How Do Freight Moving Companies Work?
89% of users select this mover
89% of users select this mover
What is a freight moving company?
Freight moving companies drop off a large, 28-foot long trailer at your residence. You can use as much space as you want, and then the company will pick up the trailer and deliver it to your new place.
Freight usually costs more than rental trucks, although once you add in fuel and travel costs, the pricing can be about the same. It’s about the same cost or slightly less than portable storage container companies.
But whether or not a freight mover is right for your move isn’t just a question of pricing.
You’ll need to consider things like parking access, delivery time frame, access to labor, insurance and more to determine if renting a freight trailer is the best way to move.
Luckily, we put together this freight moving guide to provide all the answers you’ll need to determine if freight is right for you.
Freight Pros & Cons
- No driving
- Fast delivery
- Only pay for the space you need
- Require 40′ to park
- Spring suspension, pack carefully
- Insurance is limited
- Labor not included
How much does a freight moving company cost?
Pricing with freight is simple. You only pay for the space you use in the trailer.
Freight trailers are measured in terms of linear feet. The freight mover will quote you a rate per linear foot for your move.
Most companies have a 3 to 4 foot minimum (equivalent to a small one bedroom). Beyond the minimum, you are free to use as much or as little space as you need.
Pricing is on a per foot basis. For example, let’s say you get a quote for 10 linear feet of space for $2,500 total. And the rate per linear foot is $250/foot.
If your move ends up requiring 12 linear feet, you’ll owe $3,000 total ($500 extra for the 2 additional feet). If your move only requires 8 feet, you’ll owe $2,000 total (your price is reduced by $500 for the 2 feet you didn’t use).
The trailers are 28 feet in length and can hold roughly the same amount as a 26-foot rental truck plus a 10-foot rental truck combined.
Here’s an example of what you could expect to pay for a freight mover based on the size of your home, and distance of your move:
| 1 bedroom | 2 – 3 bedrooms | 4 – 5 bedrooms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 miles | $900 – $1,400 | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,800 – $2,700 |
| 1,000 miles | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,800 – $2,700 | $3,200 – $4,100 |
| 2,500 miles | $1,800 – $2,700 | $1,900 – $2,900 | $4,500 – $5,800 |
3 insider tips for saving money with freight
We went deep undercover with freight moving insiders and got them to spill the beans on how you can save
money when you use a freight moving company.
Use the terminal
Freight companies will typically give you the option to load and unload your items at what is known as the terminal. Terminals are usually located within a 60 mile radius of urban areas. Loading, unloading or both at the terminal will typically result in a pretty significant price break.
You’ll need to weigh the savings against the added cost of going back and forth to the terminal. A terminal-to-terminal move can make a lot of sense for smaller shipments where a cheap van could be used to shuttle items.
Move mid-month
Leases typically turnover at the end of every month, causing spikes in demand on the last few days. Avoid the rush and move in the middle of the month to save money.
Sell, donate, trash items
Freight companies charge a set rate for each foot of space you use in the trailer.
Reducing the amount you’re moving can help reduce cost.
There is typically a 4-5 foot minimum space requirement, so be careful not to reduce beyond this point as it won’t result in any additional savings.
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Fees to watch out for when using freight movers
You pay only for the space you use on the trailer, but you should be aware of the other potential costs of using a freight mover.
Parking permits
Trailers require roughly 40ft of parking space. Some municipalities require parking permits to park the trailer on the street. Check your city’s website for more details.
Weekend pickup / delivery
Drivers don’t like to work weekends. Most freight companies prefer to operate within Mon-Fri and charge extra for weekend drop offs.
Storage
1 or 2 months of storage is typically available for an additional fee. If you need longer term storage, consider using a moving container or delivering to a storage unit.
Additional load & unload days
Need more than 3 days to load or unload? You can purchase additional days as needed on a per day fee basis.
Additional valuation coverage
Freight moving companies offer very basic and limited protection for damage in their base package. Most providers offer options to increase coverage in the event of an accident at an additional cost. Note damage due to the loading or unloading of items won’t be covered.
Blankets, pads, and straps
Moving blankets, straps and moving pads will need to be purchased separately.
Live load & unload
If you can’t leave an unattended trailer on your street, you may need to coordinate for the driver to stay with the truck during the loading or unloading. The driver is simply staying with the truck. He won’t provide any help loading or unloading.
The first hour or two is usually free, and then an hourly rate will apply. New York City and other urban areas typically require live loading.
Truck cleaning fee
Be sure to sweep clean the trailer before final pickup to avoid a cleaning fee.
Weight tickets
Military PPM(DITY) move? You can request weight tickets for an additional fee.
Moving equipment
Hand trucks and dollies are typically available to rent. Prices and availability vary.
Guaranteed delivery
Want your trailer delivered on a certain day at your destination? Most providers are willing to offer guaranteed delivery at an additional cost.
What’s included with a freight mover?
Every freight company generally offers the same set of services for a freight trailer move.
Keep in mind there can be small differences between freight companies that add up to big costs.
When getting quotes, ask every freight company the same set of questions and be sure to write down their answers on the estimate paperwork.
Included:
- Door-to-door transportation
- 3 days to load & 3 days to unload
- Fuel & tolls
- Loading ramp
- Dedicated trailer (typically 28′ long)
- Bulkhead divider to secure your belongings
Not included:
- Help loading or unloading (hire moving labor)
- Parking permits, if necessary
- Pads, straps, or blankets
- Dolly or hand-truck (sometimes available to rent)
- Insurance (coverage varies by company)
- Packing supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap, etc.
