How to pack a moving truck

Most people dread the hassle of moving — packing, loading, unpacking and relocating can be stressful. If you’re using a moving truck, packing it properly can minimize at least some of the stress. Having a good plan of attack when it comes time to load up can simplify your move, protect your belongings and make unpacking easier.

How to prepare for a move

Begin by making a moving checklist, then gather all your supplies. Choose boxes that are the correct size for the items inside — for example, if you’re packing books, it’s smart to use small boxes so they don’t get too heavy to carry. (Pro tip: You might be able to get free moving boxes from bookstores, supermarkets or liquor stores.)

Always clearly label boxes before loading them in your moving truck.

Here are most of the supplies you’ll need for your move:

• Boxes
• Cushioning and packaging material
• Packing tape
• Marker or large felt-tip pen for labeling
• Stickers of various colors for color-coding boxes according to the contents
• Blankets for covering furniture
• Twine for securing items that may open, such as dressers

Depending on the belongings you’re packing, you may not need some of these supplies — and this list isn’t exhaustive. You might also opt for specialty moving supplies, like wardrobe boxes and “fragile” stickers.

Once you have your supplies assembled, it’s time to begin packing and preparing for your move. First, identify a staging area in your home. As you pack boxes, you can move them to this area so they stay out of the way — and so you can actually see your progress, which can be a great motivator. It also helps keep you organized.

The area should be large enough that the boxes and stand-alone items can be separated by room (it helps to color-code using stickers), and you can set aside boxes that need to be unpacked first, like bed linens, towels, toiletries and coffee supplies.

How to load a moving truck

When packing a moving truck, you want to do two things: maximize your space and evenly distribute the weight of heavy items.

1. Disassemble your furniture

If you have dressers, chifforobes or desks with drawers, you can put boxes, blankets or other soft items inside to help keep them more secure.

Clean your rugs, roll them with the top side facing out, wrap them in plastic and tie them securely. This saves room and protects your rugs. It’s also a great storage method.

2. Start with the heaviest and largest items when loading

Furniture, large appliances, mattresses and similar items should be on the bottom toward the front, closest to the cab. This keeps the weight better distributed and prevents larger items from crushing the smaller ones.

Sofas, tables, headboards, desks and other similar items should be loaded in an upright position. Use moving blankets to add some extra protection for these items.

The lightest items, like small appliances, boxes, smaller furniture and pictures, should be loaded next.

3. Put important boxes at the very back of the truck

Load items you’ll need upon arrival — overnight bags or suitcases, toiletries, etc. — last, at the back of the truck, so they’re easily accessible and the first off as soon as your belongings reach your new home. You may also want to load anything else you’ll be eager to check on last.

Loading the truck in tiers

Many truck rental companies and moving experts recommend loading a moving truck in tiers, if possible, to maximize space and keep your belongings from shifting in transit. The process is pretty simple — you can use furniture pads, packing blankets, filling materials and stretch wrap. Your first tier, for instance, might be for big, heavy furniture, and the second tier will be smaller, lighter items.

Use moving straps and stretch wrap to secure items that may otherwise shift and break in transit.

Load your boxes vertically, then tie off completed sections with stretch wrap to form a cell. Continue this way, making sure to fill in any gaps to prevent the contents from shifting, until you reach the rear of the truck. Make sure you tie down the last tier before closing the truck and getting on the road.

Make sure to distribute the weight evenly so boxes will stay where you put them and you don’t have an avalanche of belongings falling on you when you open the door. You can also use moving straps to secure larger items and keep them from shifting as you're going down the road.

Kathy Bennett, CEO and founder of Bennett Packaging, a corrugated packaging company, pointed out a slight amendment to the “tier and cell” process that might work for you: “The process we follow is we try to load heavy furniture in tiers diagonally and then load the relatively small items inside that diagonal shape. So furniture, being the heavy ones, shield the other items, and we tie all the tiers together to form a cell.”

Bottom line

When you’re moving, take the time to pack your items carefully. This adds some extra time and effort, but it’s worth it. Both the move itself and the unpacking process will be more organized and less stressful this way — plus, there’s a much better chance your belongings will arrive safely.

Once you pack up properly, your next step is to learn how to unpack your new home. If you’re moving to an older property, you might also be interested in reading about home warranty companies to protect your household systems and appliances.