Not every move needs a full moving company. Sometimes you've already rented the truck, the moving container is sitting in the driveway, or a friend has a trailer. What you don't have is two people who can lift a sleeper sofa and pack a load so it doesn't shift on I-95.
That's what labor-only help is for. I'm Kyle with Miles Above Moving, and we do a fair amount of these around Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek, Margate and the rest of Broward and south Palm Beach. Here's when it makes sense and how to get the most out of it.
What "labor only" means
You provide the truck, container or storage unit. We show up and do the heavy lifting: carrying, loading, stacking and strapping. You handle the driving, or the container company does.
It can also go the other way. You arrive with a loaded truck or container and we unload it, carry everything in and put the beds together.
When labor-only help is a good idea
1. You're using a moving container. Containers get dropped off at your home, you load them, and the company hauls them away. The loading is the hard part. A container that's loaded badly can arrive with broken furniture, because everything slides around in transit.
2. You rented a truck to save money. A lot of people are fine driving a rental truck but don't want to carry a dresser down two flights of stairs. Hiring help for just the loading and unloading can be a good middle ground.
3. You're moving into or out of a storage unit. Storage units are tight, and stacking them well takes some thought. We wrote a whole post on storage unit moves.
4. You only need help with the heavy stuff. Maybe you and your family can handle the boxes but not the solid wood armoire or the sectional. Partial help is fine.
5. You're coming in from out of state. We only do local moves, but if your long-distance shipment or container lands here in South Florida, we can unload it on this end.
When a full-service move makes more sense
Labor-only isn't always the cheapest option once you add it all up. Think about:
- The rental truck cost, fuel and mileage
- The time you spend picking up and returning the truck
- Driving a big truck in South Florida traffic and parking it at a condo
- Whether the truck has a ramp or liftgate
For a lot of local moves within Broward or south Palm Beach, having one crew with one truck handle the whole thing ends up close in price and a lot less hassle. If you're not sure, text us your details and we'll tell you honestly which way makes more sense. Our local moving service is the full version.
How we load a truck or container so it travels well
- Heavy and flat goes in first. Dressers, appliances and solid furniture go against the front wall, low and tight.
- Build in tiers. We stack from the floor up in sections, so each tier supports the next.
- Fill the gaps. Empty space is what lets things move around. Boxes, cushions and soft items go in the holes.
- Protect the finishes. Furniture wrapping is available on request, and it's worth it for wood furniture and anything glass.
- Strap it. Each section gets tied off to the rails or tie-downs, if the truck or container has them.
How to get ready for your loading help
- Have the truck or container there before we arrive. If the rental is late, the clock is running.
- Know your return deadline. Rental trucks usually have one. Tell us when you book so we can plan around it.
- Check the container rules. Some HOAs and condo buildings limit where a container can sit or for how long. Ask before you order one.
- Pack your boxes ahead of time. Labor-only help goes fastest when everything is boxed, taped and ready to carry.
- Clear a path. Make sure hallways, doorways and the driveway are open.
- Have a ramp or liftgate. If the rental doesn't have one, tell us so we know what we're working with.
FAQ: Labor-only moving help
How much does labor-only moving help cost? It depends on how much there is to load, how far we carry it and whether there are stairs. Call or text us with what you're loading and where, and we'll give you a price before you book. For comparison, a full local move with our truck is $150 an hour for two movers, with a $250 minimum.
Can you load a moving container or a rental truck? Yes, both. We also load trailers, cargo vans and storage units.
Can you unload a container that came from out of state? Yes, as long as it's here in our local area. We'll carry everything in and set up beds if you need it.
Do you bring a truck for labor-only jobs? For labor-only jobs you provide the truck or container. If you'd rather we bring our 16-foot liftgate truck, that's our regular local moving service.
Which areas do you cover for loading help? We're based in Pompano Beach and cover Broward and south Palm Beach, including Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek and Margate.
Need a couple of strong hands?
We're Kyle and Andrew, a two-man local crew, open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 8 PM. No deposit to book. Call or text 954-408-4024, or tell us what you're loading, and we'll get back to you fast. You can find more on our loading and unloading page.
