Loading your moving truck on your own can be a strenuous, time-consuming task, but it also can result in tremendous financial savings. Understandably, you may need to recruit the help of a few strong friends or family members to assist with the effort. In addition, spend a few minutes learning about how to load a moving truck. While you seemingly do not need a major strategy when loading a moving truck, the reality is that how you pack the truck will impact the condition of your items, how efficiently the space is moved and even how the loaded truck handles on the road. These are some of the more common mistakes that people make when they attempt to load a moving truck on their own.

Not Disassembling Furniture

If you can manage to get your furniture out the door and onto the truck without disassembling it, it may seem like a waste of time to do so. For example, why would you take the legs off of a table if you can carefully maneuver the furniture on its side to get it out the door? When you disassemble furniture, you make it easier to move and less likely be to be damaged. Large furnishings may take up much less space, so the available truck space can be used more efficiently. When taking furniture apart, keep the screws, bolts and other parts in a sealed baggy taped to an indiscreet area of the furniture. This way, the parts will be easy to access when you get to your new home.

Placing Larger, Heavier Items at the Front

The proper way to load a truck is by placing your largest and heaviest items in the truck first, and there are a few reasons for this. Doing so places the bulk of the truck’s weight toward the front and middle, and this makes it easier to maneuver on the road. In addition, when you load the larger, heavier items first, you can fill in the spaces with the smaller and lighter items. This helps you to use the space more efficiently, and it diminishes the risk of your belongings being damaged.

Overlooking the Importance of Protection

Some people believe that if they can get an item into the truck and place items on top or around it without damaging it, then they do not need to use blankets or other special protective elements. However, when the truck is in motion, your belongings will shift. Boxes and other items that have been piled nearby may lean or fall onto other items. Sharp features may scratch wood or tear upholstery. Very little effort is necessary to cover or protect your belongings in the truck, and this can potentially save you a tremendous amount of money on repairs or replacements for damaged items.

Not Paying Attention to Box Weight

Boxes may be loaded on top of your heavier furnishings, appliances and more. You can try to fill in all of the smaller spaces around your larger items. There will be many areas of the truck where space is available to stack boxes on top of other boxes. When doing so, pay attention to weight. A box full of books, for example, would crush a box filled with lightweight home décor or holiday ornaments.

These essential tips will help you to pack your truck efficiently while promoting the good condition of your items. The extra time and attention that you spend properly loading your truck will pay off when you get to your new home and are able to complete the rest of your relocation without mishap or concern.