Freight Moving Companies
Using a freight moving company to transport your breakables on a semi-trailer has it's ups...and downs
Freight Moving Company Price & Review Comparison
Freight trailer moving is primarily for long distance moving. Price depends on the distance you're moving and the amount of stuff you have, but generally you will find the price to be about $2,000 with a range of $1,500 to $3,000
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(4.44 out of 5)
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(4.56 out of 5)
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(4.42 out of 5)
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| Local Moves | $3,300 avg. | $1,200 avg. | $2,000 avg. |
| Medium Distance | $1,679 avg. | $1,117 avg. | $1,600 avg. |
| Long Distance | $3,343 avg. | $2,996 avg. | $2,578 avg. |
| Truck Sizes | 28-foot trailer | 28-foot trailer | 28-foot trailer |
| Locations | 250+ | 225+ | 200+ |
| Read More | Read More | Read More |
What other stuff do I need to buy?
You can expect to pay about $2,000 or more to rent space in a freight trailer for a long-distance move. Local moves are estimated to cost about $1,500 or so, but they are not recommended and some freight trailer companies won't even provide the service. Staying on budget means controlling the size of your haul.
The price includes:
- Linear feet your stuff takes up in the trailer
- Mileage
- Gas
- Tolls
- Driver
- Ramp
- Partition
Freight Trailer Companies
Freight trucking companies - you know, those giant semi-trucks on the highway that say "ABF uPack" and "Estes" on the side - can actually be used for your Hybrid™ Move!
Many of them allow you to rent out space by the foot inside their freight trailers. After which, a professional driver hauls your stuff to your new destination while they're on their route. The freight moving companies rent out any remaining space to other customers whose goods, or "freight", will keep yours company. (Don't worry, your stuff is kept safe behind dividers, so it won't get cooties.)
While getting a price for a local move is possible, the representatives at the companies themselves don't usually recommend it. In fact, these are not "moving companies", per se, but experts who haul goods across state borders.
To get an idea how much a freight trailer might cost for your move, fill out the form for a free estimate.
ABF U-Pack®
ABF U-Pack ® is the distinct leader in the freight trailer category. Anyone who needs to ship an apartment or home's worth of stuff a far distance in the United States and does not want to drive a ginormous truck should consider this option. Discounts are often available, which is nice! But you have to be careful about accidentally going over budget, which is easy to do. Read the fine print of your receipt very carefully to see ways in which you might garner additional fees, and avoid them like the plague.
Still, the extensive website is replete with interactive tools to make your move easier and the after-the-move, free housewarming party e-vites are impressive. With ABF ® and its 85 years of experience behind U-Pack, it definitely has the chops to move your little ol' house across the United States.
For more info, visit the U-Pack Moving101 profile page.
Pro
- Great pricing with competitive rates across the board. Everything is delivered for you.
Con
- Time frames for deliveries are often as large as the entire day, making planning inconvenient.
OD Household Services®
Old Dominion has a reputation as a legacy line of freight trailers, so some may still be getting used to the fact that anyone can just rent a space inside their trucks for a personal move. If you're going to drive across the country anyway, why not make a service out of it?
In a nutshell, pay for only the exact amount of space you actually use on their truck, then a professional driver hauls it away for you.
However, if you choose Old Dominion for your move, keep in mind the risks; Freight trailers are traditionally less secure than moving trucks, so damages are much more likely. Furthermore, Old Dominion offers no additional insurance to your own. And the cost of a freight trailer and the potential for lots of fees also makes them a non-choice for local moves. But if you're the target demographic and you're willing to shoulder the risks, their online tool makes booking a spot on their trailers a cinch.
For more information, visit our Old Dominion profile page.
Pro
- Pay only for the space you use. Easy to make online appointments. Everything is delivered for you.
Con
- Local moves technically possible, but are not a good value. Extra fees add up quickly.
When should I reserve space in the trailer?
As with any moving service, you should reserve space as soon as possible. However, you are not as subject to the seasonal busy seasons of traditional moving services, such as with truck rentals or moving containers. You might be able to find more last-minute options, even during the summer.
Estes SureMove®
SureMove comes from the parent company Estes Express Lines®, the veteran freight trailer company of over 80 years. They now allow their 22 foot trucks for personal moves, which can be rented out in partitions. Pay only for the space you use inside their truck, and they'll wall it off from the rest. You get three days to load it, then someone from Estes comes and drives it to your destination for you to unload yourself.
