Can I Use Movers With My Own Truck?

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Many people assume hiring movers to help with a relocation means getting the whole package, moving truck and all. While that’s certainly an option, it’s not the only way you can hire professional help.

If you have your own truck or are comfortable renting a moving truck, you can hire labor-only movers to help with the loading and unloading. Even better, this is often a more budget-friendly solution if you’re willing to do the extra work.

If you’re interested in hiring labor-only movers for your relocation, keep reading to learn more about how the service works and how to hire movers without a truck.

Can I Hire Movers Just to Load a Truck?

two movers in gray coveralls load a truck with boxes

Yes, you can hire movers without a truck—this is called labor-only moving. It’s a great middle ground between the higher costs of traditional full-service movers and handling the entire relocation yourself.

Typically, you’ll rent and drive the moving truck, while the movers handle the loading and unloading. If you’re moving without a truck, you can also hire movers to load moving containers, like PODS, which the storage company will transport for you. You’ll simply pay an hourly rate for the movers.

Benefits of Labor-Only Movers

Although you’ll need to drive the truck or arrange transportation for a storage container yourself, labor-only movers offer benefits such as:

  • Preventing injuries: Professional movers know how to lift heavy items safely. They also have access to specialized equipment to make moving larger items easier. Many arrive with equipment such as dollies, ramps, and lifting straps to help move furniture and heavy boxes.
  • Saving time and space: Professional movers have the experience to load and unload a truck or storage container quickly. They can often fit more into tight space constraints without damaging your belongings. This means you can save money by opting for a smaller truck/container, or not having to make multiple trips to move all of your things.
  • Saving on moving costs: Labor-only services usually cost less than traditional full-service moves. So you don’t have to handle the entire move all by yourself, but you’re saving money by only paying for loading and unloading assistance.

Prices vary greatly based on your location’s general cost of living and when you hire a team. Booking movers during peak moving season (summer months) or on weekends, when more people need them, tends to drive prices up. Factors such as stairs and furniture weight can also affect the overall cost and complexity of your move.

However, in general, expect to pay between $40 and $100 per hour.


Can I Hire Movers to Pack My Stuff?

a moving team seals packed boxes and creates an inventory of a customer's things

Yes, labor-only movers can help with packing. It’s typically an add-on service, and you’ll pay based on the time they spend, just like with loading and unloading. Many people opt for full or partial packing assistance to save time and reduce stress, even if it means paying a bit more.

Hiring professionals by the hour can also lead to a more efficient move. They know how to pack fragile items securely and make the most of available box space, often completing the job faster and with fewer boxes.

Packing services typically cost between $50 to $80 per mover per hour. The total cost depends on how many packers you hire, how long they work, and whether they provide the packing materials.


What is the Difference Between Labor-Only vs. Full-Service Moving?

The main difference between a labor-only and traditional full-service move is who provides the transportation. Both services include loading and unloading — but full-service movers arrive with the truck and manage the entire move from start to finish. With labor-only options, you provide the transportation, usually by renting a truck and driving it or using a portable storage container.

 

“Professional movers have the experience to load and unload a truck or storage container quickly. They can often fit more into tight space constraints without damaging your belongings. This means you can save money by opting for a smaller truck/container…”

 

Full-service movers are typically more expensive upfront. Labor-only movers charge by the hour, and you’ll need to cover the cost of the truck or container. However, labor-only options are usually more affordable. So, if you’re moving on a budget, this is a great option, especially if the thought of doing everything yourself is daunting.


How Can I Find Someone to Help Me Move?

Ready to hire movers without the truck? Search for local labor-only movers on HireAHelper. We’ll ask you questions about your relocation, such as how big your home is and whether you have heavy objects or stairs.

Next, we’ll show you local movers available on your chosen date. You can compare companies, moving quotes, and more—all in one place, right on our platform.

How To Save Money on Your Rental Truck’s Gas

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It’s no secret that gas prices have risen faster than a helium balloon on the moon. 

In June of this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that the price of regular gasoline reached a nationwide average of $4.93 per gallon.

At the moment, the high-cost trend is on the decline, but prices are still a high-octane headache. This means for those of us who are moving this year… yup, high costs are going to hit us there too.

To put it in perspective, a move from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Oregon covers about 2,800 miles. In 2021, driving a loaded U-Haul that distance while getting 10mpg would have run about $850 in gasoline costs. The fuel cost in 2022 for that same trip is a stunning $1,300!  In fact, a recent study by HireAHelper found that 2022 is the most expensive year on record for moving. Yikes.



What do high gas prices in 2022 mean for my move with a U-Haul, Penske, or Budget truck?
 

Airlines, full-service moving companies and portable storage container companies all tack on a fuel surcharge to your final bill that reflects the current price of gas.

This could mean anywhere from a couple hundred to a thousand bucks added to the final cost of your move!

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(If you are hiring a company that does the work for you to haul your stuff to your new home, make sure you get a clear explanation of what their total fuel surcharge will be.)

But what about renting a truck yourself? To start saving money there, it’s first important to understand how gas costs and fuel policies for rental trucks work.

rental truck move gas cost

U-Haul

When you rent a U-Haul, they let you opt to fill up the truck yourself along the way, and so long as the fuel gauge reads the same as when you picked it up, you’ll avoid further fees. (In other words, you have to pay for all the gas you use.)

 

“To get better mileage, it’s best to keep the heavy core of your load in the middle of the truck, which is up closer to the cab.”

