How Long Do Movers Take to Load a Truck or Van?
TL;DR
- Loading time depends on vehicle size, item quantity, and the number of movers.
- A 3-meter truck with two movers takes about an hour, while larger trucks take 4-5 hours.
- Movers load heavy items first, placing them against the walls and cab for balance.
- Vans take less than an hour to load, provided boxes are prepared in advance.
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What do movers load first, boxes or other heavy items? Eurosender is here to tell you tips on how to pack a moving truck and van and how much time should you dedicate to this task.
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Sometimes movers may take longer to load a truck, and sometimes it may be somewhat faster, but it usually depends on:
- the items you need transportation service for;
- the vehicle type;
- how many people are involved in the moving process; or,
- the possession of the necessary equipment for.
Check out the following moving tips:
- Packing tips for moving house
- Packing tips for moving furniture
- Moving heavy items to another location
Nonetheless, it is not a wonder why many are asking how long will the movers take to load the truck and be on their way, as they need to plan ahead their time.
Find out the estimated delivery times with courier companies here!
However, in general, if the truck is around 3 metres long and there are at least two professional movers, it should not take them more than one hour, and for 7 metres or longer truck, around 4-5 hours.
And, how long do movers take to load a van, and not a truck? Assuming boxes are already prepared, it should not take more than 1 hour for two professional movers to load a moving van.
Do you need to move out and need professional assistance? Do not worry; we have the right solution for you whether you need the transportation service mid-week or during the weekend! We offer a Van Delivery service that does not only include the vehicle, but we can also arrange the necessary assistance during loading and unloading, including forklifts, tail-lifts, and else, on request! Do you also need some packing tips for moving van or truck? Our trained customer support has you covered!
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Do movers need everything packed in boxes?
The most crucial part of the transportation is the loading itself; thus, the shipper must always see that the shipment is prepared and loaded with utmost care.
We recommend you to pack and prepare all smaller and fragile items appropriately for transport, even though movers do not need everything in boxes. Appropriately means that add the necessary padding materials to protect them from any shocks. The most common item that goes unboxed is furniture, that should nonetheless be protected with pads.
By clicking the button below, you can read all that you need to know about packing guidelines.
How to load heavy items into a truck or van?
Firstly, make sure you organise the items and the boxes and decide on which ones go first. The heavy items usually go against the walls of the vehicle, and towards the cab. Then move on to the medium-heavy, to the lightest ones on top and towards the end of the truck.
Depending on the goods that you are transporting, you may need a forklift or tail-lift to make the moving easier. However, this is not always the case, as usually, there is no need for additional equipment. If you arrange a removal service through Eurosender, our agents will advise you and give you several options, after describing the content you are transporting. By letting us know, you will make sure the van loading and unloading goes as smooth as possible.
What do movers load first, heavy items or boxes?
To ensure a safe van loading, similarly to other packing tips for pallets and boxes, the movers will first load the heavier items inside. They will place the heavy items on the bottom to avoid them crashing into other smaller things. The movers will, in this way, build upon a well-balanced surface. An example for more substantial items when moving can be: sofas, bed frames and mattresses, tables and office desks, and other large household appliances.
Make sure you do not place a lot of heavy items inside one box as the box may not endure its weight, and break. For instance, if you are preparing one package with just books, separate them into more. By separating them, you will evenly distribute their weight.
How do I stack boxes in a removal van or truck?
After placing all the heavy items on the bottom, you can build up from there. Have the larger items strapped or securely tightened with ropes, to avoid movement. From then on, you can see to fill the van or truck voids with boxes.
How will I know if the truck or van is overloaded?
You can first do a “visual” check-up. The most typical sign indicating overloading is the curving on the sides of the vehicle. So, that is usually the first sign.
If the vehicle has left the collection point, and you are uncertain for their safety, you can furthermore confirm this with the driver. The most typical signs a driver can look for to know if the truck or van is overloaded:
- Steering capacity. If the vehicle is overloaded, the driver should notice some difficulties when steering.
- Maintaining control. The vehicle may be harder to control when it is overloaded.
- Breaks. The driver may notice that the vehicle struggles to slow down.
- Compression on the suspension springs.
How to secure the moving truck for transport?
Make sure that you have followed the suggestion for safe loading for vans and trucks. Let the experts do the job for you; it will save you a lot of trouble and headaches! Get an instant price for FTL (Full Truckload) transportation services directly on our platform! If you have some special requirements, our team of logistics experts will get back to you with an offer in the shortest period!
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Do truck drivers have to unload the truck?
The vehicle reached the final destination, and now you wonder whether the truck driver has to unload the truck or not. The answer is, the driver is not obligated to assist with loading nor unloading vans, trucks and any other type of moving vehicle. Eurosender is here to make shipping and moving easy, and if you have booked a relocation service through us, you would have to additionally request for this service.
Still have questions?
Check our relocation guides for more information.
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About the author
Marcel Nahtigal is Head of Marketing at Eurosender, specializing in digital strategies to enhance customer connections in logistics.