As per usual, freight trailer moving comes with its own set of pros and cons, including lots of space and great long distance value, but too high of a cost for local moves and a higher than average risk to your items, albeit with some customizable insurance options that you can purchase for an additional cost.
Reservations can take awhile, so prepare in advance. Estes operates in 49 states (sorry, Hawaii) and are best contacted at their website.
For more info, visit the SureMove Moving101 profile page.
Pro
- Straightforward pricing with a great Full Service-like value. Pay only for the space you use on the truck.
Con
- Impractical for local moves. Takes at least a week upon reservation to hear back from a representative.
Freight Space Size Guide
600 sq. ft. or less
Studio apartment
Ideal For:
- Aprox linear feet: 6'
- Cubic Feet: 360
- 1-5 Med. furniture items
- Up to 120 medium boxes
Not Ideal For:
- King size bed
- Pianos
- Gun safes
1,000 sq. ft.
Small home
Ideal For:
- Aprox linear feet: 7'
- Cubic Feet: 432
- 1-8 Med. furniture items
- Up to 200 medium boxes
Not Ideal For:
- Grand / Baby grand pianos
- Studio apartments
1,200-1,500 sq. ft.
Medium home
Ideal For:
- Aprox linear feet: 13'
- Cubic Feet: 864
- 1-10 Med. furniture items
- Up to 350 medium boxes
Not Ideal For:
- Small homes
- Studio apartments
1,500-1,800+ sq. ft.
Large home
Ideal For:
- Aprox linear feet: 17+
- Cubic Feet: 1,152+
- 10+ Furniture items
- 450+ Medium boxes
Not Ideal For:
- Small homes
- Studio apartments
Is Space in a Freight Trailer Right for Your Move?
Local Moves
Pro
- N/A
Con
- Freight trailers are typically not available for local moves
You might be able to convince a freight trailer company to provide you with an estimate for a local move, but it is not recommended. The strength of these companies is their ability to haul lots of stuff a long distance. Try moving containers or moving trucks instead.
Long-Distance Moves
Pros
- A great cost-comparison alternative to Full Service Movers
- Easier to book, demand-wise
- Your items are in the hands of professional drivers
Cons
- Statistically the most likely moving option to damage your items
- Not as consumer-friendly booking as other moving options
- Insurance is far trickier and not often available
Freight trailer companies have years of experience moving even delicate items to places far away. They can be a super cost-effective alternative to Full Service movers.
Their brands are well known, which is different from some of the fly-by-night moving companies you may encounter. Professionals do the driving, and you just have to worry about packing and loading and unloading the truck, usually with a three day window at both ends.
Versus Other Moving Options
Pros
- Can potentially discover a better deal by comparison shopping
- Often more flexible loading and unloading windows compared to moving trucks
- Professional does the driving
Cons
- Statistically more likely to have your stuff damaged
- Not as easy to schedule
- Less frequently a good value, unless compared to Full Service Movers
Renting space in a freight trailer for your long distance move is still a relatively novel idea. Some people are unaware this is even an option! The more traditional routes include:
- Rental truck companies
- Moving containers
- Full Service moving companies
Also, familiarize yourself with the prohibited items list. These freight companies do not allow customers to pack up stuff that could be dangerous. Some of the items on the list are obvious, such as ammunition and dynamite. But I didn't realize that I could be breaking the rules if I packed up my nail polish, cleaning fluids, or charcoal briquettes.
Insurance
In general, freight trailer companies put the responsibility for your stuff on your shoulders. Your best bet is to find out whether you can add "moving floaters" or "riders" to your homeowners or rental insurance policies. Also, check with the freight trailer company to see what kind of coverage it provides, as some do allow customers to purchase additional coverage.
Paired With Movers
Pros
- Movers' experience very helpful for packing a freight trailer
- Easier to schedule movers around more flexible loading and unloading windows
- Makes moving much less stressful - nice!
Cons
- Increases the price on a potentially costly move option
- Any mover insurance purchased not usually applicable to items when in-transit
- Subject to local availability
The best news about renting space in a freight trailer is the ease with which you can hack a Full Service move. Someone else is already doing the driving. If you hire professional movers to help with the packing and/or loading and unloading of the truck, you have basically paid for a Full Service move without breaking the bank.
