on items.

Besides, cushioning the attic— the small, elevated space over the truck’s cab—protects fragile or lightweight items. This space is ideal for delicate items like mirrors, lamps, or artwork because it has less movement than the main cargo area.

Padding prevents items from shifting and cushions them against sudden stops or rough roads. Without adequate padding, these fragile items could slide, fall, or hit the truck walls, resulting in costly damage.

Loading a Moving Truck Like a Pro

After packing all your belongings, it is now time to load them into the truck. How do you pack and load the moving truck to ease the process and ensure all the items fit in?

1. Load Heavy Items First

While loading, ensure the weight is evenly distributed at the base of the truck. Weight distribution is essential to ensure a smooth drive and easy unloading. The heavier items should go near the cab, and the long ones should be around the truck’s walls.

Heavy furniture, big appliances, bulky mattresses, and irregular tables can take up a lot of space if not arranged properly. You should load these items first to avoid damage to your moving boxes and, consequently, your valuables.

You should place these items vertically because they tend to take up more space horizontally. To create enough space for other items, place long items like mattresses and bedframes against the truck walls.

After loading and packing these valuables, go to medium-sized items like chairs, small tables, and boxed electronics. Arrange them around and on top of the large items, filling gaps and ensuring they’re secure.

Lastly, put the small boxes in the remaining spaces in the truck. This loading approach ensures you can locate all the items at a glance. It is also easier to remove your valuables without strain, which minimizes the risk of breakages.

2. Use Bungee Cords to Keep Things in Place

Securing your belongings using moving straps prevents shifting, which could lead to damage. You should strap the items in phases, starting with the heavy items. After that, tie the medium boxes together and then the whole luggage.

3. Final Check

After loading, it doesn’t hurt to double-check whether everything is loaded and fastened. This step ensures a smooth journey and gives you peace of mind, knowing everything is secure.

Conclusion

Now you know how to pack and load a moving truck like a pro. And as you can guess, it isn’t an easy process. Joshua’s Moving Packing & Storage can take this burden off your shoulders with reliable services. We help you disassemble, pack, load, unload, and arrange your belongings with unmatched efficiency. Get in touch with us today for seamless relocation.