 

Or, you can use EZ-FUEL, which is a U-Haul service that lets you leave the refueling up to U-Haul at a price agreed upon in the rental contract. We don’t recommend this, as their prices are typically considerably more expensive than fueling up on your own. And if you return the truck with less than 1/4th of a tank, you immediately get charged a $30 fee

rental truck gas cost

Penske

Penske states that there are “no charges due,” so long as you return the truck in proper condition and at the same fuel level as when you picked it up. This is basically the same as U-Haul’s policy, minus the “convenience” of them adding the gas you used at a huge price. (Here are Penske’s truck return policies.)

Budget

Budget has a similar fuel policy to the other two companies. It requires you to return your truck with the same level of fuel as when you departed, at a minimum. If you don’t, you’ll not only be charged for however much it costs to refill the tank, but also another fueling fee on top of that. 

Before you ask, there is no standardized credit, rebate, or discount given at any of these companies for unused fuel. (I’ve had U-Haul employees offer a small credit for some extra gas left in the tank, but not as often as they haven’t.) A little unfair, but that’s the common policy. It’s best to plan your trip well and do whatever you can to not waste gas on your way.     

How can I lower rental truck fuel costs? 

There may not be much we can do about the price of gas itself, but there are a surprising amount of ways we can lessen our gas consumption.

 

“Airlines, full-service moving companies and portable storage container companies all tack on a fuel surcharge to your final bill that reflects the current price of gas.”

 

This ultimately means the most impactful thing for lowering your U-Haul bill is fuel efficiency; you want to use the absolute minimum it takes to get you to your destination. If you’re planning on renting a truck and want to make your refueling experience less painful, here are some proven tactics you can use. 

1. Lightening your load will save you a lot

The less you have, the less the truck weighs, and the less it burns fuel. It’s that simple. This means selling off unneeded furniture or taking as much as humanly possible in another vehicle will make you more money than you realize. There are lots of ways to get rid of stuff before a move — here’s a primer on paring down to get you started.

2. Fix your travel route

Taking the “longcut” because you haven’t checked for shortcuts costs you both time and money. Rush hour traffic is another big time and money waster, so make sure to avoid it when you leave your hometown and in any other towns along the way to your new place.

rental truck gas cost3. A/C on the highway (go easy!), windows down on the streets

The U.S. Department of Energy (USDoE) advises skipping the air conditioning and rolling down your windows. Turning on the A/C decreases fuel efficiency the more you crank it up. 

Especially when you’re driving through a town, it’s best to keep the A/C off. However, keep in mind open windows on the highway can create drag that’s as bad for fuel efficiency as the air conditioner.

Protip: simply wrap a wet towel around your neck. As a professional mover, I know from experience this will keep you both cool and plenty awake!

4. Slow down, lead foot

The USDoE also advises driving conservatively. Gunning it to beat the light or to pass someone (often bad ideas regardless) eats up gas faster than a jet ski. According to government numbers, an unnecessarily heavy foot — especially in city traffic — can decrease your vehicle’s gas mileage by as much as forty percent

5. Avoid filling up at highway rest areas 

Anyone who drives the highways knows that gas is more expensive at the super-convenient rest stop pumps, sometimes by a quarter a gallon or more. 

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That will definitely add up. Beat that racket by keeping an eye open for the small blue signs near highway exits showing what gas stations there are, which way they are, and even how far away they are.

Simply put, Google Maps is an invaluable tool for figuring this out. Not only does it show you all the gas stations in an area or along a certain route, but it will also tell you their gas prices in real-time. All you need to do is tap the gas icon under the search bar, and all nearby stations will pop up. 

The app can also let you know if the route you’re taking is the most eco-friendly and fuel-efficient. Look for the leaf icon when planning your trip — even if it’s a little longer, it will save you money in the long run. 

6. Ask for the newest vehicle on the lot

The newer the model on the lot, the better your final gas price will be. It’s that simple.

Penske has a reputation for having newer, better-maintained trucks than the other guys. And while Penske can be noticeably pricier for short moves, over longer hauls they are price-competitive. Add the bonus of a more reliable and more fuel-efficient vehicle in my opinion, and you may come out ahead when gasoline is your main obstacle. 

7. Balance your load 

It’s not just what your stuff weighs that affects your truck’s gas mileage, but how your stuff is loaded that can make a big difference, both in safety and fuel efficiency. A balanced load is a stable load, meaning your truck doesn’t have to fight against excess momentum and gravity on its insides.

To get better mileage, it’s best to keep the heavy core of your load in the middle of the truck, which is up closer to the cab. (If you’re not sure you’d be any good at playing furniture Tetris, professional hourly movers have this process down to an art.) 


The cost of a gallon of gas may be out of our control, but wet towels, light feet, and balanced loads? You bet you can handle that. There are plays we can make to save gas and, in turn, some of our hard-earned cash.

The 9 Emotional Stages of Moving

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Stages of Moving

Because moving is such a momentous part of life, there are a wide variety of emotions that come along with it. Let’s be honest, most of the time moving gets a bad rap.

Many people just lump moving into the “sucks” category… but we’re here to dispel that theory. Sure, moving can be overwhelming and scary at times, but there are also a heck of a lot of good things that come along with moving. Lots of wonderful, HAPPY emotions.

So let’s take a look at the 9 emotional stages (both the good & the bad) of moving… (more…)

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