Written by: Kate Becker
Date:

There’s no denying that loading a moving truck is hard work. Even loading a van can take quite a bit of time and a whole lot of effort. At Verified Movers, working with both movers and clients, we came to know how important proper truck loading is. From a client’s perspective, proper yet swift truck loading is important because of moving speed as well as belongings’ safety. When it comes to movers it’s a tad bit more complicated than that. Movers are often such perfectionists. Which means they want to do things as well as possible. Plus, if they don’t do their jobs right, the company they work for might face some problems. That’s why learning how to load a moving truck is extremely important. And, if you want to learn to do it right, you have to learn the rules.

When loading a moving truck it’s important to put things in the right places

Loading a moving truck may seem as simple as just putting boxes and furniture in a vehicle. And while that is technically correct, it’s much more complex than that. For example, you’d never catch top movers in San Jose dead beginning the loading process with the lightest boxes. Absolutely not. And that’s because they know the rules of moving, truck packing included. But what is the right way to do things then?

A mover loading in a sofa because loading heaviest items first is the best way to load a moving truck.
Each type of item has its place in a moving truck.

The heaviest objects should always populate the very front of the truck

Follow the teachings of top movers in Phoenix and begin the loading process by loading the heaviest items first. However, this should usually be just very hard and angular items like washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, and similar. Furniture like sofas, armchairs, and equal go someplace else. Also, hold off on loading any boxes for now. Pretty much most boxes will be lighter than something like a dishwasher. Of course, make sure to pack parallel to the truck door. Once all items of this nature are in, move on to the next step.

The center of the truck is for a different kind of heavy objects

Now it’s time to load wooden furniture like desks, tables, and chairs. As well as heavier moving boxes. But while you were packing the very front with items from wall to wall, it’s advisable to leave the sides around the center open for different kinds of items. That means that just the center is reserved for items in this particular category. It’s also best to load bigger items, like tables, first and then fill the space beneath them with heavy moving boxes.

When loading a moving truck, cushiony things go to the left

Now is the time to move on to softer items. All expert movers, including top movers in Washington, advise that softer items are loaded on the sides. But even the soft items are not all the same. It’s recommended to place any elongated and flattish items on the left side, while the right side is for more robust items. That means that mattresses, box springs, and similarly shaped items go to the left of the truck center.

Keep robust items on the right

Sofas, armchairs, and similarly shaped, heavy yet soft items always go right. Of course, if necessary, you can make some changes if need be. However, the rule states that items like that always go to the right. Also, it’s good practice to start with bigger and heavier ones more towards the front, and then move on to smaller and lighter ones.

A sofa in a living room.
The right side is reserved for sofas and armchairs.

Moving boxes also have their designated spot

While some of the really heavy boxes you likely already placed in the center of the truck with wooden furniture, the biggest chunk of the boxes will in fact be at the very back. However, you’ll still want to put the heavier ones more towards the middle while reserving the sides for the lighter boxes. Also, the space against the door should also be populated by smaller and lighter boxes, and even plastic bins, while you should try to place heavier boxes more towards the center.

How you load a moving truck vertically is also very important

Now that you know how to load a truck front to back and side to side, it’s time to discuss the best way of loading from the ground up. Luckily, this bit is quite easy. And, you’d have likely figured it out yourself. But it doesn’t hurt to mention it, right? You should always, and we literally mean always, load from heaviest to lightest when it comes to loading vertically. That’s very important because by doing that you’ll avoid squishing or damaging smaller and lighter items.

Straps are crucial for safe and secure transportation

When loading a truck, straps are your best friend. Because even if you end up loading the truck perfectly, to the very brim, things are very likely to move around a bit. And that is the best-case scenario. Especially during a long distance move, things can get wild in the back. And not in a fun way. That’s why strapping things is recommended. Especially heavy objects that could ruin other things if they tilted, shifted, tipped over, or well, moved in any way. So just get plenty of straps and the drive will be much safer. At least for belongings in the back of the truck.

A mover looking at moving boxes at the back of a moving van.
It’s way too easy for boxes and furniture to move around unless you use straps.

Loading a moving truck correctly is a must for any mover that wants to be a pro

Knowing how to load a moving truck properly is as much of a mover’s job as knowing how to pack belongings for a move. But unfortunately, just like any other moving-related task, these too are very complicated and require a lot of learning and training. Luckily, learning about the rules before you start loading can greatly improve your loading performance. Of course, you’ll still have to practice, but learning is a great start.