Are There Any Downsides with Freight Trailers?
Making changes to your itinerary requires at least one week's notice if you don't want to pay any additional fees.
You have three days to load and unload your stuff at each end of its journey. That's obviously better than a rental truck, but not nearly as good as the month you get with most moving container companies.
You're pretty much at the will of the company for delivery times. You can pay extra for a guaranteed delivery date and time, but it doesn't sound as definite as it should be when you're doling out more cash. Storage is sometimes possible, but that's not a specialty of theirs, either.
You are responsible for trailer parking at both locations. This means that you must find out if it's legal to park the trailer near your home or in your driveway. (This isn't unlike moving containers, but freight containers can be way bigger!)
You should check with the local city hall for details on parking trailers in your town (both where you're living now and where you're moving to). As a kind gesture, you should also inform your neighbors that this big boy is going to be visiting for three days. Also, big cities like New York City require a live load/unload, which means that the location does not permit overnight parking of the trailer. Keep in mind that you'll have to pay any parking violations incurred.
Freight trailers are statistically far more likely to incur damages to your things, compared to rental trucks or moving containers. For this reason, insuring your freight trailer move might be pricier.
Beware the gypsy moth. It's an insect whose eggs are often attached to outdoor equipment and furniture. California is so keen on keeping out the gypsy moth that it requires you to get your stuff inspected for the moth's eggs and to fill out all the necessary paperwork to prove you did so. Your stuff won't be let into California otherwise, so listen to the freight companies and free yourself of the gypsies!
Recent Freight Moving Company Customer Reviews
This was an incredible and flexible option. If I had hired help to load it from the start, this move would have been half as frustrating. If doing a DITY/PPM, easy to make weight and make that reimbursement worth the hassle. Super communicative and flexible for military moves.
This is my second move with U-Pack. They are a no nonsense company that simplifies moving without going with a major moving company. I wish I had known that a second truck would be cheaper than the first on a total dollar basis. Now I know.
The transport company ABF I would highly recommend. They were on time and delivered to our new address as promised. They were also on time to pick up the trailer when we moved our things out of it. Great work.
My UPack Trailer experience was seamless! I appreciated most the provision of instructions - email and printed - on how to use the varied parts of the trailer. I felt that my items were safe and protected with the layers of separation walls and locks. I also liked the option to upgrade my service to guaranteed delivery. My trailer arrived on the date scheduled and was picked up in a timely manner. I would highly recommend this option for anyone relocating across state lines. It was so much more convenient to use a trailer than pods, which allowed me to use as much space as my belongings needed, and only be charged for the space used. Because I used less space than anticipated, my actual charge was less than my original quote.
(Old Dominion was contracted by UPack). UPack was super easy to arrange and you only pay the amount of trailer space you actually use. They showed up on time for drop-off and pickup. Great communication and ease to work with!
Very friendly and always helpful. There were some last minute changes and they easily adapted the schedule for me. Drivers happily explained all the steps after dropping the trailer off and what to do for pick up. Great communication and customer service.
Received an OD trailer throu Upack. Trailer arrived within time frame and the driver was very friendly. Trailer came ready with extra straps, ramp, and bulkhead ready to go.
Some minor miscommunications at my point of origin, but all in all, a good company with polite staff. If you need something larger than a a cube or container you will need to go with a larger trailer like I did. My only warning is this....Old Dominion simply transports so make sure you hire reputable people to pack and unpack the trailer.
We like the flexibility of only being charged for the space we used - and being able to add more space at a very reasonable cost, if needed when loading. The trailer is equipped with relocate-able beams that help secure the load, a great feature. Their price was much better than Pods or other options for our move across the state line.
Estes SureMove was a great discovery! They showed up on time to pick up and drop off and the experience was seamless. I would use them again and have already recommended them to several people I know.
The entire Estes Sure Move process was great. I would highly recommend them. The cost comparison to traditional moving companies was much lower. Great customer service!
Great option for moving, way cheaper than any other option. They drop the trailer and you have 3 days to load it, they pick it up and off it goes to the new location.
U-Pack® is the registered trademark of Moving Solutions, Inc. U-Pack® is a registered trademark of ABF, Freight System, Inc.
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