Moving 101: Tools of the trade

Moving an entire house or building requires some general and some very specific tools. The most important tool is the movers themselves! Movers need to be strong, smart and able to work well as team. Still, even the best need a little help. In this article we take a look at some of the most common tools used by movers.

1. Boxes, Packing and Furniture Pads

There’s nothing more ubiquitous in a move than the cardboard box. They come in every shape and size to accommodate a variety items from clothes to books to kitchenware.  Bubble wrap and furniture pads are also essential to protect delicate surfaces and insure that no damage comes to the items we move. Can’t forget the yards and yards of packing tape we use either!

2. Hand trucks and Dollies

The two wheel hand trucks and four wheel dollies are indispensable tools in the moving business. It helps movers easily move items that would be too heavy to carry. They also allow movers to stack multiple items and roll them to and from the truck.

Hand truck, dolly and straps used together in conjunction to move a piano!

Hand trucks lined up on the truck, with a four wheel dolly on the right

3. Straps

In addition to containers, and protective coverings, straps are essential to secure everything. Ratchet tie down straps can be used to secure boxes in the truck, lash a large item to a dolly or hand truck. They can even be used to hoist items through windows, when interior dimensions prohibit moving a large item up a narrow staircase. The burlap hump strap is a classic piece of professional moving equipment used for decades. They are designed for lifting heavy or awkward loads

Mover uses hump strap to carry a large item that would have been too cumbersome without it.

Straps hold the load in place. Critical to keep contents from moving in the truck during transport.

4.  Additional Tools

Often overlooked are some obvious but essential items that movers use to keep the move going smoothly. Safety items such as signage, cones, and runners keep the move location safe for both customer and mover alike. Specialty tols like a piano board are designed to help stabilize and aid in moving a piano or similarly large item.

A piano sits on a piano board, making it easy to perform a multi-person lift

Fabric runners are laid down to protect both the floor surface and provide traction for movers working in wet conditions