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Loading and Unloading: what to expect
CentFix
Updated regularly · Canada-wide
Loading and unloading services provide labour to move belongings into or out of a vehicle or storage container. The customer may arrange the vehicle separately, so responsibilities need to be clear.
Tell the crew what vehicle you have and where it will park. List heavy items and stairs so the right number of people and equipment arrive.
What loading and unloading covers
Loading and unloading services provide labour to move belongings into or out of a vehicle or storage container. The customer may arrange the vehicle separately, so responsibilities need to be clear.
- Loading moving trucks
- Unloading moving trucks
- Loading storage containers
- Unloading storage containers
- POD loading
- POD unloading
- Trailer loading
- Trailer unloading
- Rental truck loading
- Rental truck unloading
- Loading by the hour
- Unloading by the hour
Preparing an accurate request
Tell the crew what vehicle you have and where it will park. List heavy items and stairs so the right number of people and equipment arrive.
Provide an inventory, the move date, access details and any items that need extra protection. If a building requires a booked elevator or loading dock, arrange it before the crew arrives.
What changes the cost
A quote depends on the size and weight of the load, the distance travelled, the number of people needed and the time spent carrying items. Packing materials, storage, difficult access and specialist equipment can add to the total.
- Volume of belongings and number of rooms
- Stairs, elevators and distance from the door to the truck
- Crew size and truck size
- Travel time and, for long moves, total distance
- Packing services and materials
- Specialty items like pianos, safes and hot tubs
- Moving date, with month-end and summer weekends in highest demand
Before you book
Ask the mover to list what is included and excluded. Check when the clock starts, who supplies materials and how damage claims work. For cross-border moves, confirm who handles documents and customs arrangements.
- Is this binding, non-binding, or hourly with a minimum?
- When does the clock start and stop?
- What coverage do my belongings have if something is damaged?
- Are there charges for stairs, long carries or heavy items?
- Do you use your own crew, or subcontract?
- For long moves, is delivery a fixed date or a window?
