One of the most common questions that new movers have is how exactly to equip their moving truck. The basic premise is to be prepared for anything that comes your way. With this in mind, equipping your moving truck becomes a bit easier. However, if you were to be prepared for literally anything, you would not have any room for any other items. Therefore, some moderation is in order. You need to have all the essential gear and equipment, as well as some commonly used items. If you want to become one of the Verified Movers, you need to be prepared for almost anything that stands between you and a smooth relocating process. And that means that your moving truck needs to be up to snuff.
How to equip your moving truck?
The first thing that you need to figure out is what kind of relocations you plan to conduct. If you are only performing local moves, then you might afford to omit several pieces of equipment. Consider making a moving checklist of sorts, but for your truck. Try to imagine as many scenarios as you can, figuring out the necessary equipment in the process. That being said, there are some staples that you need to include, such as a dolly or two. Furthermore, you need to figure out whether your employees are actually trained in the use of said equipment. It will do you no good to have a piece of hardware that no one knows how to use. Also, you want to purchase gear of high quality, especially when starting.
Before a moving truck can get on the road, it needs to be well-equipped!
High-quality equipment can give your employees an easier time of conducting the relocation. This will, in turn, make your customers happier. It is always a good idea to invest in quality tools of the trade, after all. Now, let’s see what kind of items you may wish to procure.
Moving equipment required for the relocation process
Here is a small list of items that you may want to consider placing inside the truck:
- Airsled
- Appliance Cart
- Box hand truck
- Stair Climber
- Moving Skate
- Piano Dolly
All of these will make for a smoother, more reliable, moving process. You want to be ready for anything and have the right tool for every situation. Of course, you may need to account for seasons as well. If you are moving in the winter, you will want to add a few more items to the list. And if you are planning on becoming long distance movers, there are even more things that you need to account for. When equipping your moving truck, the most important thing is that you have an answer to every issue that you might encounter. Of course, you can omit some specialized items such as a piano dolly if you are not relocating a piano. You can replace them with additional packing supplies. They can always come in handy.
A dolly is an essential tool for any kind of relocation.
Equip your moving truck with moving boxes and packing supplies
Speaking of packing supplies, they warrant a hefty amount of space inside the truck. Even if you are not expecting on providing any packing services, your truck needs to be prepared for them. Therefore, consider always bringing a few items along, such as:
- Cardboard boxes
- Plastic bins
- Moving pads
- Packing paper
- Packing peanuts
- Bubble wrap
Oftentimes, you will be in a situation that the customer requires additional packing supplies for the move. You want to be prepared for that occasion, as it can net you a hefty profit. Your clients may ask you for packing supplies, moving tips, and about the moving process as a whole. What you want to do is to have an answer for every one of their requests/questions. That way you will appear professional and you might earn a favorable review. As moving companies “live and die” by their customer reviews, answering the call in the right way will only benefit you. Besides, selling packing supplies is extremely profitable due to high margins. If a customer wants to purchase something, you want to have it ready, simple as that.
Equip your moving truck with several toolboxes
A mover’s job usually involves a lot more than simply lugging things around. You may need to serve as a “handyman” of sorts during the relocation process. Therefore, it is a good idea to consider such tools when equipping your moving truck. Always keep a toolbox or three inside the truck, as you never know when those tools might come in handy. Again, it is all about building good faith with your customers. If a client of yours has a problem that can be solved by utilizing a toolbox, you want to have one available. For the same reason, you always want to have someone handy with a hammer or a drill around. Luckily, moving crews are quite proficient with these tools so you should have no problems there. But do keep it in mind when hiring new employees.
Several toolboxes can make a world of difference in the right circumstances.
Up-to-date first aid kit
Lastly, you may want to look at your first aid kit that is inside the truck. You are legally obliged to include it but “standard” first aid kits are usually quite barebones. Moving can be a dangerous occupation at times, what with all the heavy furniture and all. That is why you might want to consider upgrading your first aid kit. The safety of everyone involved should be your priority, after all. All of the “ingredients” are not really expensive, all things considered, and this is something you should try not to skimp on. Of course, your moving crew needs to have some first aid training, too.
All in all, equipping your moving truck “boils” down to being prepared for anything that you might encounter. The ideal loadout will come with time and experience, of course. Even so, it is a good idea to “overpack” than under pack in your first few months of doing business.