- Weekend pickup/delivery (sometimes available)
How does freight moving work?
A 28′ freight trailer is delivered to your residence, and you have up to 3 days to load it. You can use as much space as you need.
Once loaded, a secure bulkhead is installed in the trailer to keep all items tightly locked together. Your move will be the only household goods shipped in the trailer.
The freight company picks up and delivers the trailer to your new location, where you’ll have up to 3 days to unload.
45 days out
If you don’t want to be the one loading the trailer, now is the time to hire professional
moving labor.
Don’t wait much longer, or you may end up paying more!
14 days out
Make sure you have gathered, bought, or rented all of the moving supplies that you’ll need, such as blankets, pads, straps, and moving boxes.
You dont’t want to be left empty handed on moving day!
The big day
The freight company will need a place to drop off the trailer, so make sure there is room for it!
You have up to three days to load it and request a pickup.
In transit
Freight typically moves quicker than professional movers because they are carrying commercial goods.
Delivery
When you’re ready to have the trailer delivered, make sure you have plenty of room for it at your new place.
You’ll have 3 days to unload it, so you don’t have to feel rushed!
Compare and contrast
Freight moving companies are a popular do-it-yourself option, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the best option for your situation. Compare freight to moving containers, professional movers, and rental trucks to see how they stack up.
Freight vs. professional movers
See how freight compares to professional movers.
| Freight | Pro Movers | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Freight companies tend to have much faster and more reliable delivery windows than movers. | Moving companies often give wide and unreliable delivery windows, especially for smaller shipments. |
| Cancellations | Freight companies are much less likely to cancel on moving day because they aren’t reliant on moving crews and have access to a much larger fleet of trucks. | Professional moving companies have much smaller truck fleets and rely on labor crews to show up on moving day, increasing the chances of cancellations or delays on moving day. |
| Prep Time | Freight offers 3 days to load, so you have more time to pack and clear everything out. | With professional movers you’ll need to be fully prepared before they arrive. |
| Pricing | Freight pricing is based on a simple per foot charge. | Professional moving quotes can be difficult to understand. |
| Privacy | Your items are the only household goods in the freight trailer, secured behind a bulkhead door. | Unless your move is a full truckload, professional movers almost always pair shipments together. |
| Labor | Freight provides no labor, although it’s not hard to hire some help. | Professional movers will load and unload the truck, including basic furniture assembly. |
| Insurance | Freight companies usually don’t offer more than basic valuation coverage. | Professional moving companies tend to have more insurance options and better overall coverage for damages. |
| Moving Equipment | Freight provides limited equipment. | Professional movers will bring pads, blankets, dollies, and straps to make sure all items are properly secured. |
| Storage | Freight storage is expensive. | Professional moving companies typically offer a month of free storage. |
Freight vs. moving containers
See how freight stacks up against moving containers.
| Freight Trailers | Containers | |
|---|---|---|
| Space | A single freight trailer can hold roughly the same as two and a half 16′ storage containers. | If you need more than 16′ of space, you’ll need to get a second container. |
| Pay for What You Use | With freight you only pay for the space you need. | With containers you are limited to two or three different sizes. |
| Pricing | Freight websites offer instant & transparent online pricing. | Container companies usually require calling for quotes. |
| Parking | Freight trailers require around 40′ of parking space, clear of low hanging tree or power lines. Urban areas can be a challenge. | Containers are smaller and tend to be easier to fit in the driveway or on a city block. |
| Load/Unload Time | Freight typically allows 3 days at loading and 3 days at unloading. | Containers offer open-ended loading and unloading. |
| Off-Site Storage | Freight storage is costly, short-term and not easily accessible. | Containers offer affordable, long-term storage with on demand access to items. |
| Loading | Freight trailers require a loading ramp and have 9 foot ceilings making loading more difficult. | Containers rest on the ground and tend to have lower ceilings making loading a little easier. |
| Partial Move | Freight trailers need to be fully unloaded at your destination. | Containers make it easy to leave half your items in storage. |
Freight vs. rental truck
See how freight compares to rental trucks.
| Freight Trailers | Rental Trucks | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving | Freight is basically like renting a truck without the driving part. | Driving a rental truck long distances can be a real hassle. |
| Space | 28 foot freight trailer can hold equivalent to a 26′ truck + a 10′ truck. | The largest rental truck size is 26 feet. |
| Pay For What You Use | Pay only for the space that you use. | Pick from a few sizes of rental truck. |
| Built-In Costs | Freight includes mileage, tolls, gas, etc., into their base price. | With rental trucks you’ll need to estimate costs like mileage, tolls, gas. |
| Storage | Freight offers some options for short-term storage. | With rental trucks you’ll have to unload into a unit and load it up again later. |
| Delivery | Since you aren’t driving with freight, you have slightly less control over delivery time than with a rental truck. | A rental truck gives you more control over delivery time. |
| Car | With freight a car will need to be shipped separately. | Rental trucks allow you to rent a car hitch and tow your own car. |
| Parking | The 28′ freight trailer is pretty big and can be difficult to park in urban areas. Permits may also be required. | Small rental trucks are easier to park and maneuver. Rental trucks typically don’t require a special permit to park on the street. |
| Suspension | Freight trucks typically have spring suspension (bumpier). | Rental trucks usually offer air-ride suspension (smoother ride). |
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