A Practical Guide to Freight Trailer Moving

Are freight moving companies too good to be true?

When you need a convenient and budget-friendly way to move out of state, freight moving companies like U-Pack® offer excellent value.  

Not only will you get equipment that’s both flexible and big enough to handle the job, but you’ll also spend less when compared to traditional full-service movers. And, you won’t have the hassle of driving a rental truck hundreds of miles. 

If you’re new to moving with a trailer, you might wonder what to expect from equipment transported by a semi-truck. Keep reading to learn more about the service and how U-Pack can help with your long-distance move. 

Things you should know about using a moving semi-trailer 

Moving with a semi-trailer isn’t the same as using a full-service company or renting a truck. With a traditional service, the movers handle everything from packing to driving. But with a rental truck, the customer takes care of everything.  

With a freight service like U-Pack, you get self-moving advantages (control over packing, savings on moving labor, etc.) without having to drive a bulky vehicle. Let’s examine service details and equipment specs. 

Services 

Typically, the moving company delivers equipment for you to load over a set number of days. Later, a professional driver picks up the equipment and transports it to your new home, where you’ll unload it. Where companies differ is how the shipments and belongings are handled during transit. 

For example, U-Pack provides a lockable bulkhead (divider wall) that separates your things from any commercial goods we transport in the extra space — if you’re not using the full trailer. We never mix household goods shipments. 

Other companies may transport several households in one trailer without dividers, which could cause delays or mixed-up shipments.  

Need help loading or unloading? U-Pack can refer you to affordable local moving crews. 

Trailer details 

Moving services commonly use pup trailers, which are approximately 28’ long, 8’ wide and 9’ tall. This equipment is shorter than the 53’ length of traditional semi-trailers you might see hauling commercial goods.  

Learn more about U-Pack moving trailers. 

Parking

Consider the equipment's length, width and height to ensure there is enough clearance to park, whether in a driveway or on the street.

Capacity 

Moving trailers usually hold belongings from a 3- to 4-bedroom home (or close to 1,950 cubic feet of loading space). A full load of household goods rarely exceeds 13,000 lbs., but most trailers can legally haul twice that much weight. 

Loading

Trailers can be up to 4’ off the ground, so a ramp is necessary to load them safely and comfortably. U-Pack includes a ramp that’s easy to set up and use with our moving equipment.  

Other helpful tools while loading are an appliance dolly or hand truck, moving blankets and straps for securing items for transit. 

The loading space inside freight trailers is taller than in most rental trucks (at least 9’ tall), which means you can take advantage of the vertical space while loading your things. This helps you get the most value for your money since prices are typically based on the horizontal space used, and you’re less likely to run out of space than with a rental truck.  

The cost of freight trailer moving companies  

Trailer moving is often cheaper than full-service movers because you handle the moving labor and can benefit from reduced pricing through an efficient transportation network.  

And you’re not stuck paying out-of-pocket fuel costs along the way like you would with a rental truck since transportation is already included in your price. 

Plus, unlike traditional moving companies, freight moving services don’t typically charge based on the weight of the shipment. U-Pack trailer moving costs are figured by the space used inside the equipment, measured in linear feet. That means the less stuff you move, the lower your price. 

Check your moving price with U-Pack 

Ready to make your move? Get a free, no-obligation quote online today or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.  

If you have questions about trailer moving or U-Pack services, let us know in the comments. We’re here to help! 

Is a trailer move not for you? U-Pack also offers ReloCube® moving containers.